Tennessee Football: 5 Bold Season Predictions for the Volunteers

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GAINESVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 16: The line of scrimmage is seen during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

#1: The Volunteers start the season out 4-0

This is pretty bold, but I think that it could possibly happen. The Volunteers start out the season in Charlotte, as they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in a neutral site game. West Virginia begins the year ranked as the No. 20 team in the nation, according to ESPN. The Volunteers will roll into this game with many question marks, including who the quarterback will be.

The Volunteers have a very tough challenge to begin the year. Will Grier is one of the best quarterbacks in the NCAA right now and has a good chance to be in the Heisman race at the end of the season. Grier is coming off a year where he threw for 3,490 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Grier is also surrounded by some of the best wide receivers in the country in Gary Jennings Jr. and David Sills V. Jennings let the Mountaineers in receiving yards last season, but only had one touchdown. On the other hand, Sills led the country last year with 18 touchdown receptions.

History could be on the Volunteers side in this game though. The Volunteers have had success in neutral site games over the last few years, including an OT win against Georgia Tech to begin the 2017 season, as well as a win against Virginia Tech during the Battle at Bristol. Tennessee has also not lost a game to start the season off since the 2008 season.

If the Volunteers steal the first game of the year against WVU, they should handle the next two games at home against ETSU and UTEP. If the Volunteers do that, they will head into the Florida game with a 3-0 record. Florida will have the chance to roll into this game with a 3-0 record as well. That will make for yet another exciting matchup between the two teams at Neyland Stadium.

Like the Volunteers, the Gators head into the 2018 season with a new staff and many question marks. If this game is anything like the last two games between the teams, it will make for an instant classic. Neyland Stadium would be rocking if the Volunteers could head into the Florida game with a 3-0 record. If the Volunteers are able to pull this game out with a win, they will hopefully set themselves up for a bowl game.

The Volunteers have a very tough five-game stretch, which includes the Florida game. If the Volunteers can survive that stretch with a win or two, they have a chance to get one or two more wins against South Carolina, Charlotte, Kentucky, Missouri, or Vanderbilt.

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