247Sports picks game that could be an 'upset loss' for the Tennessee Vols

247Sports recently picked a game for each SEC team that could be a potential upset loss and their choice for the Tennessee Vols is a bit confusing. The national sports media outlet thinks the Vols' home game against Missouri on November 12 could cause Tennessee some problems: From 247Sports: Coming down the stretch, Tennessee could […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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247Sports recently picked a game for each SEC team that could be a potential upset loss and their choice for the Tennessee Vols is a bit confusing.

The national sports media outlet thinks the Vols' home game against Missouri on November 12 could cause Tennessee some problems:

From 247Sports:

Coming down the stretch, Tennessee could be one of the SEC's "hunted" teams as a conference title contender this season, which makes the Vols marked in November potentially inside the top 25. Missouri will be getting Tennessee in a great spot coming off the Vols' emotional effort at Georgia. That's the game Josh Heupel and Tennessee has circled in November, not this innocent matchup at Neyland Stadium that the Vols have owned each of the past three seasons. Tennessee scored 62 points against Missouri last season, so this isn't a game the Vols are worried about.

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Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) scores during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Every team in the SEC — even Alabama and Georgia — is capable of being upset.

It's not out of the question that Missouri could surprise Tennessee and leave Knoxville with a win on November 12.

But that's true of any game that's played.

The Vols' game against Missouri, however, is a game that Tennessee should win fairly easily.

For starters, it's a home game for the Vols. Plus we saw Tennessee demolish the Tigers on the road last season, winning 62-24 in the fifth game of the Josh Heupel era. There's clearly a gap between the two programs.

And while I'm sure the Vols will feel confident ahead of this matchup, I don't think they'll take it lightly, either. They'll be ready to compete for 60 minutes against Mizzou.

A better pick from 247Sports for an upset game would've been the South Carolina game. That's still a game I think Tennessee wins, but I could see that game, which is on the road, being a bit tougher than the Missouri game. Shane Beamer has been criticized for his cheesy demeanor at times, but he's done a good job with the Gamecocks so far.

It's also a late-season game, which means injuries by that point in the year could be a factor.

I could see Tennessee dropping the game against South Carolina before I could see them being upset by Missouri.

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