Tennessee Vols Football: 2010 Game-By-Game Schedule Preview
The Tennessee Vols will embark upon yet another new era in less than one week. New Tennessee head coach, Derek Dooley inherits a program that is nothing close to what it was just four years ago. This Tennessee Vols program is an even farther cry from the dominant SEC program of the 90's.
Until 2008, Tennessee fans were able to mark down eight wins in a season with relative ease. During the 90's, 10 wins was the mark. In 2010, Tennessee fans will be ecstatic with six wins.
Vols fans once looked forward to the big three, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama so they could polish their resume and receive a New Year's Day bowl invitation. Now, fans are hoping that Tennessee can defeat South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Kentucky so the team can go to the Music City Bowl in Nashville to play a decent ACC team on New Year's Eve.
Still, Tennessee fans are loyal and they will still show up in the tens of thousands to cheer on the Big Orange at Neyland Stadium throughout Saturdays this fall.
Here is what fans can expect to see out of their team each week this season.
Vs. UT-Martin, September 4
1 of 13
The season should get off to a nice start for the Vols when they host Tennessee-Martin of the FCS. As bad as things have reportedly been for Tennessee so far, this game should, at least temporarily, make fans and coaches forget about how the Vols stack up against Oregon the next week.
Vols fans are likely to see plenty of action from Tennessee's vaunted freshmen class in this one. QB Tyler Bray and WR DaRick Rogers might even connect for a touchdown or two late in the fourth quarter.
This one should not be close at halftime.
Vols win, 55-17.
Vs. Oregon, September 11
2 of 13
On paper, there's no reason the Vols should be in this game. Oregon has a Heisman candidate, RB LaMichael James on offense and unbelievable speed on defense. They do have a sophomore quarterback, however, and the Ducks do have to fly 2,500 miles just play this game.
Of course that last fact didn't stop UCLA from coming to Neyland Stadium and winning last September.
Tennessee has some great talent on defense, but having only one defensive tackle that's actually played the position in a college football game does not bode well against this Oregon defensive line.
Oregon is the odds-on favorite to win the Pac 10 and is a top ten team in the preseason. If Tennessee wants to win this one, Vols fans should start praying right about...now.
Oregon wins, 42-21.
Vs. Florida, September 18
3 of 13
Florida might have lost Tim Tebow and a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but this is Florida. The Gators have five star athletes, three-deep at most positions on the depth chart.
If you can lose a Heisman winner/perennial candidate Tim Tebow and replace him with John Brantley, another Heisman candidate, you are doing pretty well. Not to mention Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps at running back.
Tennessee's youth in the secondary will be exploited throughout this matchup with one of the Vols top rivals.
Bottom line, Florida will win the SEC East, and Tennessee will be their first SEC victim.
Florida wins, 30-12.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Vs. Alabama-Birmingham, September 25
4 of 13
Finally, a welcome respite for the Vols as UAB comes back to Knoxville. UAB is a part of Conference USA and the Blazers have never fared very well against Tennessee (0-3) or any SEC program (2-12) for that matter.
UAB played in Knoxville in '98, '05, and '08. The Vols won the national championship in '98, but the last two times UAB has come to Knoxville, '05 and '08, the Vols finished 5-6 and 5-7 respectively--the only bowl-less, under .500 season's in Knoxville since 1988.
Playing UAB in Knoxville is clearly no longer a sign of good things to come, but it's another win in 2010.
Vols win, 28-14
At LSU, October 2
5 of 13
LSU will have some problems of its own in 2010. Les Miles is on the hotseat and the Tigers were picked fourth in the SEC West by the media at SEC Media Days.
Tennessee has a chance in this one—especially if the running game, led by Tauren Poole, can get going early. The LSU offense has a multitude of question marks and the Vols young secondary could make a few breaks for team.
Still, this game is in Baton Rouge where the Tigers don't lose much. The Vols can keep this one close for a while, but ultimately, LSU will get it done on the strength of its defensive line against the Vols' inexperienced offensive line.
LSU wins, 27-21.
At Georgia, October 9
6 of 13
Until the Georgia game last season, many felt that the Vols were well on their way to another under .500 finish. But then the embattled Vols quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, did his best Peyton Manning impression. The Vols won that game 45-19.
Last year, however, Georgia's defense was nothing to brag about. A new defensive coordinator and a vaunted offensive line, running attack, and Heisman candidate at wide receiver makes this 'Dawgs team much more formidable than it was last season.
The Vols have owned the Georgia series for much of the last two decades, but the next decade will get off to a bumpy start for the Vols against the 'Dawgs.
Georgia wins, 31-14.
Vs. Alabama, October 23
7 of 13
The Vols were a gigantic, meaty hand of a defensive tackle and an injured quadriceps muscle of a kicker away from defeating the eventual national champions in Tuscaloosa last season.
This game, once known, simply as, "The Third Saturday October" is almost a close, bitterly contested matchup between the two teams regardless of each team's ranking.
This season, however, there is no reason the Vols should keep this one close. Tennessee has a lack of depth at just about every position on the field. Alabama is stacked at every position with tremendous talent. It's not hard to imagine what Tide RB's Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson could do to this young, depth less interior defensive line of the Vols.
Maybe Nick Saban will take it easy on the Vols since Derek Dooley was one of his top assistants for so long at LSU and the Miami Dolphins. Then again, maybe not.
'Bama wins, 45-20.
At South Carolina, October 30
8 of 13
South Carolina is not going to be what some have picked them to be in 2010. They will not win the SEC East and they likely won't even win eight games. They will, however, have home field as an advantage against the Vols.
The Gamecocks beat the Vols 27-6 in '08, in Columbia. But the Vols returned the favor in '09 with their biggest win ever against the head ball coach, Steve Spurrier, 31-13.
South Carolina hopes to actually have a running game for the first time in a while, behind true freshman running back, Marcus Lattimore. The Stephen Garcia experiment at quarterback appears to be on its last leg, but the Gamecocks defense will keep the team in more than a few games in 2010.
Winning this one on the road will be difficult for the Vols. It will be close, but the Gamecocks win it on a late field goal, 20-17.
At Memphis, November 6
9 of 13
The Vols return to the scene of one of the largest upsets in their history. In 1996, the Peyton Manning-led Tennessee Vols had just one loss and was well on their way to another great finish. Memphis won the game, 21-17, and the Vols and their fans were crushed.
Tennessee hasn't lost to Memphis in six tries since that fateful day. They have played three very close games against each other, however. The Vols won 17-16 in '99, 19-17 at Memphis in 2000, 20-16 in '05. The other three times were blowouts.
This season, will probably be closer to the three that have been barnburners rather than a blowout.
Tennessee escapes Memphis with the win and some dignity, 23-16.
Vs. Ole Miss, November 13
10 of 13
Ole Miss won't be as bad as the media predicted during SEC Media Days. Of course, the media did turn in their votes prior to former Oregon QB, Jeremiah Masoli enrolling at Mississippi.
Before the Masoli development took place, many fans had this one in the win column for the Vols. As soon as Masoli stepped into the picture, however, many predictions changed about these Rebels. Still, Masoli isn't the only reason Ole Miss could fare better than expected in 2010. The Rebels defense is still quite strong and their schedule is not that tough.
The Vols will win at least one game that no one expects them to win. This game will be the one that Tennessee is supposed to lose yet will end up winning late.
Vols win, 17-14.
At Vanderbilt, November 20
11 of 13
Poor Vandy. Even their coach quit on them just days before fall practice was to start. Star sophomore, Warren Norman, is the lone bright spot on this team.
Compared to the 'Dores, Tennessee might as well be a national title contender. But make no mistake, this game is usually close.
Vanderbilt might win one or two games in 2010. If Tennessee is one of those wins, however improbable that may be, the patience of the fans and supporters, in Derek Dooley's first season, will be severely tested.
That won't happen, though.
Tennessee wins, 28-12.
Vs. Kentucky, November 27
12 of 13
The Vols will head into this matchup against a talented Kentucky squad with five wins on the season. Needing one win to become bowl eligible against a team that hasn't defeated Tennessee since 1984 should bring fans a sigh of relief.
Kentucky has quite a bit of talent returning and could very well win this game. Chances are, however, the 'Cats will struggle on defense for much of the season. With the schedule that Kentucky has to play, any sub-par unit on the team will become a gigantic target for those hoping to escape with a win.
The 'Cats will come into Knoxville at 5-6, needing a win to continue their bowl streak. The Vols will be 5-6 heading into this one as well. The game is at Neyland Stadium and the 25-game winning streak versus Kentucky provides a psychological advantage for the Vols.
Tennessee wins, 34-27.
Music City Bowl Vs. Boston College
13 of 13
The 6-6 Vols will make the trip down I-40 to play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN, versus Boston College.
The Golden Eagles will be a pretty good team from a better-than-normal ACC. The only thing that is likely to keep Boston College from a bigger bowl game and a spot in the ACC title game is a road trip to Tallahassee, where they'll play a rejuvenated Florida State team that will be difficult for many ACC teams to beat in 2010.
Tennessee won't have much of a chance in this one, but getting Derek Dooley to a bowl game and getting an extra month to practice, not to mention the extra revenue from making it to a bowl, should help ease the Vols pain of losing to Boston College, 34-16.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
