LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THIS A REALITY !!!
"Tennessee:
The Vols might be really good this season. They might win the SEC East. These things definitely fall within the realm of possibility. It's just, this is the same Tennessee team that hasn't beaten Florida since 2004 and hasn't won against Georgia in Athens since 2006. It's also 3-13 against ranked teams under Butch Jones, so while I see the potential, I'm still approaching with caution. -- Tom Fornelli (In agreement: Jon Solomon, Jerry Palm)"

from CBSsports.com
my apologies if this has been posted earlier ---

The VOLS are going down!

Ole Miss

I believe Ole Miss was second ---

Pleaae, let's not give them bulletin board material.

LSU. I only say them because they are already ranked high. I think they struggle with Wisconsin, win but struggle. Les Miles play calling is suspect, and I feel lately LSU has been overrated a lot.

It's not Tennessee, not this year.

appstate77 wrote:Pleaae, let's not give them bulletin board material.

Yes, how dare we believe our football team can beat their football team.

According to the media or fanbases? If fanbases this is easy, Alabama. They may be best in FBS, but their walmart fans think they can beat NFL teams.

I know CBJ has struggled against ranked teams but I think this is the year UTk takes a step forward. They lost 4 games last year by a combined total of 17 points (assuming ESPN's scores are correct). They return a lot starters and depth from that team while upgrading their DC.

moonshine wrote:I know CBJ has struggled against ranked teams but I think this is the year UTk takes a step forward. They lost 4 games last year by a combined total of 17 points (assuming ESPN's scores are correct). They return a lot starters and depth from that team while upgrading their DC.

So is the assumption that App doesn't take a step forward with our performance against P5? I hear a lot of folks applying the logic that until App steps up against top tier P5 and proves they are ready for the big stage then nobody will believe it will happen. This is the same uncertainty that can be applied to UT, apparently.

AtlAppMan wrote:

moonshine wrote:I know CBJ has struggled against ranked teams but I think this is the year UTk takes a step forward. They lost 4 games last year by a combined total of 17 points (assuming ESPN's scores are correct). They return a lot starters and depth from that team while upgrading their DC.

So is the assumption that App doesn't take a step forward with our performance against P5? I hear a lot of folks applying the logic that until App steps up against top tier P5 and proves they are ready for the big stage then nobody will believe it will happen. This is the same uncertainty that can be applied to UT, apparently.

I was under the assumption we were only talking about UT due to the thread title. I disagree that UT is overrated based on what they return, the margin of losses from 2015 and the upgrade they made on the defensive side of the ball. I see them contending for the SEC title.

moonshine wrote:

AtlAppMan wrote:

moonshine wrote:I know CBJ has struggled against ranked teams but I think this is the year UTk takes a step forward. They lost 4 games last year by a combined total of 17 points (assuming ESPN's scores are correct). They return a lot starters and depth from that team while upgrading their DC.

So is the assumption that App doesn't take a step forward with our performance against P5? I hear a lot of folks applying the logic that until App steps up against top tier P5 and proves they are ready for the big stage then nobody will believe it will happen. This is the same uncertainty that can be applied to UT, apparently.

I was under the assumption we were only talking about UT due to the thread title. I disagree that UT is overrated based on what they return, the margin of losses from 2015 and the upgrade they made on the defensive side of the ball. I see them contending for the SEC title.

Shine, to me that sounds reasonable but one could also say that last year, UT could have just as easily won those four games (losses by a combined 17 pts) had they executed a bit better. So will they correct those behaviors this year or continue to do more of the same? In other words, the personnel they had last year, theoretically could have gotten the job done. Why would one think this year's version can do any better? That same theory was applied to Clemson last year as they started the season outside top 10 because folks said they always dropped an egg in the season but they proved everybody wrong and ended up in the CFB finals.

IIRC, Clemson only returned a handful of starters on D. I don't recall how well the Tigers played in '14 or their final ranking but I'd say that was the reason they started outside the top 10.

I think using returning starters is a good gauge as to how a team will do in their upcoming season. One would think that the additional year of maturity will help them to overcome whatever deficiencies UT had last year.

They also added Shoop as DC and he's had success everywhere he's been, from Bill&Mary to Vandy to Penn St. I'd say this Vol D will be the most athletic he's ever coached. Doesn't guarantee success as the players have to execute but Shoop has a proven track record.

Based on all this, if I were a Vol fan, I'd be hyped about 2016 with the line of thinking...playoffs or bust!

There is only one school this post reflects, MISSISSIPPI