National media outlet gives Tennessee Vols added motivation for 2023 season
The Tennessee Vols don't necessarily need any more motivation for the 2023 season, but it looks like they're continuing to receive some. Vols head coach Josh Heupel has made it clear this offseason that his goal is to win the SEC East and get to Atlanta. Heupel isn't shying away from that goal even though […]
The Tennessee Vols don't necessarily need any more motivation for the 2023 season, but it looks like they're continuing to receive some.
Vols head coach Josh Heupel has made it clear this offseason that his goal is to win the SEC East and get to Atlanta.
Heupel isn't shying away from that goal even though the program lost notable players like Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt to the 2023 NFL Draft.
The expectations outside of Knoxville aren't the same as the expectations inside of Knoxville.
247Sports, for example, suggested this week that Tennessee will go under their projected win total of 9.5 in 2023. They have the Vols finishing the regular season at 9-3.
From 247Sports: Tennessee leaves its home state only once in September, that comes in the SEC opener at Florida in Week 3. Just be careful overlooking home games with UTSA and South Carolina that come after the showdown with the Gators that precede an open date. Those are all must-wins for the Vols to hit a double-digit win total again for the second straight campaign under Josh Heupel. The back half of the schedule looks more difficult and includes Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia. This just feels like a 9-3 finish for a program on the rise nationally, mostly due to schedule challenges.
Tennessee should be favored in every game they play in 2023 except for their matchups against Alabama (on the road) and Georgia (at home).
247Sports is essentially assuming that the Vols will lose a game where they're favored. To be fair, Tennessee lost as a big favorite against South Carolina last season, so it's not like this is just a shot at the Vols. But at the same time, that loss to the Gamecocks was an anomaly compared to the rest of the season. Based on what we've seen from Heupel over the last two seasons, it's far more likely that he'll lead his team to a win when favored as opposed to the alternative.
This prediction isn't disrespectful to Tennessee, but it still shows that the national media isn't giving the Vols much of a chance to win the SEC East in 2023. And that's something they should be using as motivation this fall.
