Vols Football: Predicting Which Games Tennessee Will Win/Lose Rest Of Season

The Tennessee Vols started the season 2-0, but they dropped a tough one this past week to the Florida Gators.

This past summer, I predicted the Tennessee Vols would go 9-3 this season.

That’s still well within reach for Tennessee, but after watching Butch Jones’ ineptitude against Florida, I’m no longer confident that nine wins will happen.

Here’s how I see the 2017 season playing out for the Vols.

UMass (September 23)

Obviously the Vols will win this game handily. But it’s still an important game. I’m of the opinion that Butch Jones should start Jarrett Guarantano in this game. He’s clearly the best option to run Jones’ offense. Guarantano needs a full game under his belt, before being exposed to a SEC defense like Georgia’s. The UMass game is his chance to get some much needed game action.

Georgia (September 30)

I’m not as convinced that Tennessee will lose this game as most. The last game in this series to be decided by more than one score was in 2010 when Georgia cruised past the Vols 41-14. The last six meetings have been decided by 8 points or less. So I think this will once again be a close game. With that said, however, I just don’t have a good feeling about this. I have a feeling the Bulldogs will get their first win in Knoxville since the infamous Pig Howard fumble in 2013 on September 30.

South Carolina (October 14)

Here’s another complete toss up. South Carolina didn’t look very good last week against Kentucky, after looking like one of the better teams in the SEC East through the first two games of the season. If Guarantano is starting by this point, I like Tennessee’s chances. But if it’s Dormady, I think Will Muschamp’s Gamecocks will shut down Tennessee. I have no reason to believe that Jones will make a quarterback change, unless an injury occurs. That’s why I think Muschamp continues his perfect streak against the Volunteers.

@ Alabama (October 21)

Well there’s no way Tennessee is going to Tuscaloosa and winning this year. As great as that would be, it’s just not realistic. Bama will crush the Vols in this one.

@ Kentucky (October 28)

I’m not sold the Wildcats are actually that good. I know they beat South Carolina last week, but they looked dreadful against Eastern Kentucky the previous week. I think this is a game where the talent gap is just too great. The Vols will win on the road against the Wildcats.

Southern Mississippi (November 4)

This game will help give Tennessee some momentum to finish the season. Tennessee will easily win this one as well.

@ Missouri (November 11)

Missouri is the worst team in the SEC. There’s no reason they should give the Vols much of a fight in this one. Who knows how the Vols’ roster will look by this point in the season, but regardless of what transpires in October, Tennessee will still win this one.

LSU (November 18)

I’ve said since last winter that LSU won’t be that good this year. I’m just not a believer in Ed Orgeron. By this point in the season, I think the Tigers will have been completely exposed. I’m sure this game will be close, but I don’t see the Vols losing it.

Vanderbilt (November 25)

Derek Mason is a legit head coach, which means Vanderbilt is once again a thorn in the side of the Volunteers. Hopefully by this point in the season, John Currie will have made a decision about Butch Jones. And if he hasn’t then I think this will be the game that ends the Butch Jones era. You don’t lose to Vanderbilt two years in a row and keep your job. Vandy will leave Knoxville with a win and Jones will just…..leave Knoxville.

If this is how the season plays out, it would mean Tennessee finishes with a 7-5 record. I think a 7-5 record means that Jones won’t be back in 2018 to coach the Vols.