Why our difficult schedule is still favorable

#1
VOLywood

VOLywood

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#1
Yes, our schedule this year is a nightmare, BUT it could be much worse. If you look at where we land on our opponents' schedules, we catch several breaks. Of course, this isn't the case until after UGA. I'm hoping the best for OU and UGA, but those look to be our two toughest games of the year and we land in an ideal spot on their schedule. So here's some info on how we land this year...

UT vs OU
UT previous 2 games - USU & ASU - big wins versus quality mid-major opponents will definitely help us gear up for the big boys. Next game vs. UGA (following bye week).

OU previous 2 games - La Tech & Tulsa - weak schedule so far leaves OU untested, but not that it matters. We know who and what they are based on the Sugar Bowl last year. Next game vs. WVU (followed by bye week).

UT vs UGA
UT coming off OU and bye week leading up to UGA. Bye week comes at a great time, allowing us to adjust and recover after OU, but UGA looks to be a powerhouse. Next game vs. UF.

UGA previous 2 games - USCe & Troy - These are both quality opponents, but not even close to being an extremely difficult schedule. Next game vs. Candy.

Now here's where the schedule becomes much more favorable...

UT vs UF
UT coming off bye & UGA, next game UT-C.

UF coming off Bama & bye. Next week LSU. Definitely a difficult 3-game stretch in 4 weeks with us being the potentially overlooked game.

UT vs UT-C
As a Chattanooga resident, I love me some Mocs, but we all know this is going to be utter destruction, so we'll skip this schedule eval.

UT vs Ole Miss
UT coming off UF & UT-C, next game Bama.

Ole Miss coming off Bama & TAMU, next game LSU. Once again, a brutal 4-game stretch with UT being the potentially overlooked game. We couldn't ask for a better place to land on Ole Miss' schedule. I love our chances vs. Ole Miss based on this.

UT vs Bama
UT coming off UT-C & Ole Miss, next game USCe.

Bama coming off Arkansas & TAMU, next week bye. This is a little less favorable, but the TAMU game is lining up to be an absolute war and we may catch Bama at just the right time.

UT vs USCe
UT coming off Ole Miss & Bama, next week bye.

USCe coming off Furman & Auburn, next week bye. Auburn will likely run all over USCe, which could line us up for a great sequel win to last year, however we are coming off Bama week, so the healthiest team may win this one. With our S&C program, I like our chances.

UT vs UK
UT coming off USCe & bye, next game Mizzou.

UK coming off Mizzou & UGA, next week bye. This very obviously favors us, with UGA likely drubbing UK to a bloody pulp with their run game.

UT vs Mizzou
UT coming off bye & UK, next game Candy.

Mizzou coming off bye & TAMU, next game Arkansas. Again, very favorable for us with the likelihood that TAMU beats up Mizzou. At this point in the season I would guess the healthiest and freshest team will win. I like our chances.

UT vs Candy
UT coming off UK & Mizzou.

Candy coming off bye & Miss St. Similar weeks leading up to this point, but from the looks of Candy, this could be a winless SEC season and we should easily handle this game at home.


As you can see, we have very, very favorable placement on many of the tougher opponent's schedules this year. Does it make a difference? I have to think this will at least give us significantly better chances at pulling off some big wins. I think 7/8 wins.

Thoughts?
 
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#3
#3
I really wish our schedule easier on the front end to give these kids some time to grow.

I'd like our chances vs Oklahoma a lot better in week 10 than week 3.
 
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#5
#5
if you have actually watched Mizzou and Carolina im not sure why you would be too worried. Not saying we will win but we are fully capable of winning and we will be right in the thick of it with those two. We may destroy Carolinas secondary.
 
#6
#6
Nice analysis. I thought a win over Ole Miss looked more likely than a win over South Carolina due to where it falls on our schedule, but I didn't realize we have a good spot on their schedule in addition to that. I still don't believe South Carolina is as bad as they've looked so far. It just seems too good to be true.
 
#7
#7
RiseToTheTop said:
if you have actually watched Mizzou and Carolina im not sure why you would be too worried. Not saying we will win but we are fully capable of winning and we will be right in the thick of it with those two. We may destroy Carolinas secondary.
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Agreed.

Neither are for sure wins, but they are games we have legit shots at winning. I'm still amazed by the Missouri love fest.
 
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#8
#8
I would not describe Utah State as a "quality" team. They were awful.
 
#9
#9
2 wins over Utah st/arky st...let's see how they do with real teams before wee start saying they have legit shots at the likes of Bama and kentucky (jk).

Usc is better than they look and ole miss is better than people think, they will be tough to beat. I think they are both away games too.
 
#10
#10
LittleCat said:
2 wins over Utah st/arky st...let's see how they do with real teams before wee start saying they have legit shots at the likes of Bama and kentucky (jk).

Usc is better than they look and ole miss is better than people think, they will be tough to beat. I think they are both away games too.
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I half way agree with the second statement. I think Ole Miss is better than people give them credit, but I think USCe are as bad as they look.
 
#11
#11
LittleCat said:
2 wins over Utah st/arky st...let's see how they do with real teams before wee start saying they have legit shots at the likes of Bama and kentucky (jk).

Usc is better than they look and ole miss is better than people think, they will be tough to beat. I think they are both away games too.
Click to expand...

Bo Wallace is good for 2 to 3 interceptions per game
 
#12
#12
Our three biggest games in order to go to a bowl will be Florida, Ole Miss and Missouri. I would put S.Carolina fourth on the bucket win list for this year.
 
#13
#13
How UT fans view our tough schedule

Man, we got a tough schedule, but to be the best, you got to beat the best

Our tough schedule, even if we lose, will show how much we aren't afraid to take on anyone

The tough schedule separates the men from the boys. We are Tennessee, we ain't skeerd of nobody


How the rest of the country views our tough schedule

Did you see how bad they got beat? Man, TN sucks
 
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#14
#14
Quaint88 said:
Nice analysis. I thought a win over Ole Miss looked more likely than a win over South Carolina due to where it falls on our schedule, but I didn't realize we have a good spot on their schedule in addition to that. I still don't believe South Carolina is as bad as they've looked so far. It just seems too good to be true.
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I think preseason we all thought Ole Miss was more likely a 'W' than USCe. It will be interesting to see how USCe plays out this year...hopefully they are what we've seen so far.
 
#15
#15
RiseToTheTop said:
if you have actually watched Mizzou and Carolina im not sure why you would be too worried. Not saying we will win but we are fully capable of winning and we will be right in the thick of it with those two. We may destroy Carolinas secondary.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say we've earned the right to not be worried about any games on our schedule other than UT-C and Candy. But the way the schedules line up for USCe and Mizzou, I definitely like the way it falls.
 
#16
#16
VOLywood said:
I wouldn't say we've earned the right to not be worried about any games on our schedule other than UT-C and Candy. But the way the schedules line up for USCe and Mizzou, I definitely like the way it falls.
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i know we havent but did you not read what i said right after that?
 
#17
#17
RiseToTheTop said:
i know we havent but did you not read what i said right after that?
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Yes, but I was assuming you wrote the first part for a reason, no? We have to worry about every game this year, save a couple. But like you say, most of them could see us right in the thick of it in the 4th Qtr...

Hopefully we catch some breaks, stay healthy, and come away with 7 or 8 W's.

GBO!
 
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