Major sportsbook doesn't buy Vols as a title contender in 2023
The Tennessee Volunteers exorcised a number of demons in 2022. They defeated Florida at home for the first time since 2016, and only the second overall time since 2004. They beat Alabama for the first time since 2006, including the second-ever win over Nick Saban (other time being the first matchup of 2001). They appeared […]
The Tennessee Volunteers exorcised a number of demons in 2022. They defeated Florida at home for the first time since 2016, and only the second overall time since 2004. They beat Alabama for the first time since 2006, including the second-ever win over Nick Saban (other time being the first matchup of 2001).
They appeared in a "major" bowl game – a BCS or New Year's Six-member bowl – for the first time since the end of the 1999 season and won it for the first time since they hoisted the Sears Trophy on January 4, 1999 in Tempe, Arizona. Joe Milton looked every bit the part of a solid QB, completing 19 of 28 passes for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns in Tennessee's 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
But despite being a program sharply on the rise, one oddsmaker still doesn't have Tennessee in the class of Alabama or Georgia. DraftKings Sportsbook has released a number of college football game odds, and they've made the Vols relatively healthy underdogs against Alabama and Georgia.
The Vols are a 9.5-point underdog at the Crimson Tide on October 21. Per Athlon Sports, Alabama returns just 9 starters, second fewest in the SEC (Arkansas, 8). They must replace their best players on both sides of the ball in QB Bryce Young and DE Will Anderson, who both went in the top 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Conversely, Tennessee returns 13 starters, tied for fourth most in the SEC. But Alabama typically reloads instead of rebuilds, and the oddsmakers know that. Combined with the game being played in Tuscaloosa, DraftKings sees this as a two-score win for the Crimson Tide.
Tennessee is getting eight points against two-time defending national Georgia on November 18. To be fair, Tennessee hasn't stayed within 8 points of Georgia since the "Dobbnail Boot" game from 2016, a 34-31 Tennessee win on Josh Dobbs' miracle Hail Mary pass to Jauan Jennings. Georgia, like Alabama, is loaded with 5-star recruits and will plug in blue-chip talent to cover their departing stars, but they return a solid 13 starters from a year ago. The Dawgs have proven that it's silly to doubt them until they give you a reason to, and they haven't done that in years.
The Vols are favored in a number of other games released. They are 7.5-point road favorites against Florida. At home, Tennessee is a favorite against Texas A&M by 8.5 points and by 13 against South Carolina. Tennessee was also favored by a whopping 27 points against Virginia in Nashville, but that game has since been taken off DraftKings' board.
If you're feeling like laying action on the Vols to win the national championship, UT sits at +2800 (or 28 to 1) odds, sandwiched between Notre Dame, Texas, and Penn State at +2500 and Oregon at +3500.
Regardless of whether or not the respect is there, Tennessee will look to do what it hasn't since 1999, and that's end up in a major bowl game in back-to-back seasons. If they can make it happen in Pasadena or New Orleans – the sites of the College Football Playoff semifinal matchups – then the Vols will have proven the doubters – and the oddsmakers – wrong.
