The only way the Tennessee Vols' 2019 season will be deemed a success is if UT reaches a bowl game for the first time since the 2016 season.

That means there are essentially six "must win" games on Tennessee's schedule.

But three of those games are almost automatic wins for the Vols. Tennessee should cruise against Georgia State, Chattanooga and UAB. That leaves three games that UT must win to reach bowl eligibility.

There are three games on the Vols' schedule that are winnable games that I think could alter the course of the season for UT. If Tennessee wins these three games, they're bowl eligible at the very least. Perhaps they win seven or eight games. But if they lose any of these three games, it's very possible that UT will be home in late December/early January for the third straight season.

3 must win games for the Vols —>>>

Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

September 7 vs BYU

Tennessee will be favored against the Cougars, but this is far from an automatic win for the Volunteers. BYU is coming off a solid 7-6 2018 season that included a 49-18 win against Western Michigan in the Idaho Potato Bowl.

Quarterback Zach Wilson will be back in 2019 for the Cougars, as will most of BYU's offensive weapons, including tight end Matt Bushman. The Cougars have plenty of talent on defense, too. Seven of BYU's top nine tacklers from 2018 will return in 2019.

Tennessee obviously has more talent, but BYU isn't a team they can overlook.

Image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

October 12 vs Mississippi State

If the Vols can get past BYU, they should start the season with a 3-0 record. But things get tough after that. Tennessee's first SEC game will be in the swamp against the Florida Gators.

The Vols haven't won in Gainesville since 2003. It would be a bit foolish to predict a win there for UT in 2019 (though it's certainly possible it could happen). After the game against Florida, the Vols take a week off before hosting Georgia. Tennessee still has a ways to go before they're on par with the Bulldogs. That means it's very realistic the Vols could be 3-2 after five games.

Tennessee's matchup against Mississippi State comes right in the middle of a tough five game stretch that concludes with matchups against Alabama and South Carolina. The Vols need to avoid a five game losing streak at all costs.

Getting a win against Mississippi State at home in mid-October could give UT a lot of momentum heading into the second half of the season.

Image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

November 30 vs Vanderbilt

The Vols are obviously hoping they have a bowl game appearance wrapped up by the time the Commodores come to Knoxville in late November.

But even if Tennessee has already reached six wins when they play Vanderbilt in 2019, this will still be a must win game for the Vols.

Tennessee has lost three straight games to the Commodores. That hasn't happened since the 1920's. A fourth straight loss would be catastrophic to a program trying to return to the top of the SEC. Traditionally, the Vols don't lose to Vanderbilt, yet somehow Tennessee has lost five of its last seven matchups to the Commodores. To put that in perspective, the Vols' previous five losses to Vanderbilt occurred in a span of 46 years (1959-2005).

UT won't be "back" until the game against Vanderbilt is viewed as an "automatic win". That clearly won't be the case in 2019, but the Vols can make a statement by winning big against the Commodores in Neyland Stadium this fall.

Image via Christopher Hanewinc