I'm not a conspiracy theory guy, but ESPN's analysis of the Tennessee Vols over the last few days is making me reconsider my stance.

I mentioned on Sunday that it feels like ESPN is trying to push a narrative that Tennessee's playoff hopes were over.

Comments this week from ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis seemingly confirm that this is the case.

Davis suggested this week that Tennessee's 14-point loss to Georgia is the same as Oregon's 46-point loss to the Bulldogs.

ESPN trying so hard to erase Tennessee from the playoff talk pic.twitter.com/UTn7E0opDQ

— zach ragan (@zachTNT) November 8, 2022

"I think the other thing that they're (the playoff committee) evaluating is Oregon," said Davis. "How do you stack up that 46-point loss at the hands of Georgia? Now, on the scoreboard, Tennessee only lost by 14. But in my judgment, watching both games, that was every bit the beatdown that Georgia over Oregon was. It just didn't quite as out of hand on the scoreboard."

"Georgia dominated both of them," added Davis. "So do you just go by the fact that the final margin was closer even though my judgment watching the game both of them were overwhelming butt-kickings."

There's no doubt that Georgia dominated Tennessee. But it was nowhere close to the way Georgia dominated Oregon.

The Vols were beat up front by the Bulldogs. Georgia didn't stop the scheme, they were just able to affect the quarterback. A lot of that had to do with the Bulldogs having elite talent up front. A big factor, however, was the crowd at Sanford Stadium, which had a major impact on the game.

Oregon and Georgia played at a neutral site. And yes, that neutral site was in Atlanta, but the atmosphere in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in September doesn't compare to the atmosphere in Athens this past weekend. That's a major factor in the game that Davis conveniently leaves out.

As for the final margin?

Look, Georgia won both games convincingly. But a 14-point loss and a 46-point loss aren't the same. If Hendon Hooker hits Jalin Hyatt when he had multiple steps on the Georgia defensive back, and if Juwan Mitchell sacks Stetson Bennett on third-and-10 instead of Bennett slipping free for a touchdown run, then this game has a much different look.

Oregon and Tennessee aren't the same. But ESPN, for whatever reason, badly wants to hype up a Pac-12 team and discount the Vols.

If ESPN thought Schiano Sunday was bad, they don't even want to know the outrage that will await them (for pushing the narrative) if the playoff committee leaves a one-loss Tennessee team out.

It's going to be an interesting final few weeks of the regular season. Buckle up. It could get wild.

Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports