SDS prediction... 8 loses?

#52
#52
The only way I could see us finishing 4-8 is if we have injury problems at positions we absolutely can't afford them (offensive and defensive lines), or if we were to lose an AJ or Cam Sutton for extended periods of time. A fairly healthy Vols team could finish anywhere from 5-7 to 8-4 in my opinion. Our schedule is brutal, but I really like the young playmakers at the skill positions and overall improvement of team speed on defense. If we take care of the games we should win, I personally think we will upset a team or two and finish at 7-5 this year. I'm kind of tired of all the experts opinions on us, and just ready for Labor Day weekend to get here!
 
#53
#53
VonoreVol said:
The only way I could see us finishing 4-8 is if we have injury problems at positions we absolutely can't afford them (offensive and defensive lines), or if we were to lose an AJ or Cam Sutton for extended periods of time. A fairly healthy Vols team could finish anywhere from 5-7 to 8-4 in my opinion. Our schedule is brutal, but I really like the young playmakers at the skill positions and overall improvement of team speed on defense. If we take care of the games we should win, I personally think we will upset a team or two and finish at 7-5 this year. I'm kind of tired of all the experts opinions on us, and just ready for Labor Day weekend to get here!
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I think QB play will be the determining factor this year. I think last year would have played out different if Worley and Peterman did not get injured. Let's hope they both stay healthy this year.
 
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#54
#54
Okay, we win USU, Arky State, Choo Choo high, and Basketball U. The Commode doors should be a win. The thought of losing to them three years in a row would cause Bob Neyland and George Cafego to turn over in their graves. So that's five wins.

UF is a possible win. Yes, the Gators have a defense full of five stars and a new OC, but they still have Muschamp as their coach. That has to be worth something.

Everyone believes that the Rebs are going to contend for the West title. I'll believe it when I see it. Bo Wallace is a good quarterback, but they are thin thin at offensive line. Their defense is one of the top two or three in the SEC. The best news for Tennessee is we get them right after they play Bama and aTm and right before they play LSU.

Missouri won't be as good as last year and we play them the week after they go to College Station.

Bottom line, we will win at least one of those three games. That brings us to a minimum of six wins.

Buma and the Spooners are losses. We ain't there yet. I don't care how drunk you are.

Georgia and South Carolina are the two teams that always find a way to bring out the best in us. I wouldn't be surprised if we win one of them, but losses are likely.

As a result, 7-5 is possible, but 6-6 is reasonable. We get to go bowling. Win the bowl game and keep the momentum going.

I believe my predictions are more logical than those of Saturday Dang Senile.
 
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#55
#55
We need to win at least two of Vandy, Mizzou, Ole Miss and Florida. It's a tough schedule, but getting to 6-6 is the floor. Getting to 7-5 would make a big statement, and a win over UF would be the cherry on top.

Until Vandy, Mizzou, OM and UF show us they're unbeatable, I'll continue to believe that it's possible for us to rise up and beat them.
 
#56
#56
CyclingVOL said:
Here is a prediction from Saturday down South. Sounds like we should not even show up for the games.

Tennessee Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2014 - Saturday Down South

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
2013 Crystal Ball Projection: 5-7, 2-6
2013 Actual: 5-7, 2-6

THE 2014 BATTLEFIELD

Aug. 31 vs. Utah State (W): Quarterback Chuckie Keaton is one of college football’s most dynamic returning playmakers, but the Vols have a couple on offense too. Keaton tossed 18 touchdown passes in basically five games as a junior before an injury sidelined him for the season. Tennessee’s secondary should be on high alert in a not-so-easy opener.

Sept. 6 vs. Arkansas St. (W): This game would be more difficult if Gus Malzahn still directed the offense for the Red Wolves.

Sept. 13 at Oklahoma (L): Last year’s early-season road trip to Oregon was a disaster. The chances of this one turning out much better are slim.

Sept. 27 at Georgia (L): Tennessee could really throw a wrench into the SEC pecking order with an upset win between the hedges, but this is the one division matchup Todd Gurley truly owned the last time he faced the Vols in 2012 with 130 yards and three touchdowns.

Oct. 4 vs. Florida (L): Besides Georgia-South Carolina, this is the biggest game in the Eastern Division during the first half of the season. A win for the Vols acts as a signature win for an inexperienced team and would damage the Gators’ chances at turning things around following last year’s disaster.

Oct. 11 vs. Chattanooga (W): Luckily for Vanderbilt, it’ll have two bye weeks before a division showdown at Mizzou.

Oct. 18 at Ole Miss (L): One of the more underrated cross-division games in the SEC season, the one has the potential to be a high-scoring affair if Tennessee can generate a couple big plays. We expect the Rebels to still be in the thick of the Western Division race too.

Oct. 25 vs. Alabama (L): Radio personality Colin Cowherd’s made this matchup his preseason SEC upset special. We’re not.

Nov. 1 at South Carolina (L): Revenge game for the Gamecocks. Tennessee kept South Carolina out of the SEC Championship Game last season with a field goal as time expired post-Marquez North’s heroics at Neyland. The Gamecocks needed a Jadeveon Clowney strip-and-sack to win by three last time in Columbia but it won’t be as close this time around as the home team extends its Williams-Brice winning streak to 24 games.

Nov. 15 vs. Kentucky (W): The most favorable matchup in a month comes at the Wildcats’ expense. Kentucky solidifies a brutal third consecutive 0-8 SEC season with a loss here.

Nov. 22 vs. Mizzou (L): The Tigers win with spirited quarterback play from Maty Mauk against a worn down Tennessee defense that’s already taken it on the chin six times against ranked teams coming in. Mizzou won its first trip to Knoxville as an SEC member in 2012 by a score of 51-48 in overtime.

Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt (L): Puzzling to say the least, a program with superior talent has struggled the last few years against its Music City neighbor. Vandy will be playing for a bowl berth at 5-6, more than enough incentive to send the Vols to their fifth loss in six games to end a disappointing season.

2014 PROJECTED FINISH: 4-8, 1-7

THE LOWDOWN: Eight losses in a single season would set a dubious program record, but it could happen for Butch Jones and Co. if the offense continues to backtrack. Tennessee’s going to go as far as its quarterback allows and unfortunately, it looks like the Vols could have season-long problems under center without a confident leader. No player has separated himself in a three passer race and once a starter’s named, he’ll have to earn the right to keep his job according to Jones. Tennessee will be explosive at times, but inexperience in crucial moments against quality competition will lead to the Vols’ second-half collapse.
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Eight losses: ain't gonna happen.:loco:
GO VOLS!
 
#57
#57
jkleno said:
I think QB play will be the determining factor this year. I think last year would have played out different if Worley and Peterman did not get injured. Let's hope they both stay healthy this year.
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Agree! The reason I didn't include QB play in my initial post was because I'm not sure that one particular QB is that far ahead of the others. I'm pulling for Worley to have a great year because I believe he is a great kid that works hard, and this is his last ride with the Vols. If he can play like he did against UGA and USC last year he will be fine and our offense will be productive. Worley/Peterman/Dobbs, don't have to go out and light up the stat sheet, but they have to be efficient and not turn the ball over for our offense to succeed. On the flip side, if we were to lose an AJ or Sutton on defense, the blow would be much more significant and harder to replace.
 
#58
#58
CyclingVOL said:
I want to know why everyone thinks Ga. is going to be so grand? They lose their quarterback and all the talking heads act like they are not going to miss a beat. There are too many questions in the East to really know who is going to come out on top.
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Happens every year. GA gets talked up about being awesome only to underachieve.
 
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#59
#59
VolunteerHillbilly said:
Under any objective analysis there's much more reason to believe that Mauk will have a great season than to expect the same out of Worley. I realize that fans are not going to bound by objectivity no matter how bleak things may appear to the rest of the world. We could easily lose to USU and go 0-8 in SEC play for a 2-10 record. I don't think it'll happen but 10 losses is a lot more likely than 10 wins.
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Disagree: Mauk doesn't have anybody to throw to, Worley does!
 
#61
#61
I ran the stats on this and concluded with 99% confidence that we will finish with between 4 and 9 wins with a margin of error of +- 3 wins. Book it.
 
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#66
#66
HuntlandVolinColo said:
Disagree: Mauk doesn't have anybody to throw to, Worley does!
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Not only that, Worley had a higher completion percentage than Mauk. I don't see any evidence to justify all the Mauk praise that's going on right now. I've seen him mentioned as a dark horse Heisman candidate, which is laughable. He completed 51% of his passes with the good, experienced receivers they had last season. He only ran well against us and Oklahoma State. If you take those two games out, he averaged 1.7 yards a carry. IMO he's more likely to get benched at some point in the season than to really be in the Heisman discussion.
 
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#67
#67
Quaint88 said:
Not only that, Worley had a higher completion percentage than Mauk. I don't see any evidence to justify all the Mauk praise that's going on right now. I've seen him mentioned as a dark horse Heisman candidate, which is laughable. He completed 51% of his passes with the good, experienced receivers they had last season. He only ran well against us and Oklahoma State. If you take those two games out, he averaged 1.7 yards a carry. IMO he's more likely to get benched at some point in the season than to really be in the Heisman discussion.
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Maybe because Mauk was a Fr. and Worley was a Jr. Last season? Also Mauk came in when the starting QB got hurt and helped his team to the SEC Championship. Worley couldn't even hold the starting job by week #3 last year.

Winning games are more important than passing %. Probably looking at that Mauk still has a higher ceiling to improve. Just saying and don't have a dog in the fight.
 
#68
#68
gogators13 said:
Maybe because Mauk was a Fr. and Worley was a Jr. Last season? Also Mauk came in when the starting QB got hurt and helped his team to the SEC Championship. Worley couldn't even hold the starting job by week #3 last year.

Winning games are more important than passing %. Probably looking at that Mauk still has a higher ceiling to improve. Just saying and don't have a dog in the fight.
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I made the completion percentage comparison because most would agree that Worley's 55.6% for last season isn't that great and certainly not worthy of mention as a dark horse Heisman candidate. Of course wins mean more than stats, but the stats can give you a very good idea of how much a win can be attributed to an individual. This is helpful when considering candidates for an individual award, such as the Heisman. Do you think he's really a dark horse Heisman candidate? I just don't see it at this point because he would have to do so much more than last season with less around him. Am I all alone in that?
 
#69
#69
Quaint88 said:
I made the completion percentage comparison because most would agree that Worley's 55.6% for last season isn't that great and certainly not worthy of mention as a dark horse Heisman candidate. Of course wins mean more than stats, but the stats can give you a very good idea of how much a win can be attributed to an individual. This is helpful when considering candidates for an individual award, such as the Heisman. Do you think he's really a dark horse Heisman candidate? I just don't see it at this point because he would have to do so much more than last season with less around him. Am I all alone in that?
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He was Fr. All Sec... Played in 13 of 14 games. Also started 4 games and just... Won. Not many fr. Do that. Stats mean nothing when you win games as a QB.

No matter what the % was he did his job as a QB. Most important stat for a QB is turnovers... Compare those...

I think you used a poor choice using Worley as a comparison. As far as Heisman... Lost a lot of WRs.
 
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#71
#71
gogators13 said:
He was Fr. All Sec... Played in 13 of 14 games. Also started 4 games and just... Won. Not many fr. Do that. Stats mean nothing when you win games as a QB.

No matter what the % was he did his job as a QB. Most important stat for a QB is turnovers... Compare those...

I think you used a poor choice using Worley as a comparison. As far as Heisman... Lost a lot of WRs.
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Our fans are the worst at being objective. Matty Mauck could very well be all sec and is a poor mans Johnny football. What ticks me off right now are all the vol fans upset with analysts predicting the same record thst has been predicted for months. We are not very good at all. We will get smeared at the line of scrimmage. I'm predicting a lot of luck will get us to 6 wins with a huge upset.
 
#72
#72
BeattieFeathers said:
Our fans are the worst at being objective. Matty Mauck could very well be all sec and is a poor mans Johnny football. What ticks me off right now are all the vol fans upset with analysts predicting the same record thst has been predicted for months. We are not very good at all. We will get smeared at the line of scrimmage. I'm predicting a lot of luck will get us to 6 wins with a huge upset.
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He won games and put his team in position to have a good season. When it comes to stats or #s we can always find them to work in our favor most of the time.
 
#73
#73
I just can't see them losing to both Mizzou and Vandy again (even though I said that last year, too).
 
#74
#74
BeattieFeathers said:
Our fans are the worst at being objective. Matty Mauck could very well be all sec and is a poor mans Johnny football. What ticks me off right now are all the vol fans upset with analysts predicting the same record thst has been predicted for months. We are not very good at all. We will get smeared at the line of scrimmage. I'm predicting a lot of luck will get us to 6 wins with a huge upset.
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How poor are we talking about? I saw where Mauk says he wants to play like Manziel, which is hilarious. Step 1: Complete 17% more of your passes.
 
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