Tennessee got a step closer to regaining control of its own destiny in the SEC East as Arkansas did us the favor of giving the Florida Gators another loss this weekend. Missouri failed to pull off the upset against the Georgia Bulldogs, but there’s still one more chance for someone to help the Vols in that department this weekend. Meanwhile, Tennessee needs to take care of its own business in two tough games the next two weekends. Here are the current SEC East standings:
As of Week 11, here’s what needs to happen for the Vols to get to the top of that list:
- Tennessee wins out. This would put the Vols at 6-2 in conference play. Georgia would have one loss, to the Vols.
- Georgia loses to Ole Miss this weekend. Missouri couldn’t upset the Dawgs Saturday, but Lane Kiffin and the No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels come to town to try it this week. Georgia is an 11.5-point favorite. Hat Guy has the Dawgs as 10-point favorites, SP+ -13.5. That game is Saturday at 7:00 PM on ESPN.
Can Tennessee win out?
What are the odds of the Vols winning out? Here’s how Hat Guy has done so far this year and how he views the possibilities.
Hat Guy has changed his mind three times about the Missouri game, but with the exception of one week, he’s always thought it was going to be close. Vegas currently has the Vols as 1- to 1.5-point favorites. Win a close one against the Tigers and have Ole Miss upset Georgia, and next week shapes up as a showdown for the SEC East. Georgia is still a heavy favorite in that one, but let’s get through this weekend and then get the Dawgs to Neyland and see what happens.
For reference, here are the records and schedules for the Vols and their future and past opponents:
Tennessee Volunteers
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | Virginia | W | 49-13 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | Austin Peay | W | 30-13 | 2-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | @ | Florida | L | 29-16 | 2-1 (0-1) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | UTSA | W | 45-14 | 3-1 (0-1) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | vs | South Carolina | W | 41-20 | 4-1 (1-1) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | Texas A&M | W | 20-13 | 5-1 (2-1) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | @ | 11 Alabama | L | 34-20 | 5-2 (2-2) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | @ | Kentucky | W | 33-27 | 6-2 (3-2) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | UConn | W | 59-3 | 7-2 (3-2) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | @ | 14 Missouri | L | 36-7 | 7-3 (3-3) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | 1 Georgia | L | 38-10 | 7-4 (3-4) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | vs | Vanderbilt | | 3:30 PM | SECN |
Argh. I hate Florida. And the fact that we count cross-divisional games to determine divisional standings. Don’t worry — I’ll change my tune if Ole Miss comes through this weekend.
The Vols’ future opponents
Missouri
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Thu, Aug 31 | vs | South Dakota | W | 35-10 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | Middle Tennessee | W | 23-19 | 2-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | 15 Kansas State | W | 30-27 | 3-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | Memphis | W | 34-27 | 4-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | Vanderbilt | W | 38-21 | 5-0 (1-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | vs | 23 LSU | L | 49-39 | 5-1 (1-1) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | @ | 24 Kentucky | W | 38-21 | 6-1 (2-1) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | vs | South Carolina | W | 34-12 | 7-1 (3-1) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | @ | 2 Georgia | L | 30-21 | 7-2 (3-2) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | 13 Tennessee | W | 36-7 | 8-2 (4-2) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Florida | W | 33-31 | 9-2 (5-2) |
| Fri, Nov 24 | @ | Arkansas | | 4:00 PM | CBS |
In classic good news/bad news, the Tigers played Georgia tough, meaning Georgia is not invulnerable to either Ole Miss or Tennessee, but also meaning that Missouri is going to be a difficult opponent for the Vols this week.
Georgia
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | UT Martin | W | 48-7 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | Ball State | W | 45-3 | 2-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | South Carolina | W | 24-14 | 3-0 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | UAB | W | 49-21 | 4-0 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | Auburn | W | 27-20 | 5-0 (2-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | vs | 20 Kentucky | W | 51-13 | 6-0 (3-0) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | @ | Vanderbilt | W | 37-20 | 7-0 (4-0) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | vs | Florida | W | 43-20 | 8-0 (5-0) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | 12 Missouri | W | 30-21 | 9-0 (6-0) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | 9 Ole Miss | W | 52-17 | 10-0 (7-0) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | @ | 18 Tennessee | W | 38-10 | 11-0 (8-0) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | Georgia Tech | | 7:30 PM | ABC |
| Sat, Dec 2 | vs | 8 Alabama | | 4:00 PM | CBS |
Vanderbilt
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Aug 26 | vs | Hawai'i | W | 35-28 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | Alabama A&M | W | 47-13 | 2-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | @ | Wake Forest | L | 36-20 | 2-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | @ | UNLV | L | 40-37 | 2-2 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | Kentucky | L | 45-28 | 2-3 (0-1) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | vs | 23 Missouri | L | 38-21 | 2-4 (0-2) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | @ | Florida | L | 38-14 | 2-5 (0-3) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | 1 Georgia | L | 37-20 | 2-6 (0-4) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | @ | 12 Ole Miss | L | 33-7 | 2-7 (0-5) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | Auburn | L | 31-15 | 2-8 (0-6) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | @ | South Carolina | L | 47-6 | 2-9 (0-7) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | 18 Tennessee | | 3:30 PM | SECN |
The Vols’ past opponents
Virginia
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | 12 Tennessee | L | 49-13 | 0-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | James Madison | L | 36-35 | 0-2 (0-0) |
| Fri, Sep 15 | @ | Maryland | L | 42-14 | 0-3 (0-0) |
| Fri, Sep 22 | vs | NC State | L | 24-21 | 0-4 (0-1) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | Boston College | L | 27-24 | 0-5 (0-2) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | vs | William & Mary | W | 27-13 | 1-5 (0-2) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | @ | 10 North Carolina | W | 31-27 | 2-5 (1-2) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | @ | Miami | L | 29-26 OT | 2-6 (1-3) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | Georgia Tech | L | 45-17 | 2-7 (1-4) |
| Thu, Nov 9 | @ | 11 Louisville | L | 31-24 | 2-8 (1-5) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Duke | W | 30-27 | 3-8 (2-5) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | vs | Virginia Tech | | 3:30 PM | ACCN |
Austin Peay
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | @ | Southern Illinois | L | 49-23 | 0-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | @ | 9 Tennessee | L | 30-13 | 0-2 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | East Tennessee State | W | 63-3 | 1-2 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | @ | Stephen F. Austin | W | 22-20 | 2-2 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | Lindenwood | W | 52-10 | 3-2 (1-0) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | Gardner-Webb | W | 41-14 | 4-2 (1-0) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | @ | Southern Utah | W | 48-45 2OT | 5-2 (2-0) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | vs | North Alabama | W | 49-39 | 6-2 (3-0) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | @ | Eastern Kentucky | W | 33-30 OT | 7-2 (4-0) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | Utah Tech | W | 30-17 | 8-2 (5-0) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Central Arkansas | W | 14-12 | 9-2 (6-0) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | vs | Chattanooga | | 3:00 PM | ESPN+ |
I know it’s FCS, but let’s give the Govs some credit here. They are probably better than UConn.
Florida
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Thu, Aug 31 | @ | 14 Utah | L | 24-11 | 0-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | McNeese | W | 49-7 | 3-2 (1-1) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | 11 Tennessee | W | 29-16 | 2-1 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | Charlotte | W | 22-7 | 3-1 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | Kentucky | L | 33-14 | 3-2 (1-1) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | vs | Vanderbilt | W | 38-14 | 4-2 (2-1) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | @ | South Carolina | W | 41-39 | 5-2 (3-1) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | vs | 1 Georgia | L | 43-20 | 5-3 (3-2) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | Arkansas | L | 39-36 OT | 5-4 (3-3) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | @ | 19 LSU | L | 52-35 | 5-5 (3-4) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | @ | 9 Missouri | L | 33-31 | 5-6 (3-5) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | vs | 4 Florida State | | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
Honk if you would love to see the Gators finish the season with five losses.
UTSA
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | @ | Houston | L | 17-14 | 0-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | Texas State | W | 20-13 | 1-1 (0-0) |
| Fri, Sep 15 | vs | Army | L | 37-29 | 1-2 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | @ | 23 Tennessee | L | 45-14 | 1-3 (0-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | @ | Temple | W | 49-34 | 2-3 (1-0) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | UAB | W | 41-20 | 3-3 (2-0) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | @ | Florida Atlantic | W | 36-10 | 4-3 (3-0) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | vs | East Carolina | W | 41-27 | 5-3 (4-0) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | @ | North Texas | W | 37-29 | 6-3 (5-0) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | Rice | W | 34-14 | 7-3 (6-0) |
| Fri, Nov 17 | vs | South Florida | W | 49-21 | 8-3 (7-0) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | 24 Tulane | | 3:30 PM | ABC |
South Carolina
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | 21 North Carolina | L | 31-17 | 0-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | Furman | W | 47-21 | 1-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | @ | 1 Georgia | L | 24-14 | 1-2 (0-1) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | Mississippi State | W | 37-30 | 2-2 (1-1) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | 21 Tennessee | L | 41-20 | 2-3 (1-2) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | Florida | L | 41-39 | 2-4 (1-3) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | @ | 20 Missouri | L | 34-12 | 2-5 (1-4) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | @ | Texas A&M | L | 30-17 | 2-6 (1-5) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | Jacksonville State | W | 38-28 | 3-6 (1-5) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | Vanderbilt | W | 47-6 | 4-6 (2-5) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Kentucky | W | 17-14 | 5-6 (3-5) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | vs | Clemson | | 7:30 PM | SECN |
Texas A&M
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | New Mexico | W | 52-10 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | @ | Miami | L | 48-33 | 1-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | UL Monroe | W | 47-3 | 2-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | Auburn | W | 27-10 | 3-1 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | vs | Arkansas | W | 34-22 | 4-1 (2-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | vs | 11 Alabama | L | 26-20 | 4-2 (2-1) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | @ | 19 Tennessee | L | 20-13 | 4-3 (2-2) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | vs | South Carolina | W | 30-17 | 5-3 (3-2) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | @ | 10 Ole Miss | L | 38-35 | 5-4 (3-3) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | Mississippi State | W | 51-10 | 6-4 (4-3) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Abilene Christian | W | 38-10 | 7-4 (4-3) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | 15 LSU | | 12:00 PM | ESPN |
Alabama
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | Middle Tennessee | W | 56-7 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | 11 Texas | L | 34-24 | 1-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | @ | South Florida | W | 17-3 | 2-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | 15 Ole Miss | W | 24-10 | 3-1 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | @ | Mississippi State | W | 40-17 | 4-1 (2-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | @ | Texas A&M | W | 26-20 | 5-1 (3-0) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | Arkansas | W | 24-21 | 6-1 (4-0) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | vs | 17 Tennessee | W | 34-20 | 7-1 (5-0) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | vs | 14 LSU | W | 42-28 | 8-1 (6-0) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | @ | Kentucky | W | 49-21 | 9-1 (7-0) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Chattanooga | W | 66-10 | 10-1 (7-0) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | Auburn | | 3:30 PM | CBS |
| Sat, Dec 2 | vs | 1 Georgia | | 4:00 PM | CBS |
Kentucky
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Sat, Sep 2 | vs | Ball State | W | 44-14 | 1-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | vs | Eastern Kentucky | W | 28-17 | 2-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | Akron | W | 35-3 | 3-0 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | @ | Vanderbilt | W | 45-28 | 4-0 (1-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | vs | 22 Florida | W | 33-14 | 5-0 (2-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | @ | 1 Georgia | L | 51-13 | 5-1 (2-1) |
| Sat, Oct 14 | vs | Missouri | L | 38-21 | 5-2 (2-2) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | vs | 21 Tennessee | L | 33-27 | 5-3 (2-3) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | @ | Mississippi State | W | 24-3 | 6-3 (3-3) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | vs | 8 Alabama | L | 49-21 | 6-4 (3-4) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | @ | South Carolina | L | 17-14 | 6-5 (3-5) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | 10 Louisville | | 12:00 PM | ABC |
UConn
| | | | | |
|---|
| Date | | Opponent | Result | Score | W-L |
| Thu, Aug 31 | vs | NC State | L | 24-14 | 0-1 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 9 | @ | Georgia State | L | 35-14 | 0-2 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 16 | vs | Florida International | L | 24-17 | 0-3 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 23 | vs | 18 Duke | L | 41-7 | 0-4 (0-0) |
| Sat, Sep 30 | vs | Utah State | L | 34-33 | 0-5 (0-0) |
| Sat, Oct 7 | @ | Rice | W | 38-31 | 1-5 (0-0) |
| Sat, Oct 21 | vs | South Florida | L | 24-21 | 1-6 (0-0) |
| Sat, Oct 28 | @ | Boston College | L | 21-14 | 1-7 (0-0) |
| Sat, Nov 4 | @ | 17 Tennessee | L | 59-3 | 1-8 (0-0) |
| Sat, Nov 11 | @ | James Madison | L | 44-6 | 1-9 (0-0) |
| Sat, Nov 18 | vs | Sacred Heart | W | 31-3 | 2-9 (0-0) |
| Sat, Nov 25 | @ | Massachusetts | | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ |
