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(Photo: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics)
There's a chance Tennessee could be unbeaten and ranked inside the top 15 going into Baton Rouge in October coming out of its open week with a ton of confidence. There's no doubt Tiger Stadium will be hostile for this matchup, especially if LSU is unbeaten through five games to open Brian Kelly's tenure, including possible wins over Mississippi State and Auburn. LSU has won five straight in the series vs. Tennessee, a battle that has not been played since the 2017 campaign. Tennessee's last win over the Tigers on the road came in 2005.
(Photo: Butch Dill, USA TODAY Sports)
Tennessee being Alabama's permanent rival from the SEC East has set the Volunteers back during Nick Saban's tenure. Tennessee hasn't beaten the Crimson Tide since 2006 in Knoxville, 15 consecutive losses — most of which coming in embarrassing blowout fashion. Last year's game was competitive in the second half before a series of mistakes broke open a close game and led to Alabama's 52-24 drubbing. In terms of confidence, Tennessee needs to play well at Neyland Stadium in this one.
(Photo: Isabella Marley | UF Communications)
Will this game determine which team is already out of the SEC East race entering the season's second month? Potentially. This is the first major SEC test for the Volunteers, who will be a slight home favorite against first-year coach Billy Napier and the Gators. In fact, this might be the biggest swing game at Neyland Stadium in several years with ensuing home matchups strengthening in terms of importance if Tennessee is able to win. Florida would love nothing more than to go to Knoxville and head home happy after beating a rival. The Gators host Kentucky two weeks prior, so a possible 0-2 start to Napier's tenure in SEC play would be headache-inducing.
(Photo: Rob Davis/UGA Athletics)
It took a Hail Mary at Sanford Stadium to beat Georgia during the 2016 season and that's the last time Tennessee has been victorious in this heated SEC East rivalry series. This time around, the Volunteers will bring arguably their best team during this five-year stretch of futility back to Athens in a matchup that could decide the division or potentially knock the Bulldogs from their perch as one of the SEC's preseason frontrunners after winning their first national championship since 1980 last fall. Both teams should be ranked the first weekend of November if the Volunteers can battle through a treacherous slate.
12. TENNESSEE AT LSU (OCT. 8)
There's a chance Tennessee could be unbeaten and ranked inside the top 15 going into Baton Rouge in October coming out of its open week with a ton of confidence. There's no doubt Tiger Stadium will be hostile for this matchup, especially if LSU is unbeaten through five games to open Brian Kelly's tenure, including possible wins over Mississippi State and Auburn. LSU has won five straight in the series vs. Tennessee, a battle that has not been played since the 2017 campaign. Tennessee's last win over the Tigers on the road came in 2005.
7. ALABAMA AT TENNESSEE (OCT. 15)
Tennessee being Alabama's permanent rival from the SEC East has set the Volunteers back during Nick Saban's tenure. Tennessee hasn't beaten the Crimson Tide since 2006 in Knoxville, 15 consecutive losses — most of which coming in embarrassing blowout fashion. Last year's game was competitive in the second half before a series of mistakes broke open a close game and led to Alabama's 52-24 drubbing. In terms of confidence, Tennessee needs to play well at Neyland Stadium in this one.
4. FLORIDA AT TENNESSEE (SEPT. 24)
Will this game determine which team is already out of the SEC East race entering the season's second month? Potentially. This is the first major SEC test for the Volunteers, who will be a slight home favorite against first-year coach Billy Napier and the Gators. In fact, this might be the biggest swing game at Neyland Stadium in several years with ensuing home matchups strengthening in terms of importance if Tennessee is able to win. Florida would love nothing more than to go to Knoxville and head home happy after beating a rival. The Gators host Kentucky two weeks prior, so a possible 0-2 start to Napier's tenure in SEC play would be headache-inducing.
2. TENNESSEE AT GEORGIA (NOV. 5)
It took a Hail Mary at Sanford Stadium to beat Georgia during the 2016 season and that's the last time Tennessee has been victorious in this heated SEC East rivalry series. This time around, the Volunteers will bring arguably their best team during this five-year stretch of futility back to Athens in a matchup that could decide the division or potentially knock the Bulldogs from their perch as one of the SEC's preseason frontrunners after winning their first national championship since 1980 last fall. Both teams should be ranked the first weekend of November if the Volunteers can battle through a treacherous slate.
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