Next 7 Games Key to Tennessee's Chance at Returning to Bowl Game

For most major conference teams, a 2-0 start and improved speed across the board is good reason to give fans optimism about not only making a bowl game, but also climbing the postseason ladder and playing somewhere in sunny Florida. 

But for the young Tennessee Volunteers, the team's 2-0 start merely proves they took care of business against the lesser opponents on the schedule.

This talented but inexperienced team will have to play nearly flawless football down the stretch just for the privilege of participating in a cold, late-December bowl game. 

That's why head coach Butch Jones absolutely must pull off at least one upset win during the team's gauntlet of a schedule consisting of ranked opponent after ranked opponent that extends all the way through November.

Here's a breakdown of each game to determine if the Vols have the firepower to steal a win or two along the way.

Sept. 13: at No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners

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Forget for a moment that the Sooners are 88-5 at home under Bob Stoops. Forget that nearly half of Tennessee's team will be making their first-ever road appearance on Saturday. And forget that Tennessee hasn't won a true away game against a team not called Memphis, Vanderbilt or Kentucky since a victory over Mississippi State in 2007. 

The real story of this game is Tennessee's offensive line. If they can protect quarterback Justin Worley and open up running room for Marlin Lane and Jalen Hurd, the Vols can win. Tennessee's defense has the speed and size to keep up with the Sooners for four quarters.

What they don't have, however, is the endurance to stay on the field if Tennessee's offense makes a habit of going three-and-out due to poor pass protection and an anemic running game. The Vols must sustain drives and limit turnovers to have a chance at pulling off a victory that would restore the program's tarnished reputation overnight against a team ESPN's Todd McShay says is a legitimate playoff contender. 

Sept. 27: at No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs 

Tennessee gets a bye-week breather after the Oklahoma game, but then it hits the road once again to take on another Top 10 opponent—this time at Sanford Stadium.

Although the Bulldogs have only played one game this season, they easily dismantled Clemson on the back of Todd Gurley, who may be the best player in college football, according to CollegeSpun's Andrew Holleran. 

The Vols defense is improved over last year, but in a reverse of the Oklahoma game, this will come down to the performance of Tennessee's defensive line. Jordan Williams and Danny O'Brien can't stop Gurley from running it up the gut, because no one in the country can. Instead, they have to slow him down and limit his big-play potential.

In addition, A.J. Johnson needs to be the man to keep him in check and stop 12-yard gains from turning into 60-yard touchdowns. 

The game plan for Tennessee is the same every team will use against Georgia for the rest of the season: Stop Gurley and see what else they throw at you. 

Oct. 4: Florida Gators

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After what could be two lopsided losses in a row, Tennessee will square off against an improved Florida squad at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 4. In fact, the Gators currently lead the nation in scoring offense, passing defense, total defense, scoring defense, red zone defense and turnover margin, according to 247Sports' Thomas Goldkamp. 

A loss for the Vols would be their 10th in a row to the Gators, while a win would extinguish any lingering doubts in Knoxville about whether Butch Jones is the man to take Tennessee back to the top.

The key to this game is the crowd. Neyland Stadium rocked like it was 1998 during the 2012 edition of this matchup, but an 80-yard run by Trey Burton silenced everyone in orange that day, from the fans to the coaching staff to the players.

Jones can't allow his players to pack it in if and when the Gators gain momentum, and the crowd, which was so energetic in Tennessee's win against Utah State, can't lose its intensity as the game rolls on.

For the first time in years, Tennessee has the pieces—including a defense that can match Florida's speed—to keep Florida's offense in check on the perimeter and test its defense in the red zone. 

Oct. 11: Chattanooga Mocs

Tennessee fans should be thankful the team plays the Mocs on Oct. 11 instead of Utah State or Arkansas State, because this has trap game written all over it.

Coming off what will likely be an emotional home game against Florida and right before a trip to Oxford, Miss., the Vols will be especially vulnerable at home.

While Chattanooga is a respectable FCS team, they're just that—an FCS team competing against an SEC team on the rise. Tennessee should have no problem adding to its win column here, trap-game issues aside.

Oct. 18: at No. 14 Ole Miss Rebels

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Ole Miss beat hapless Vanderbilt handily at LP Field last week, but it struggled with Boise State until the fourth quarter during its opening game at the Georgia Dome.

When Tennessee travels to Oxford, Ole Miss will be coming off a two-week stretch of playing Alabama at home and Texas A&M on the road. After Tennessee, they'll travel to Baton Rouge to play LSU.

The Rebels and quarterback Bo Wallace have a chance to win the SEC West this season, according to ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff, which means all three of those division matchups are must-wins for Ole Miss.

As a likely unranked opponent from the SEC East, Tennessee could catch the Rebels sleeping in this one and get an upset win on the road. 

Oct. 25: No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama's two-game losing streak to end the 2013 season, as well as its lackluster performance against West Virginia, showed that the Crimson Tide may not be the unbeatable juggernaut of previous years. 

While Tennessee hasn't even been able to keep these games close in recent years, new Alabama offensive coordinator and former Vols head coach Lane Kiffin's arrival in Knoxville will certainly keep the crowd's interest at an all-time high.

Tennessee's passing game must excel in this game for the Vols to have a chance. Worley had a disastrous performance against Alabama last season that culminated in a broken thumb. This year, he can redeem himself.

The Tide's secondary may be one of their few weaknesses, according to Marq Burnett of The Anniston Star. 

If Worley can connect consistently with Marquez North, Von Pearson and Pig Howard while the defense limits runs from T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, Tennessee can keep this one close well into the fourth quarter. 

Nov. 1: at No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks

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Fans and sports writers alike were quick to write off the Gamecocks after their season-opening loss to Texas A&M, but you can never count out a team coached by Steve Spurrier.

South Carolina may not have Connor Shaw or Jadeveon Clowney, but it does have a veteran squad with one of the SEC's best offensive lines, according to SaturdayDownSouth's Brad Crawford. 

Tennessee pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football last season when it toppled the No. 11 Gamecocks in Knoxville, and it'll be looking to repeat it in Columbia this year. 

As it stands in Week 2, this could be one of Tennessee's best chances at getting an upset win on the road. 

The results of this matchup could depend on South Carolina's season up to this point. They play Georgia, Missouri and Auburn before they get the Vols at home. If the Gamecocks drop two or more of those games, they could pack it in for the season—especially since they were preseason favorites to win the SEC East.

Meanwhile, Tennessee will still likely be playing for bowl eligibility with a lot more on the line. 

It could be argued that South Carolina stole Tennessee's place as one of the SEC's elite teams in 2008, but this season could be the year that Tennessee snatches it back.