‘This is too high for the Vols’ – ESPN writer takes strong stance on what analytics say about Tennessee’s chances to make playoff
ESPN’s Allstate Playoff Predictor says there are 32 teams that have at least a 10 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff in 2025. The Texas Longhorns have the best chance to make the College Football Playoff, at 83.9 percent, according to the predictor. The Tennessee Vols, meanwhile, have the 10th-best chance to make […]
ESPN’s Allstate Playoff Predictor says there are 32 teams that have at least a 10 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff in 2025.
The Texas Longhorns have the best chance to make the College Football Playoff, at 83.9 percent, according to the predictor.
The Tennessee Vols, meanwhile, have the 10th-best chance to make the College Football Playoff at 38.5 percent.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich thinks that percentage is too high for the Volunteers.
“This is too high for the Vols, who return just 39% of their offense from last season’s playoff team (110th in the FBS),” noted Dinich. “With former quarterback Nico Iamaleava at UCLA, and running back Dylan Sampson and the top three receivers from last season also gone, this team’s entire offensive identity is a question mark.”
“While there are plenty of opportunities for Tennessee to impress the committee against elite competition, the Vols need to look the part of a playoff team against the likes of Syracuse, East Tennessee State, UAB, Mississippi State and New Mexico State,” added Dinich. “Losses to highly ranked teams can be forgiven, but if this new-look Tennessee offense doesn’t impress the committee on film against teams it should beat, the Vols could struggle to earn one of those at-large bids.”
Most everyone seems to agree that Tennessee needs to go 10-2 during the regular season to reach the College Football Playoff for a second straight season. That means the Vols need to win at least one out of three against Alabama, Florida, and Georgia (while going 9-0 in their other nine games…all of which Tennessee should be favored in).
If the Vols go 10-2, they’ll be in the College Football Playoff, regardless of what Dinich says about Tennessee potentially struggling to get an at-large bid.
Dinich’s take on the Vols, by the way, is just more offseason fuel for Tennessee.
“The media is counting us out,” said Vols true freshman quarterback George MacIntyre this week. “We love that. We want to go out there and prove ourselves this year.”
Tennessee will get its first chance to prove the media wrong on August 30 when they open the season in Atlanta against Syracuse.
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