Virginia isn't as bad as people think

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

Yes, we should win comfortably, but I think we're all kind of sitting on the idea that this will be an easy blow out, like an Austin Peay type game, and that's not going to be the case. A few things to note:

-On paper they won 3 games last year, but they were likely going to win the last 2 that were cancelled, so they are a 5-7 team basically.

-They lost to UNC by 3, and lost to Miami in OT.

-Those two facts put together mean they were a few breaks away from having a winning record last year.

-A theory proven by Heupel (as well as Saban, and Kirby), the biggest jump is typically made between year 1 and year 2.

Again, it should be a comfortable win, but this isn't an FCS school and they aren't going to play like one. We should all have a fun, nervous excitement for this one.

And surely we learned from South Carolina last year to never underestimate anyone. No matter how piss poor they have been leading up to our game.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

I would also add to this that on the positive side, if we do blow them out, it's more of a statement than we might have originally thought it to be.

 

[BanditVol]

I get not underestimating a team. You forgot to list they may play inspired due to having three team members killed last season.

But if you think listing close losses to Miami and UNC is somehow impressive...it isn't!

I agree they may not be as easy as we think, but I am very confident we win.

 

[LouderVol]

Yes, we should win comfortably, but I think we're all kind of sitting on the idea that this will be an easy blow out, like an Austin Peay type game, and that's not going to be the case. A few things to note:

-On paper they won 3 games last year, but they were likely going to win the last 2 that were cancelled, so they are a 5-7 team basically.

-They lost to UNC by 3, and lost to Miami in OT.

-Those two facts put together mean they were a few breaks away from having a winning record last year.

-A theory proven by Heupel (as well as Saban, and Kirby), the biggest jump is typically made between year 1 and year 2.

Again, it should be a comfortable win, but this isn't an FCS school and they aren't going to play like one. We should all have a fun, nervous excitement for this one.

And surely we learned from South Carolina last year to never underestimate anyone. No matter how piss poor they have been leading up to our game.

It would help your argument if they had decent stats, but didn't get the wins, but they don't. The only reason they "should" have had a winning record is because they player TERRIBLE teams.

Their offense was almost dead last, defense was decent but we played about 6 defenses better than them last year.

We can't overlook any game, but we should have the 2s in by the second drive of the 3rd quarter.

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

Da Vols by 70

 

[BanditVol]

I keep hearing they are a pretty good defensive team....last year they were 48th in the country, giving up 24 ppg. That's...slightly above average, I guess.

 

[FBtime]

oh this post again

 

[TAF]

 

[McDad]

The only people who shouldn't overlook the opponent are the players and coaches.

I am expecting a win. Would I like it to be smooth and easy? Sure. But if it hard fought and close, I will take the win and be happy.

 

[tennesseepride84]

UNC was severely inconsistent and Miami was just not good at all, so that’s no surprise those games turned out that way. UVA have a new qb along with new receivers all trying to learn a new system against an team (UT) they can’t afford to surrender consecutive 3 & outs to. That’s a recipe for this game to get out of hand really quick. We will be fine and I expect us to cover.

 

[FBtime]

Yes, we should win comfortably, but I think we're all kind of sitting on the idea that this will be an easy blow out, like an Austin Peay type game, and that's not going to be the case. A few things to note:

-On paper they won 3 games last year, but they were likely going to win the last 2 that were cancelled, so they are a 5-7 team basically.

-They lost to UNC by 3, and lost to Miami in OT.

-Those two facts put together mean they were a few breaks away from having a winning record last year.

-A theory proven by Heupel (as well as Saban, and Kirby), the biggest jump is typically made between year 1 and year 2.

Again, it should be a comfortable win, but this isn't an FCS school and they aren't going to play like one. We should all have a fun, nervous excitement for this one.

And surely we learned from South Carolina last year to never underestimate anyone. No matter how piss poor they have been leading up to our game.

That was with Brennan Armstrong who is a legit good QB. They lost every decent player they had on offense to the transfer portal. Their QB is now an FCS transfer from a bad FCS team. Their win total is 3.5 That's what VEGAS says...not us fans. Comparing them to SC is absurd. That Miami OT loss was to a team that finished with a losing record so let's hold off on caution.

 

[WillisWG]

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Yes, we should win comfortably, but I think we're all kind of sitting on the idea that this will be an easy blow out, like an Austin Peay type game, and that's not going to be the case. A few things to note:

-On paper they won 3 games last year, but they were likely going to win the last 2 that were cancelled, so they are a 5-7 team basically.

-They lost to UNC by 3, and lost to Miami in OT.

-Those two facts put together mean they were a few breaks away from having a winning record last year.

-A theory proven by Heupel (as well as Saban, and Kirby), the biggest jump is typically made between year 1 and year 2.

Again, it should be a comfortable win, but this isn't an FCS school and they aren't going to play like one. We should all have a fun, nervous excitement for this one.

And surely we learned from South Carolina last year to never underestimate anyone. No matter how piss poor they have been leading up to our game.

I could see UT having some trouble early on moving the ball for a series or two against UVAs d line. Perhaps a couple 3 n outs. Other than that, UVA would have to improve dramatically with every single unit of their football team from 2022-2023 for the game to even be competitive. Their starting QB from last season left and went to NC State. UVA replaced him with a FCS transfer from Monmouth. Best win was against a lousy GA Tech team while the worst loss they suffered was a 30 point beatdown at the hands of PITT.

 

[sjt18]

Yes, we should win comfortably, but I think we're all kind of sitting on the idea that this will be an easy blow out, like an Austin Peay type game, and that's not going to be the case. A few things to note:

-On paper they won 3 games last year, but they were likely going to win the last 2 that were cancelled, so they are a 5-7 team basically.

-They lost to UNC by 3, and lost to Miami in OT.

-Those two facts put together mean they were a few breaks away from having a winning record last year.

-A theory proven by Heupel (as well as Saban, and Kirby), the biggest jump is typically made between year 1 and year 2.

Again, it should be a comfortable win, but this isn't an FCS school and they aren't going to play like one. We should all have a fun, nervous excitement for this one.

And surely we learned from South Carolina last year to never underestimate anyone. No matter how piss poor they have been leading up to our game.

According to 247's roster composite, UVA was the 62nd most talented team in the country. Vandy... was 60th. The teams they beat were FCS Richmond, ODU (the 111th most talented team), and GT who was 30th.

You note their close losses. They were a TD away from being beaten by GT a 5-7 team and only beat ODU by 2 points... a 3-9 team.

They're not a good team and UT should dominate them. There is little if anything to suggest their roster got better.

 

[Ratvol]

Vols by fiddy... We going 15-0..

GO VOLS!!!!

 

[USMC-TNVOL]

Didn’t some of their most productive players transfer out? If so, last year’s stats have no bearing on it then.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

According to 247's roster composite, UVA was the 62nd most talented team in the country. Vandy... was 60th. The teams they beat were FCS Richmond, ODU (the 111th most talented team), and GT who was 30th.

You note their close losses. They were a TD away from being beaten by GT a 5-7 team and only beat ODU by 2 points... a 3-9 team.

They're not a good team and UT should dominate them. There is little if anything to suggest their roster got better.

I was thinking to myself, does UVA even have Vandy level talent?

 

[Hacksaw]

I'm always nervous. And talk of how easy it should be only makes me more nervous. Too many ghosts of lost games past.

I just have a feeling that this game will be closer than most are expecting.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

If we don’t cover the spread in this game then we have some issues. There is a reason why Vegas is in business.

 

[Volbrando]

ok so Vols by fiddy instead of sixty?

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

In a side by side look, UVA got blown out in the first quarter by Pitt.

In one of our worst games, complete with turnovers and execution errors, we got the OT win. If we'd had an even halfway decent effort, Pitt would've been no problem.

UVA is as bad as people think. I think we'll have some kinks to work out, some execution problems, and some 1st game nerves but the only trouble we'll have with UVA will be self inflicted.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

That was with Brennan Armstrong who is a legit good QB. They lost every decent player they had on offense to the transfer portal. Their QB is now an FCS transfer from a bad FCS team. Their win total is 3.5 That's what VEGAS says...not us fans. Comparing them to SC is absurd. That Miami OT loss was to a team that finished with a losing record so let's hold off on caution.

It's really not. SC was absolutely putrid when we played them. They were better than Virginia, yes, but they were not a good team.

 

[FBtime]

It's really not. SC was absolutely putrid when we played them. They were better than Virginia, yes, but they were not a good team.

Stop...SC Also beat Clemson so def were on a roll when we played them.

 

[Special Ed]

That's one reason I try not to think.

 

[teeball]

First games are often difficult because all teams are optimistic about their upcoming season and frequently play over their heads. I certainly don’t expect another Georgia State game but neither am I going overlook anyone at this time of year. GBO!