2024 Tennessee Football Schedule Preview (GAME-BY-GAME ANALYSIS)

all right guys back here on sou Eastern 14 with Chase Robinson and we continue our look at all the SEC football schedules heading into the 2024 season we've made it to the Tennessee Vs and we're going to jump into every game on the schedule for Josh hpel team and uh you know just kind of see how it compares to other SEC schedules before we do that as always let's tell you about our friends at bet online number one source for your sports betting needs this season baseball golf soccer plus all the top fights in UFC MMA and boxing uh every stat every matchup live odds spreads they've got them all going on while the games are being played and when the game's over you can head to the online casino get on a game of blackjack and also unwind load over 150 slots games head to their website today to get on the action use that promo code believe for your 50% Free Bet credit on your first deposit up to $250 promo code believe bav bet online the game starts here all right Chase as always we will pull up the schedule here and we are to the Tennessee Vs and as we said certainly High expect ations for this team heading into the season and um you know I think to start things off here you and I talked about this before and I'll just go ahead and we can kind of talk about this schedule as a whole before we jump into the games but you know I'm looking comparing this schedule to a lot of other SEC schedules and I mean even if I'm you know Phil still has this I think it's the third easiest schedule now don't take that the wrong way we're not saying it's an easy schedule but among SEC teams I think only Auburn and Missouri have tougher schedules based on this rating um seems like a lot of lot of opportunity here for Tennessee and you know we've done a lot of these other schedule previews and um this this one's not as bad as the others at least on paper yeah you're right it's not and you look at the non-conference games uh at at kind of where where the teams are at in in their programs and and you even look at the conference games and I think you can look at the schedule and as we'll go through it we can kind of point this out but there's there's not really any tough stretches of games uh they're they're kind of in chunks you may have you know a couple of of tough games but then you got some some other ones around it who won't be as tough so there's no really tough stretch that the vs are going to have to go on uh as you look up and down the schedule which I thought was interesting and that definitely I think plays into the favor of of the balls heading into 2024 but uh yeah I mean after a nine and four year last year you think back to 22 they were 11-2 then last year 9 and4 uh there's a lot of expect on this team and I think the schedule definitely plays into the favor of those expectations yep I would agree with that and we do start on August 31st they're going to play Chattanooga uh if you're just curious Chattanooga was 8 and5 last year uh the one you know if you want to find a common opponent they did lose 66 to 10 in Alabama in November but again that is what it is there NC State's an interesting one because NC State is kind of like a team that I've seen picked in a variety of places is perhaps preseason top 25 type team um you know kind of hovering around that range so that's a that's a fun one there in week two uh at the the Dukes Mayo classic uh in Charlotte so yeah I think that's certainly an interesting one for Tennessee before they get into the grind of the SEC schedule a couple weeks later yeah it is you know that's again a neutral sight game there in Charlotte North Carolina um I think you know could be interesting because you mentioned North Carolina State's one of those borderline teams uh that some folks have ranked some don't I think they could be uh I think they're uh definitely an ACC team that that you need to watch this year uh now Tennessee has fared well against the ACC uh especially in in recent years but um yeah this is this is a game because I think North Carolina State's going to be the position where they're going to they're gonna want to prove something here in week two by beating an SEC team by showing hey we are a legit ACC team we are you know a top 25 team and and this is one of those games that could sneak up on you being a weak two game if you're Tennessee playing against a team who's got a lot to prove yeah this could make for an interesting game yeah remember NC State finished on five game winning streak to end last season lost to Kanas Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl so the Dukes Mayo classic and the Pop-Tarts Bowl luckily Chase those two do not go together hopefully um yeah but again program with some momentum coming off of that that strong finish last year and um so yeah that that is kind of an interesting one because you feel like these are two teams as we said that have expectations but um at least on paper still Tennessee should be in a good position here uh I think on this one to to have a chance to to score the victory now as we go beyond that Kent State uh we talk about we just go and talk about two games in particular Kent State and UTEP uh if you go by field still if you go by a lot of other Publications those two are probably um at least where they're picked in the preseason two of the bottom six seven teams in the country uh and you're 1 through 134 so just keep that in mind uh so I think Tennessee will probably be okay for that SEC network uh late night kickoff on September 14th against Ken State and then of course it is the Josh hypo Bowl as Tennessee heads to Norman to play Oklahoma the Sooners as we know joining the secc uh and yes that's obviously a game that many fans both fan bases have already circled uh given you know all the story lines heading in with Josh hpel and all that so that's certainly a very significant sort of first SEC game here for the falls in 2024 that's huge uh huge first SEC game and uh you have to go on the road to a team who's in their first year in the conference uh Oklahoma would want nothing more than to beat Tennessee uh at home in in their conference opener and so uh and and then you you look at all the story line I mean this is a game we haven't seen a ton of I mean um last time uh the only time that that the BS have played in Oklahoma back in 2014 and Oklahoma won that game they were I think top five in the country uh that year another interesting note Tennessee's lost five of their last seven true Road games and so um you know Tennessee again is not proven to be a great Road team you're going into Oklahoma again the the crowd in Norman will be electric for this game uh for so many reasons uh but I think this could be a really tough game for Tennessee I think this could be a huge game if they were to win it uh but it it could be a tough one if they if they lose it kind of looking ahead um in the rest of their schedule you know if they want to shot at the college football playoff because you think you got Alabama you got Georgia on the schedule as well and so I think uh for for Tennessee to have the season they want to you have got to start out uh with a win right here in Norman yeah just for for you know if you're looking at schedules and and where Oklahoma's at this will be their fourth straight home game to start the season at this point um Temple Houston to Lane Tennessee all in Norman so they'll probably be pretty comfortable heading into that one um given the fact that again they have pretty much played every every game at home uh leading into it and they won't go on the road until a week later at Auburn so um we always try to figure out okay what are teams look like the week before kind of a pretty good setup I think for Oklahoma heading into that game based on that but all right we keep moving on here on the schedule and this is where Tennessee will get the week off uh after that as um you know they're going to certainly have an opportunity to then uh go and get the week off but then you go to Arkansas and I mean I feel like these next two games which W for different reasons because the Florida game we know there's going to be revenge on the mind of the vs given what happened last season uh in Gainesville but we kind of talked about these two teams Chase and in the other schedule previews you know you just don't really know what to expect from where these two teams are going to be both Arkansas and Florida at this point in October you know we're a month end of the season and they could go a variety of ways for either one of these two teams and so um these are kind of kind of a mystery to me because I don't really know where Arkansas's at at this point everybody you know depending on who you talk to Florida's either about to have a breakthrough year or this is going to be it for Billy Napier so you know it's kind of um a juggling act to know exactly how to define these two games for Tennessee but um still I think if you're looking at it on paper these are two games that Tennessee should win uh and feel like they the better roster but it's just these two teams Arkansas and Florida are just complete wild cards to me right now they really are and you think about this Arkansas game it's in fville um I think Arkansas will be in the position at this point uh that they are still hunting wins even if the first part of the the season hasn't gone like they quite wanted to they are still think they're in this and so this could be a game for Arkansas that they could kind of try to Define their season by by beating a team like Tennessee uh interesting though hyp and Pitman have never coached against each other you know with Tennessee being the East darkas had been in the west they they have not played each other with those two head coaches I thought that was interesting seeing that they've been in the league for several years now but um yeah this both of these are interesting and uh you mentioned Revenge I think will be a huge factor in the uh the Florida matchup of uh from from the Tennessee aspect but yeah I think these two games are interesting one because like you mentioned we don't really know where these teams will be at but this could be a game for both of these teams that hey you you you win this game get a chip on your shoulder and you finish strong I think that could play into it as well for both Arkansas and Florida if their Seasons aren't going like they want them to uh you know I think Florida could be a little bit more interesting one because they do have a a a pretty good roster now will that translate to wins on the field and a really tough schedule we'll just have to see but think they do have the talent where they can can uh can beat the Tennessee balls but you know I think Tennessee is in a position where with this offense they're going to put up some big numbers can Florida's defense match that that's I think where where a problem could lie Yeah you mentioned Florida obviously they by most people accounts and we talked about this I think in the schedule they they clearly have the toughest schedule of any team in the SEC just as it stands right now based on having also Miami and Florida State on their schedule for for you know out of conference games then when you look at the grind of what they actually have in conference it's ridiculous uh but you can watch our Florida schedule preview for that and the Gators before that will play UCF the week before uh in Gainesville before traveling to Knoxville Arkansas meanwhile they've got some tough potential bumps in the road too before they get to the Tennessee game they're at Oklahoma State in week two they got to go to Auburn then right before the Tennessee game they play that game in Arlington against Texas A&M which we know is always uh a grind for both teams so yeah I think that's a good setup for Tennessee and like we said I just Florida has a better roster but but can they actually deliver on that we will find out there but all right we keep moving along here and uh we go to of course the third Saturday in October the Alabama Crimson Tide and we know the way uh this you know game has gone in recent years and as always um we know the magnitude of what this means for both teams and you know again this is probably the first time we've said this in a long time but you kind of know what you're getting from Alabama but you don't know fully just because there is the coaching change with Kaylin deore there now um so again this game it's not like we're there's really anything new to say about what this game means for both teams but it is a different setting now with no Nick sain on the sidelines for Alabama yeah it is uh Tennessee has lost 16 of the last 17 of these uh matchups against Alabama uh the last one they won though was in Knoxville and so I think Tennessee definitely has that going for for him having this one at home um yeah this is huge I I think this is a big game for both teams because if Alabama wants a shot at the playoff two they got to uh to buckle up and and win this game same for Tennessee uh especially seeing that they have Georgia coming up on the schedule they've already played uh at um at Oklahoma so this is a big win or a big game for Tennessee at home uh if they can win this one um but uh man you know this is and we saw last year Tennessee had that big lead halftime against Alabama and then Alabama came out in the second half and and uh and outperformed them huge so um you know Tennessee I think uh in this game since 2022 like they see they they can beat Alabama this is not those you know 15 years prior to that where they lost every time you know this is a this is a game now that Tennessee knows they can win they feel like they can win and I think having this at home will give them a little more confidence in that area but yeah I think this is definitely a winnable game for Tennessee with it being in Knoxville and with the the playoff on their mindset and they could play sper to uh to keep an Alabama out as well if they win this game yeah because you know we talk about playoff implications remember Alabama will have already played Georgia before this um they played South Carolina the week before in Tuscaloosa but it's what comes after this so there's always pressure in this game you think about the pressure for Alabama if they were to drop that Georgia game at Tennessee here on October 19th they' host Missouri top 10 team October 26th they go to LSU on November 9th they go to Oklahoma November 23rd so not a lot of room for error and so um that's kind of what we say we talk about both these teams both Tennessee Alabama wanting that college football playoff opportunity this is a big one because uh somebody's got to lose and uh yeah there's a lot at stake given the remaining schedules uh for both of these teams so all right we keep going uh down here to the uh last part of Tennessee schedule and it is where they'll their square off for Kentucky as always seems like just an entertaining uh Wild game between these two teams at least it has been uh in recent years and this does kind of set up that three- game stretch we talk about importance playoffs those kind of things you're next to or really you know they're in the middle of what a four game home stand here which is like you mentioned earlier like they don't really have these chunks where all of a sudden you've got just three daunting Road games in a row or like they've got a really good setup here where you get Florida Alabama Kentucky Mississippi State all at home um you know you don't leave nean stadium for over a month from October 12th to November 16th um so this is kind of a you know that defining stretch for Tennessee here and um look I mean they're they've got a chance to be the favorite in at least three of these games right Florida Kentucky Mississippi state Alabama who knows um depends on where both teams are at but yeah I I just I like the way this sets up and Kentucky uh you know is going to have a new quarterback under Center Brock Vander Griff you've got Mississippi State who feels like they're in rebuilding mode to me this just kind of keeps getting better for Tennessee in terms of just the way this thing Falls yeah you know one interesting thing about this Kentucky uh match up with Tennessee and and what I think this will kind of be um the the storyline going in Kentucky their defense is going to be really good uh I think they could finish as maybe a a in in the top five sec in defense now you look on the other side Tennessee's offense is expected to be really good I think we we got a lot to learn about that with uh with Nico and and how he leads the team on offense with some new faces they got a good receiver room but kuy's defense I think is is being underplayed a little bit and so uh when you match up ky's really good defense Tennessee's pretty good offense from what we expect I think this could be a really good game uh they GI this at home which I think will play a factor in it but don't count this game out uh Tennessee fans because I think this could be a really fun game uh based off the Kentucky defense against the Tennessee offense now Vice Versa will will will Kentucky be able to score a lot on Tennessee's defense we'll just have have to wait and see but I think this could be a really fun game in Knoxville when Kentucky comes in yep and keep in mind Kentucky too uh the week before they're going to host Auburn uh they will have already played Georgia road trip to Old Miss at Florida so Kentucky could be an interesting spot depending on um how they've kind of converted those games either into you know to wins potentially uh and then going to the next one Mississippi State as we said Jeff leby comes in feels like the roster probably not all the way there yet the way they want it to be um and you know this is a team that's probably going to be picked near the bottom of the SEC that's not going to surprise anyone I think um they're going to play UMass the week before this game uh in Knoxville there yeah you know and and Mississippi State again so many unknowns it's hard to tell you know where where this team's going to be um you know but again you get this one at home and Tennessee needs to take advant of every opportunity they have in neand stadium to get a win and I think they can do that here yep I think so too and then we kind of finish up with uh this schedule here and like we said this is where um you know obviously you get the game at Georgia and what that could mean for both teams and we also kind of tie that into the playoff discussion right where it's you know you think about how many losses can keep you in the conversation and all that I mean we feel like to this point you know Tennessee's got a great chance to maybe be a one L team heading into this um something like that and you kind of you know what the expectations are going in this game Georgia Georgia's Georgia um this will not be an easy game anyway you slice it uh this will be a challenge and um luckily though when you look at the rest of the schedule this is the kind of the last game um because UTEP as I said is I looked here utep's picked I think 132 out of 144 they're 134 in Phil still so that's not ideal um Vanderbilt is just not there yet um so yeah I mean this is kind of that last game for Tennessee and what this could do for you from a playoff perspective it's Georgia uh it's it says it all right there yes and and you know the Tennessee Georgia game has had a lot of hype you know in in recent years especially in 202 in 2022 um it has never quite lived up to the hype lived up to the expectations of this game can Tennessee changed that this year we'll see it's now a late season game where you you're battle tested you've played a lot of football and I feel like you know last year or in 2022 rather you know there was a lot of eyes on Tennessee versus you know number one Georgia Georgia won that one 2713 and then um two weeks later Tennessee loses South Carolina 6338 you know and and then last year uh again they go against number one Georgia and and lose 38 to10 you know when again there was Tennessee didn't quite have the year last year as it did 22 but still there was a lot of expectations in that game against Georgia so I think Tennessee uh going on the road you you you want to go into this game and say hey let's not let what happened the last two years or really what happened the last five years happen again we want to be in the playoff to do that we've got to to beat a team like Georgia and you know let's say Tennessee is able to get a good win at Oklahoma able to to uh to beat Alabama at home you know you're looking at a at a team who could be looking for a spot in the playoff and and it could be crucial and even if you drop one maybe to to Oklahoma or you drop one to Alabama this Georgia game will be even more meaningful you got to win this one in Athens if you want to t a shot at the playoff I think if you've lost one previously yeah and that's where George's path is very interesting because we' talked about in the schedule preview for them you know the week before this they go to Oxford to play an Old Miss and we know how high the expectations are for this Old Miss team everybody feels like this is the team to finally you know have that opportunity to perhaps be in the national championship conversation so the week before that George's going there but remember all the other games on the path to get there like they open the season against Clemson they got to go to Kentucky they got to go to Alabama they got to go to Texas um so who knows maybe we're we're maybe having the same conversation about Georgia by the time they get to you know November 16th here but as always Georgia is loaded with talent and um we certainly put up quite a fight here against the balls in this game Chase I want to correct myself I said UTEP was 132 out of 134 and Phil still they actually 128 it's Kent State who is actually okay 132 so Tennessee I think will do okay in those two games and then again Vanderbilt I mean I don't really have a lot to add I mean it's just I think it's going to be another tough season for the commodor yeah and and you know this it's uh Tennessee has done well in Nashville and I think they'll they'll go over there and and do well again uh you know they've kind of dominated this series against vanderbolten team possibly a playoff team or you know a high a good ball game but you gotta you gota stay focused win this game at Vanderbilt to uh to end your season and get ready for what could be a fun offse or a fun postseason rather for for Tennessee yep so there you go there's some uh thoughts on Tennessee schedule heading into the 2024 season as always you can check all the other stuff we have here football-wise on the channel we've kind of done the schedule previews for every other team so if you want to know anything about those you can find them there of course if you're Tennessee fan also lots of baseball stuff coming off of a National Championship uh here at South Eastern 16 and yeah you can check that all out on the channel basketball stuff as well hit that subscribe button hit the like button on your way out we appreciate you guys watching as always and we'll talk to you again here soon at South Eastern 16