National media outlet picks Tennessee Vols to lose a game in 2023 that would be a major upset
It may seem like we're in the deepest part of the college football offseason, but the 2023 season will be here before you know it. In fact, SEC Media days are only a month away. So it's not a surprise that predictions for the 2023 season are starting to pop up this month. 247Sports revealed […]
It may seem like we're in the deepest part of the college football offseason, but the 2023 season will be here before you know it.
In fact, SEC Media days are only a month away.
So it's not a surprise that predictions for the 2023 season are starting to pop up this month.
247Sports revealed their season predictions on Tuesday for the SEC and they don't think the Tennessee Vols will have back-to-back 10 win seasons (the Vols haven't won 10 games in back-to-back seasons since 2003 and 2004).
Instead, 247Sports has Tennessee going 9-3 in the regular season and finishing second in the SEC East (behind the Georgia Bulldogs).
As for who 247Sports has the Vols losing to?
Alabama, Georgia, and….Missouri?
I can buy the losses to Alabama and Georgia — though Tennessee is capable of winning both of those games — but I can't find the logic in predicting the Vols to lose to Mizzou.
(Note: Tennessee plays Alabama and Missouri on the road, they'll host Georgia in Knoxville.)
From 247Sports: Josh Heupel has this program rolling and it's a matter of time before Tennessee gets to the playoff under his guidance. It's not going to happen in 2023, though. The Vols will be 6-0 and ranked inside the top 10 going to Alabama before being humbled with a 3-3 record during the second half of the campaign. A potential unexplainable loss could come at Missouri in November, which comes right before the all-important home game with Georgia. That has trap written all over it for the Vols. Remember the faceplant at South Carolina in 2022? This would feel similar.
Missouri is coming off back to back seven loss seasons. And Josh Heupel, who was Missouri's offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2017, has led the Vols to two massive wins against the Tigers in the last two seasons (UT won 62-24 in 2021 and 66-24 in 2022).
That feels like a "bold prediction" just for the sake of making a bold prediction. And I think we all know that bold predictions rarely come to fruition.
There's no doubt that Missouri can be a tough place to play — Faurot Field seems to suck the life out of opposing teams — but the Vols showed in 2021 that they have no issues putting up points on the Tigers' home field.
Tennessee will need to execute their game plan and play at a high level just like they will in every other game on their schedule. But expecting anything less than a blowout win for the Vols in this matchup feels unwise.
Missouri’s Eliah Drinkwitz reacts to Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols ‘running the score up’
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel became a bit of a villain on Saturday. Heupel and the Vols got back in the win column on Saturday thanks to their 66-24 win against the Missouri Tigers. Seven of Tennessee's points came with less than a minute to go with the game already decided. Numerous college football […]
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