Where the Tennessee Vols are predicted to finish in the SEC East in 2022
The Tennessee Vols surprised a lot of folks in 2021 by finishing third in the final SEC East standings. Tennessee won't be able to sneak up on teams, however, in 2022 like they did in 2021. Everyone in the SEC is now well aware of what the Volunteers bring to the table under head coach […]
The Tennessee Vols surprised a lot of folks in 2021 by finishing third in the final SEC East standings.
Tennessee won't be able to sneak up on teams, however, in 2022 like they did in 2021.
Everyone in the SEC is now well aware of what the Volunteers bring to the table under head coach Josh Heupel — a fast-paced offense that will test the limits of a defense's depth.
Tennessee is one of the teams to beat in the SEC East this year. The Vols have gone from a team on the schedule that doesn't inspire fear to a team on the schedule that can cause a lot of problems for an opposing program.
If you think that's silly talk, you should know that I'm not the only one that feels that way about UT football in 2022.
247Sports recently predicted the order of finish in the SEC in 2022 and they have the Vols finishing tied for second (with the Kentucky Wildcats) in the SEC East with an 8-4 regular-season record (UT finished 7-5 in the regular season in 2021).
Here's what 247Sports had to say about the Volunteers in 2022:
"Baby steps. Josh Heupel is doing what he can to bring Tennessee back to respectability and the Vols should be able to improve on 2021's record by a game or two this fall if Hendon Hooker manages another stellar campaign. Tennessee will need to emerge from the Florida-Kentucky-South Carolina trifecta at least 2-1 to get to eight wins next fall. Snapping the long losing skid to Alabama likely will not happen and there are other matchups not-so-favorable as well."
This feels about right. No one in the SEC East is going to unseat the Georgia Bulldogs in 2022 — they're simply too talented. But there's no reason Tennessee should finish lower than No. 2 in the SEC East next season. Kentucky is the biggest threat to the Vols — especially with South Carolina's 7-6 record in 2021 being a bit misleading. And the Florida Gators are a complete wildcard with a new head coach.
Expectations will be a bit higher for Tennessee in 2022. While we all know the Vols still have a long way to go before they're ready to compete with Alabama and Georgia, we should still expect to see some improvement from the program in Heupel's second season at the helm.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports/Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
