After Tennessee rolled to eight losses for the first time in program history last fall, things needed to change. Jeremy Pruitt is the man charged with leading the Vols out of their dark hole, and with the start of a new season comes the myriad of possibilities of how the games will play out. Tennessee may not be massively better in 2018 – though a new scheme should help – but under Pruitt they do at least figure to be a tougher out than they were last season.
By Steve Wright
September
9/1/18 West Virginia (in Charlotte) – This could be a closer game than many expect. West Virginia quarterback is the best returning quarterback in the Big 12, but the West Virginia defense is unproven at best and just flat out bad at worst. If Tennessee can keep up the scoring pace with Grier then they will have a shot. Tennessee 24, West Virginia 38.
9/8/18 ETSU – Pruitt’s first win will come against ETSU, a team that only restarted football four years ago. This game should give us some indication of how the Vols offense will look when everything is in place. Tennessee 38, ETSU 7.
9/15/18 UTEP – If you are looking for wins to bolster a fledgling coaching staff, then you can do much worse than facing the worst team in the entire FBS from 2017 in Week 3. UTEP was winless last season and this contest will give Pruitt a chance to test out the depth of his roster. Tennessee 42, UTEP 0.
9/22/18 Florida – The fun part of Tennessee’s schedule lasts all of three weeks, then it gets serious in a hurry. Florida is the worst team that the Vols play over the next month, and Dan Mullen will have the Gators competing for second spot in the East. Tennessee 17, Florida 28.
9/29/18 @ Georgia – The favorites to win the SEC East are the first of three teams in a row that Tennessee faces that are expected to be in CFP contention come the end of the season. Pruitt vs, Kirby Smart is fascinating on multiple levels, but Georgia just has too much offense for the defensive mastermind to stop at this point. Tennessee 10, Georgia 27.
October
10/6/18 BYE
10/13/18 @ Auburn – Tennessee is coming off of a bye here, but the big hitters from the SEC await. Going on the road to Auburn is one of the last things Pruitt would have wanted to do in 2018, as Jarrett Stidham and the Tigers running game will be far too much for a rebuilding Tennessee squad. Tennessee 13, Auburn 45.
10/20/18 Alabama – At least the Vols get this one at home. Even so, this is the defending national champion that is coming to Knoxville with – potentially – a much more dynamic offense than the one that captured the college football crown a year ago. Tua Tagavailoa gives Alabama more through the air, while their defense will be as NFL ready as usual by mid-October. Tennessee 10, Alabama 40.
10/27/18 @ South Carolina – In isolation this is a winnable game is Tennessee is improved by this point in the season. South Carolina were picked second in the SEC East by the media and their corps of receivers has the potential to be very good. The problem for Tennessee is that the four game before this will have taken their toll and recovering for a road game in Columbia is going to be difficult. Tennessee 14, South Carolina 32.
November
11/3/18 Charlotte – The ultimate breather game in college football in 2018. Tennessee wins this comfortably if all the parts that matter survive the previous stretch. Tennessee 28, Charlotte 10.
11/10/18 Kentucky – Most have Tennessee down to win this one with Kentucky regressing from its seven sin season last year. The Wildcats will get a large dose of Benny Snell in this one, a tough ask given the pounding backs that they have already faced in 2018. Tennessee 13, Kentucky 24.
11/17/18 Missouri – Too much offense here from Drew Lock and the Tigers. Tennessee doesn’t have the horses to keep up with a Missouri team that was 7-0 against non-bowl eligible schools in 2017. Tennessee 24, Missouri 38.
11/24/18 @ Vanderbilt – Could Tennessee really have to beat Vanderbilt to avoid a nine loss season in Pruitt’s first year in charge? That would be a lot of pressure to take to Nashville and face a team that pounded the Vols 42-24 in Knoxville in the reverse fixture last year. A few bounces of the ball will skew this contest one way or the other. Tennessee 27, Vanderbilt 35.
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