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Tennessee Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 4: Todd Kelly Jr. #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 4: Todd Kelly Jr. #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 08: Head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers Butch Jones watches a play in the first half of their game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on October 8, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 08: Head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers Butch Jones watches a play in the first half of their game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on October 8, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

2017 schedule

WEEK DATE OPPONENT LOCATION
1 Sept. 4 vs. Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga.
2 Sept. 9 vs. Indiana State Knoxville, Tenn.
3 Sept. 16 at Florida Gainesville, Fla.
4 Sept. 23 vs. UMass Knoxville, Tenn.
5 Sept. 30 vs. Georgia Knoxville, Tenn.
6 Oct. 7 BYE WEEK
7 Oct. 14 vs. South Carolina Knoxville, Tenn.
8 Oct. 21 at Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala.
9 Oct. 28 at Kentucky Lexington, Ky.
10 Nov. 4 vs. Southern Miss Knoxville, Tenn.
11 Nov. 11 at Missouri Columbia, Mo.
12 Nov. 18 vs. LSU Knoxville, Tenn.
13 Nov. 25 vs. Vanderbilt Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers’ 2017 schedule isn’t quite as daunting as others in the SEC. In fact, the Volunteers’ four road games feature two that are extremely winnable — Kentucky and Missouri — while the other two might be out of reach — at Alabama and at Florida.

However, the home games should all be close. While LSU and Georgia will provide tough tests, neither of those two are at the level of Alabama. Each team in the SEC is beatable this season and that’s what makes these games in Knoxville that much more intriguing. There’s something about playing at Neyland Stadium that haunts opponents.

It’s just not an easy place to play if you’re the road team, and that could lead to a couple of upsets.

The other SEC home games against South Carolina and Vanderbilt should be sure wins. Not only are those teams less talented than Tennessee, but it’s an opportunity for the Vols to exact revenge for losses in 2016. The 2017 schedule favors the Volunteers.

Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017

Prediction: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)

Is eight wins generous for a team that lost so much and is coming off a disappointing season with veterans riddled across the roster? Possibly, but the schedule seems favorable. The Volunteers should start the season 3-1 with a loss at Florida and then lose their fifth game against Georgia, although it’s a toss-up, to drop to 3-2. After the bye week, Tennessee should handle South Carolina, Kentucky, Southern Miss, Missouri and Vanderbilt. The only losses I see in the second half are against LSU and Alabama. A solid season for an unproven group of guys.

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