Even after losing to Georgia, last week marked the second-highest confidence level of the season overall. After blowing out Missouri, fans were even more confident the Vols would get to 11 wins than we were coming out of the Alabama game. It did not go that way, of course, but this chart is still a wonder to behold over the course of the entire season:
Officially, the Vols will go to Nashville with Joe Milton as QB1:
So now, the final question of the regular season carries much more weight: how confident are you the Vols will beat Vanderbilt? The Commodores have won two straight over Kentucky and Florida, and are now battling for bowl eligibility. The Vols, depending on how Tuesday’s playoff poll looks, will be positioning themselves for a New Year’s Six bowl. And in the longest of terms, Tennessee will look to finish off its best season in at least 15 years, would earn its first two-loss regular season in 18 years with a win, and give themselves a chance to play for its first 11-win season in 21 years.
Past, present, and future with Milton, there is a ton to play for Saturday night. How are we feeling this Monday morning?
I went with 77% this week. Really curious to see the range on this one.
55… sorry Vol Nation, old wounds heal slow. Football has almost become like basketball with the ability to hang with and beat higher ranked teams. And unless you have a superior D the QB play often dictates the outcome. Go Big Orange!
Coming into the game, we were three plays away from being 6-4. We had outperformed our recruiting with great coaching and great performances by skill players and a little bit of luck. I have full confidence in this staff, but the hard truth is our freshman and sophomore classes aren’t that great, especially in the secondary. The incoming class looks great and the transfer portal is a wild card, but I think the odds are high that we need to give this staff at least three more years to bring in the talent it takes to win the late in… Read more »
50%… not feeling real confident at this point. Still getting over the Saturday night shock. Candy will be playing for bowl eligibility and there is something internally wrong with our Vols. I hope for the best… Go Vols!
90% Pain and anger will fuel a hell raising in Nashville. Plus Milton has waited for this moment. He’ll want to prove he’s ready to lead this team in the future.
60%. I think our chances depend largely upon team morale. As referenced in another comment, there are reports of dissention involving a defensive player who did not make the trip. If our defense plays like it did last Saturday, a fired-up Vandy team is capable of beating us. If the Vols realize they still have a lot to play for, and Milton’s improvement holds up as the starter, we should be okay.
Give me 85%
I think that Spencer Rattler was the X-factor this past weekend, and I don’t think Vandy has a QB with the latent talent to go nuclear that way. I would have the number higher if it was going to be Hendon taking snaps. I think our team is what they showed throughout the season, not what they showed this past Saturday. I sure hope that I’m right. A loss to Vandy would really get the 2016 PTSD going.
I went with 1%. Vandy is playing much better with some solid wins of late. Meanwhile the Vols are imploding due to strife in the locker room over Hooker’s Mercedes NIL deal. The Cocks bent the Vols over the table and whipped that (behind). No CFP after having the inside track. Then Hooker’s ACL. If ever a team should just quit, it’s now. Normally I’d be excited about Cotton Bowl and 10 wins. Not anymore. Bring on Butler.