SEC Football: Predicting every SEC team’s record for the 2017 season
By Matt Green
Tennessee
7-5 (3-5)
Last season was supposed to be the year for Butch Jones and the Volunteers, and after the first five weeks of the season, they looked like they were a team of destiny. They had come-from-behind wins over Appalachian State, Virginia Tech, Florida, and Georgia on their way to a 5-0 start. But the Vols’ second half did not go according to plan, as they went 4-4 in the final eight games to finish 9-4.
Tennessee lost a lot from last year’s team, including quarterback Joshua Dobbs and the school’s all-time sack leader Derek Barnett. Not only do I see them losing to Florida and Georgia this season, but they also have to play Alabama and LSU from the SEC West this season, which are also likely to be losses.
One game that is going to be tougher than most people expect is their Nov. 11 visit to Columbia, Mo. to take on Missouri. The Tigers return 10 starters from their high-powered offense and I see them beating Tennessee.
There’s a lot of Butch Jones hot seat talk going into this season, and I just don’t understand why. Next to Alabama, Tennessee is the only other team in the SEC to win 9 games each of the last two seasons. They will likely take a step back this season, but that’s better than tearing down the program and starting from scratch.
