Tennessee football Week 13 rooting guide: Vol fans have strong rooting interest in hated rival
The Tennessee Vols checked in at #11 in the November 19 college football playoff rankings but was the first team out of the field in the bracket after their 31-17 loss to Georgia last Saturday. Now, the Vols technically no longer control their path to the college football playoff. However, there are a ton of […]
The Tennessee Vols checked in at #11 in the November 19 college football playoff rankings but was the first team out of the field in the bracket after their 31-17 loss to Georgia last Saturday.
Now, the Vols technically no longer control their path to the college football playoff. However, there are a ton of opportunities for them to get some help and get back into the field over the next two weeks (and possibly even on championship Saturday the week after).
Here are key games this weekend and who Tennessee fans should be rooting for.
Ole Miss at Florida: It's gross for Vol fans, but it's an easy decision: cheer like crazy for the Gators. An Ole Miss loss, and the Vols are squarely in the field.
Penn State at Minnesota: The Nittany Lions have no real win on their resume aside from Illinois, who the committee conveniently put in the rankings at 25 on Tuesday. Lose to the Gophers, and they should free fall – if the committee has its head on straight.
Alabama at Oklahoma: The Sooners have been ravaged by injuries all season, but if they find a way to clip the Crimson Tide at home, then the Vols would be back in the field. Pretty simple, like the previous two games. Need a double-digit road upset.
Army vs. Notre Dame: The Irish occupy a spot ahead of Tennessee like the rest, but a second loss, particularly with a loss to Northern Illinois on the resume, should surely put the Irish out.
Indiana at Ohio State: The mission is clear despite both being in the top five: Ohio State needs to not just beat but blow the Hoosiers off the field. It seems like the committee is a little bit hesitant to give IU full credit despite being undefeated, or they'd be around 2 or 3 instead of 5. And that's for good reason, as IU hasn't beaten anybody of note this year (despite blowing out everyone not named Michigan). Ohio State exposing them could drop them such that the Vols climb over them.
Texas A&M at Auburn: It would be nice for the Aggies to knock off Texas next week and potentially drop them out of the field. However, that would then put the Aggies in position to jump the Vols (despite A&M losing 44-20 to South Carolina, but I digress). What would work is A&M falling at Auburn and then clipping the Longhorns at home, effectively taking both of them out of the equation.
Vanderbilt at LSU: Yes, cheer for those Commodores to get to 7-4. It would be the best for the Vols' resume to get Vandy at their very highest point, so this one is a pretty easy decision.
Tennessee Vols the victim of a ridiculous double standard in latest college football rankings
The narrative around the Vols’ biggest resume blemish took a sharp turn on Tuesday
