SEC Football: Predicting Over/Under for Each SEC Team’s Win Total for 2015

Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (second from left) is congratulated by wide receiver Johnathon Johnson (81) and guard Jashon Robertson (73) and center Mack Crowder (57) and offensive lineman Marcus Jackson (75) after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Not all 7-6 seasons are created equal. While Steve Spurrier joked about the cartwheels generated by Tennessee’s 7-6 mark last year, the program’s first winning season since 2009 is just the start for the Vols. Tennessee enters 2015 with a more talented roster, more experience, and finally, a starting quarterback after Joshua Dobbs took over the role midway through last season.

Related: Ranking the SEC Quarterbacks Entering 2015

It’s hard to overestimate the impact Dobbs had. After sitting out the first seven games of the season because Tennessee planned to redshirt him, the QB took over for injured started Justin Worley against Alabama and started the final five games of the year. In the six games Dobbs played, the Vols accumulated more total yards (2,541) than they did through the first seven games of the year without him (2,276). That’s an increase of 98.4 yards per contest.

*Nashville, TN

Now, with nine starters back on offense, eight returning on defense, and another top five recruiting class, the Vols can take another step forward. In fact, they can compete for the SEC East title. Take the over.

Tennessee Over/Under 7.5 Wins in 2015: Over

Next: Kentucky