Saturday
— · Georgia Tech
Opinionated, on purpose
The Board
Vegas has the season at 7.5. We have it at 8–4, leaning 9–3. The computers do not sit in this weather. Neither do we pretend this is a spreadsheet.
The number
7.5
Vegas over/under
Priced a freshman and four games the computers think we lose. We took the over because September still exists.
Our board
8–4
Leaning 9–3
Locks on Furman and Kennesaw. Steal one from Texas, Alabama, A&M, or LSU and the over is a story, not a hope.
The four
4
Games they have us losing
Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU. The whole season lives in whether one of those gets stubborn.
Under the lights
Atlanta
Week two, 7 ET
Georgia Tech is the first adult conversation. Everything before it is volume. Everything after it is consequence.
The slate
Twelve Saturdays
Sep 5
vs Furman
Knoxville · 3:30 ET · SECN+
Not a trap. A temperature check. The hill should be loud for a game it is supposed to win. That is the whole point of September.
Lock
Sep 12
at Georgia Tech
Atlanta · 7:00 ET · ESPN
First real test, under the lights, on the road. Atlanta is not a warm-up. If the freshman is still standing on Sunday, the season has a spine.
Toss-up
Sep 19
vs Kennesaw State
Knoxville · 7:45 ET · SECN
A Saturday to remember the depth chart. Score it, sit the pride, keep the freshman upright. Nobody hands out banners in week three.
Lock
Sep 26
vs Texas
Knoxville · Noon ET · ABC
Noon, national window, a roster that is supposed to be better than ours. Steal it and the over/under is a rumor. Drop it and we find out who we actually are.
Lean L
Oct 3
vs Auburn
Knoxville · Flex · TBD
Chaos in a Saturday costume. Treat it like a road game even though it is not. The river has seen this movie.
Toss-up
Oct 10
at Arkansas
Fayetteville · Flex · TBD
The kind of game a young team either grows up in or spends November explaining. We like the road dogs more than the experts do.
Lean W
Oct 17
vs Alabama
Knoxville · Flex · TBD
Permanent opponent, finally. The hill will be a problem for them. The talent gap will be a problem for us. Worth the ticket anyway.
Likely L
Oct 24
at South Carolina
Columbia · 3:30 ET window · TBD
A game Tennessee should win and historically finds a way to make interesting. Take the points. Pack patience.
Lean W
Nov 7
vs Kentucky
Knoxville · Night window · TBD
Permanent, nearby, and always meaner than the ranking. Night at home. This is a must if the over is going to cash.
Lean W
Nov 14
at Texas A&M
College Station · Flex · TBD
November, on the road, against a roster built to bully. Survive and the season still has a bowl with teeth. Get bullied and we talk about next year early.
Likely L
Nov 21
vs LSU
Knoxville · Flex · TBD
Night-game energy even if it kicks at noon. Home field is the equalizer. One of the four we are 'supposed' to lose — we do not accept the assignment.
Toss-up
Nov 28
at Vanderbilt
Nashville · Night window · TBD
The in-state one. Always closer than the internet wants it. Win it ugly. Leave with the state.
Lean W
Bye week around November 1. Leans are ours, updated when the season actually happens. Not betting advice — we sell shirts.