Tennessee Volunteers: 2010 Exit Survey

2010 CFBZ Prediction: 5th Place in SEC East
2010 Actual Finish: Tied for 3rd Place in SEC East (6-7, 3-5)

Around this time last year Tennessee's Head Coach Lane Kiffin exited stage to go coach USC. The Tennessee fans who had defended all of his shenanigans did not take the news well. The program was left embarrassed and in very bad condition. Tennessee hired Nick Saban disciple Derek Dooley, who was coming off of a 4-8 season at Louisiana Tech. Needless to say Tennessee had some huge question marks coming into the season. Despite going 6-7 Tennessee probably exceeded a lot of people's expectations by finishing in a tie for 3rd in the down SEC East. Tennessee found a couple of answers during the year in freshmen Tyler Bray and Justin Hunter. It will be interesting to see how Dooley builds on this year and if he can get the Vols back to the top tier of the SEC. We talked to the Tennessee Blog Vols In the Fall to find out their take on the 2010 Volunteers and get a quick peek into 2011.


At the beginning of the year you said that a 6-6 season (and a bowl) would be a successful year for the Vols. With the season over and the Vols finishing 6-7 do you consider the season to be a success, a failure or somewhere in between?

It is hard to believe that a Volunteer would consider a 6-and-7 campaign a success, but I do. When Lane Kiffin left Knoxville in January 2010, it was the beginning of a couple of very tense weeks. New coach Derek Dooley didn't have much time to (1) recruit before National Signing Day, (2) attempt to save previous commitments, and (3) assemble a coaching staff. This was all on top of the fact (known to those in the know) that 2010 would be a season with much less in the tank than 2009. That proved to be the case. This was the least talented and thinnest squad since 1977, Johnny Major's first team at UT (which finished 4-7).

When we were at 2-and-6 going into November, the end of the world as we knew it was in our sights. But, Dooley made some tough choices, and the players never, ever quit. They had already made progress, partly seen in the way they were beginning to "play 4 quarters" even though they were losing games by buckets full of points. November was the litmus test. Even with a relatively easy schedule, the team could have tanked, but they kept improving on their way to a perfect November (including extending the streak against Kentucky to 26) and a bowl game.

The great disappointment of the bowl loss to North Carolina notwithstanding, the season was a success because of the way the coaches and players dealt with adversity from January through October 2010. Vol fans as a whole are not satisfied with a losing record, but there is a load of optimism. Think about this: if LSU and North Carolina had not been granted a final play in their games against Tennessee, the Vols would have finished with an 8-5 record. That's how close we were to respectability.


If you could have a "re-do" for one game which would it be?

That's easy - the game against LSU in Baton Rouge. We stopped the Tigers near our goal line and the clock ran to 0:00, with Tennessee ahead. Players, coaches, and fans were going bonkers with an upset of mega proportions. Unfortunately, the Vols had 13 men on the field for that last play. LSU got one more play and scored on a 1-yard run to win. It was the most heartbreaking loss I can remember, with the possible exception of the loss to North Carolina under oddly similar circumstances only more than two months later.


What were your favorite moments from the 2010 season?

Most of them occurred in November, when we rattled off four consecutive wins to salvage the season. The game of the year was the destruction of Ole Miss in Knoxville. Our offense went wild, scoring more than 50 points for the second consecutive week. It was a beautiful fall afternoon drenched in sunlight, and the Vols played near perfect football against a fairly good Ole Miss squad that went on to lose out.

Which player was the biggest surprise of the season and on the flipside who was the biggest disappointment?

The biggest surprise has to go to freshman QB Tyler Bray. Matt Sims was the starter for the first 8 games, replaced in the second half at South Carolina by Dooley in favor of Bray, who then started the remaining 5 games, including the bowl game. He was a godsend - he sparked the entire team with enthusiasm, and gave the offense a giant flamboyant passing attack. In only 5+ games, he threw for 1850 yards, 18 TDs, and 10 INTs. He threw for over 300 yards in 4 of his 5 games that he started. All of a sudden, it was pass, pass, pass...

...which in part was because of the running game, the biggest disappointment of the season, along with the kicking game. It's hard to fault Tauren Poole, who ran for more than 1,000 yards, 5th in the SEC. But it was a massive struggle for him to get that far, and in most games, our running attack was more liability than strength, going quarters/games with little ground yardage. Most of the problem was the offensive line - with three true freshman, there was little in the way of effective run blocking. The kicking game was equally disappointing. Tennessee went through punt returner after punt returner because it seemed nobody could/wanted to catch the ball. And, our kickoffs were generally very shallow, giving the opponent needless advantages.

What does Tennessee need to improve this off-season to get back into the SEC East race?

The running game has to get resurrected via recruiting, coaching, and strength training of OL and RBs. Running the ball has been a staple of Tennessee football for the last decade-plus. It will be necessary for that part of our game to recover for UT to be competitive. We are fairly well-stocked at WR and DBs for next season, but could also use improvement at LB and DL, in addition to the inadequacies of the OL and RBs.

Don't look for Tennessee to be anywhere near the top of the SEC East in 2011. Instead, look for another season around the .500 mark (7-and-5 seems like my pre-season pick right now). But if all continues to improve, 2012 and 2013 could see The Big Orange competing again for a conference title.

Bowl Predictions Part 2 (12/27-12/30)

If you missed the first round of bowl predictions just click here to catch up on what you missed. As of the printing of this blog we have had 5 bowl games and so far Ross is 4-1 in his predictions (only missing on NIU/Fresno) and I'm 3-2.

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (12/27 5pm on ESPN 2)
Air Force (8-4) vs. Georgia Tech (6-6)

Kevin's Prediction: AIR FORCE 31 GEORGIA TECH 27
This is a very interesting game as both of these teams present problems for their opponents defense on a weekly basis. Georgia Tech is the #1 rushing attach in the Nation at 327 yards per game and Air Force is #2 at 317. Air Force has a better resume than Georgia Tech does. Air Force beat BYU (35-14), Navy (14-6) and Army (42-22) while Georgia Tech only had one win against a team that finished with a winning record (beat UNC 30-24 and no Georgia Tech fans I'm not counting South Carolina State). From the latest I have read, Joshua Nesbitt will not play in this game. I think that will be the difference but I honestly would not be surprised if either team won this game. This is one to watch as it should be the shortest game of the bowl season due to both teams mashing the ball between the tackles.

Ross's Prediction: AIR FORCE 35, GEORGIA TECH 24

Who better to defend Georgia Tech's vaunted triple-option offense than a team that (a) runs a similar offense themselves, (b) plays multiple teams that run that offense, and (c) is full of smart, disciplined athletes.  Tech's main hope is having vastly superior athletes, but I'm not sure that will be enough.

Champs Sports Bowl (12/28 6:30 pm on ESPN)
West Virginia (9-3) vs. North Carolina State (8-4)

Kevin's Prediction: NC STATE 27 WEST VIRGINIA 24
NC State was one of the most surprising teams this year. West Virginia finished 9-3 and didn't lose a game by more than 6 points all year but their season just felt somewhat underwhelming. The big match-up for me in this game is the West Virginia defense (which only gave up 12.8 ppg this year) versus Russell Wilson and NC State's passing attack (which ranked 19th in the Nation this year). My gut says West Virginia but my heart says NC State).

Ross's Prediction: WEST VIRGINIA 28, NC STATE 24

West Virginia probably was the best team in the Big East this year -- but they stumbled against UConn and (more absurdly) Syracuse and that kept them from making yet another BCS bowl this year.  But it should still be enough to get by a good-but-not-great NC State team, unless the behind-the-scenes turmoil with the coaching staff is too much for the team to handle.  But their defense should be good enough to slow down Russell Wilson and the NC State offense.

Insight Bowl (12/28 10 pm on ESPN)
Missouri  (10-2) vs. Iowa (7-5)

Kevin's Prediction: MISSOURI 27 IOWA 17
The biggest thing that sticks in my mind is how Iowa finished the season. They lost 3 straight games, one to Ohio State, but the other two to Northwestern (a decent team) and Minnesota (an awful team). Iowa is also looking at some key suspensions for the bowl game. I'm not in love with Missouri but I like them in this one.

Ross's Prediction: IOWA 24, MISSOURI 17

Against my better judgment, I'm picking Iowa in this one.  Lord knows, there's plenty of reasons to pick against them -- they ended the year on a three-game losing skid that included a thoroughly pathetic loss to a bad Minnesota team and then lost their best receiver (Derrell Johnson-Koulianos) and best running back (Adam Robinson) for the game in off-field turmoil -- but I think they come out with something to prove and actually win a close game. 

Military Bowl (12/29 2:30 pm on ESPN)
East Carolina (6-6) vs. Maryland (8-40

Kevin's Prediction: MARYLAND 38 EAST CAROLINA 27
Was there a more up and down team than East Carolina this year? They beat NC State and Southern Miss but got bombed by the likes of Rice and gave up 76 points to Navy. That is not a team I can pick to win a bowl game. East Carolina gave up a whooping 43.4 points per game this year. There is turmoil in Maryland but I think they win this one for the Fridge.

Ross's Prediction: MARYLAND 37, EAST CAROLINA 24
This is another game where an unsettled coaching situation could produce thoroughly unpredictable results, but I think Maryland sends Friedgen out with a win -- especially since ECU's defense is purely theoretical.


Texas Bowl (12/29 6pm on ESPN)
Illinois (6-6) vs. Baylor (7-5)

Kevin's Prediction: BAYLOR 34 ILLINOIS 24
I refuse to live in a world where I pick a 6-6 Ron Zook coached team to win a bowl game. Baylor was really good offensively this year and Illinois was known to give up some points this year (see also: back-to-back weeks giving up 67 to Michigan and 38 to Minnesota).

Ross's Prediction: BAYLOR 38, ILLINOIS 31

There's definite potential for Baylor to fall victim to "just happy to be there" disease for making their first bowl game in years... but the same could be said for Illinois to an extent, since most of their players haven't played in a bowl game, either.  When in doubt, it's sometimes useful to go with the best player on the field -- and in this case that's undoubtedly Baylor's do-everything QB, Robert Griffin III.  I think he'll have a big game and carry Baylor to a close win.

Valero Alamo (12/29 9:15pm on ESPN)
Oklahoma State (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-5)

Kevin's Prediction: OKLAHOMA STATE 38 ARIZONA 28
This is a game that looks fun on paper. Okie State's explosive offense (2nd Nationally in Passing, 29th in Rushing, and 3rd in Scoring) against a pretty good Arizona defense. This would have been a much better match-up if it would have happened early in the year when Arizona was 7-1. Arizona played a tough schedule at the end of the year and fell to Stanford, USC and Oregon. But then they also lost to rival Arizona State. I just can't see them coming back to beat an Okie State team with all those weapons on offense.

Ross's Prediction: OKLAHOMA STATE 34, ARIZONA 24

Both teams lost heart-breakers to their hated in-state rivals in their season finales, so both will be trying to rebound here.  But Arizona fell apart down the stretch and Oklahoma State seems to have superior personnel on offense.  Arizona also laid the ugliest of eggs last year in the Holiday Bowl, so I don't really have a lot of faith in Mike Stoops' bowl prep ability right now.

Armed Forces Bowl (12/30 Noon on ESPN)
Army (6-6) vs. SMU (7-6)

Kevin's Prediction: SMU 28 ARMY 21
The most impressive victory Army had all year was a 45-28 win over 5-7 Kent State. I kid you not. As much as a want to pick Army because this is the "Armed Forces Bowl" I simply can't justify it based on their body of work. SMU isn't exactly a Top 25 team but they did beat East Carolina and Tulsa.

Ross's Prediction: SMU 38, ARMY 24

It's great that Army made it to a bowl game, but they're not really very good.  SMU isn't great, either, but they've looked pretty solid at times and held their own against some quality foes (like TCU).  I think June Jones will have the SMU offense ready to shred Army's defense, too.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl (12/30 3:20pm on ESPN)
Kansas State (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5)

Kevin's Prediction: SYRACUSE 24 KANSAS STATE 21
Not a real high-profile match-up based on name appeal but I like what Syracuse did this year. They turned around a pitiful program into a team that knocked off a Top 25 opponent (19-14 win over West Virginia). Syracuse had a bunch of cupcakes on their schedule (Akron, Maine and Colgate) and took advantage of some down Big East opponents (Cincy and Rutgers) but I really like their improvement. Kansas State actually played a couple of adequate non-conference foes this year (UCLA and UCF) but folded like a tent once they got into the meat of the Big 12 schedule (losses to Nebraska, Baylor, Okie State, Missouri and Colorado). This one looks like a coin toss to me but I think Syracuse is going to be more up for this game than Kansas State.

Ross's Prediction: SYRACUSE 21, KANSAS STATE 17

On one hand, you could go with the best player on the field -- and that should be Kansas State's Daniel Thomas.  On the other hand, you could go with the team more excited to be there -- which is probably Syracuse, given their long years in the wilderness over the past decade.  Flip of the coin says Syracuse in a close one.

Music City Bowl (12/30 6:40pm on ESPN)
North Carolina (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6)

Kevin's Prediction: NORTH CAROLINA 27 TENNESSEE 24
If you asked me about this one half-way through the year I would have picked UNC by about 30. I think Tennessee started to find itself at the end of the season when they inserted Tyler Bray into the starting line-up but it could also have been the closing stretch of Memphis, Ole Miss, Vandy and Kentucky that did the trick (these teams had a combined record of 13-34). So before we anoint Tennessee as "back" under Derek Dooley lets see them actually beat somebody. 

Ross's Prediction: NORTH CAROLINA 31, TENNESSEE 27

Tennessee came on strong at the end of the year, although they mostly did it against so-so competition.  North Carolina was good this year, but not good enough to get by the best teams they played (LSU, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, NC State) -- although they did eke one out against Florida State.  These teams are pretty evenly matched, but I like UNC to win and end their disappointing season on a minor high note.

Holiday Bowl (12/30 10pm on ESPN)
Nebraska (10-3) vs. Washington (6-6)

Kevin's Prediction: NEBRASKA 34 WASHINGTON 14
This one looks like a total no-brainer. Assuming Nebraska's offense shows up they shouldn't have much of a problem in this one.

Ross's Prediction: NEBRASKA 38, WASHINGTON 17

The rematch no one asked for.  Nebraska pulverized Washington when they met earlier this season, and while I don't think the rematch will be quite as lopsided, there's still no reason to pick against Nebraska here.  They're much better, especially on defense.

Five Questions: SEC Edition

Will Auburn go undefeated and run the table into the National Championship Game?

Brandon: No.  I feel that Alabama is still the team to beat in the SEC, I think the Cam Newton train comes crashing to a halt during the Iron Bowl, specifically if Auburn ever gets down by more than 10-14 Points. 

Chris: Right now it's hard to bet against the Tigers. I am probably one of the last people not COMPLETELY sold on them, but I still recognize that they are an elite team. However, I will pick Alabama to knock them off in the Iron Bowl. I know that since South Carolina beat the Tide, there has been a game-plan established for how to beat them. It's not that teams haven't tried to replicate it, it's just that they haven't been able to. The Tigers will be tasked with shutting down the Tide's backfield duo, something that nobody except the Gamecocks did. I don't expect lightning to strike twice, therefore, I see the Tide coming out on top and ruining Auburn's shot at the NC game.

J Martin: I'd like to be wrong, but my gut feeling is yes. Cam Newton is playing like one of those quarterbacks I used to create to cheat in NCAA Football when I was kid. You know, Speed = 99, Acceleration = 99, Break Tackle = 99, Arm Strength = 99, etc. Just snap the ball to him and start running around. It was unstoppable. Well, life imitates art. I really don't see a scheme that can slow him down. Primarily because so much of what he does isn't based on scheme. He's at his most deadly whenever what's supposed to be happening on a given play breaks down and he just takes off. He gets into the open field and makes it a game of athlete vs. athlete, and the 6'6", 250 lb guy moving at 4.5 is going to win that more often than not. If you can stop him, you win. But the only team left on Auburn's schedule with the athletes to stop him is Alabama. And as the resident Bama expert, I have to admit I don't have a lot of faith in this bunch's ability to get the job done.

Kevin: It's taken me a long time to come around on Auburn and I still don't think I'm there yet. I just don't think they have the defense to get past Auburn. If you asked me last week I thought that if Georgia could get past Florida that they would have a good shot at Auburn. 2005 was the last time Auburn beat Georgia but I think Auburn beats the Dawgs 52 to 38 but then slips up against Bama.

Ross: No.  Auburn will lose to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, but their consolation prize will be a trip to the Sugar Bowl, which isn't so bad.

Who will win the East?

Brandon: Florida.  I think each team will take the other out, and they will come out on top of this whole mess.

Chris: Nobody. That's a distinct possibility at this point, right?

J Martin: Barring a fluke Gator loss to Vanderbilt, it's coming down to South Carolina @ Florida.  If you asked me before this past Saturday, I would've said South Carolina without a second thought.  Now, I'm leaning towards Florida.  For whatever weaknesses they've shown this season, they reasserted their dominance over the SEC East by topping a Georgia team that smelled blood coming in to the game.  And just as the Bulldogs couldn't take advantage of a down year for the Gators, I'm thinking Spurrier & the precocious Gamecocks will find themselves subjugated to Urban Meyer, yet again.

Kevin: It's Florida. Time To Die South Carolina! Carolina has a chance because they have Lattimore and Alshon but they also have Stephen Garcia and Steve Spurrier and I really have no confidence in that duo to beat Florida.

Ross: Easy answer: whoever wins the South Carolina-Florida game.  But, seriously, even though Florida showed some offensive competence against Georgia, I still favor South Carolina slightly.  They're better defensively than Georgia and they have some very potent offensive weapons of their own (Alshon Jeffery, Marcus Lattimore, Stephen Garcia).  They've also already proven capable of winning a big game this year.

Can the winner of the East upset the West in the SEC Championship Game?

Brandon: This  is going to sound strange, so bear with me…IF the East Champion plays Alabama I think that they can upset them, as it happened earlier this year, but if the East Champion plays Auburn, then I don’t think they would have enough.

Chris: If that team believes in voodoo and puts a million hexes on the team from the West. Oh, and those hexes have to work.

J Martin: This is the tricky part.  If it's South Carolina, they can win it.  They've already proven they can beat Bama, and they came within a boneheaded Spurrier QB change of possibly beating Auburn.  Even if LSU were to sneak in to the title game, you'd have to like SC's odds.  But if it's Florida representing the East, I say no way.  We already know the Gators don't belong on the same field as Alabama right now.  And it's difficult to imagine Florida's scatter-shot offense keeping up with Cam Newton for 4 quarters.

Kevin: No they can't. If it's Florida they simply don't have the offensive firepower to keep up with Bama or Auburn and if it's South Carolina then Bama will be out for blood and Auburn already took their best shot and will adjust. 

Ross: Sure. Whoever wins the East will be a talented squad in their own right and in a winner-takes-all setting like the SEC Championship Game, anything can happen.  If South Carolina emerges from the East, they'd definitely have a realistic shot at winning the game, considering that they've already defeated Alabama and took Auburn to the limit.  If anyone else emerges, I'd like their chances slightly less.  That said... WILL they upset the SEC West champion?  No, I don't think so -- Auburn and Alabama are simply playing to too high a level right now.

Will Georgia become bowl eligible this year? 

Brandon: Yes.  I think they beat Idaho State and Georgia Tech.

Chris: Um...They'll beat Idaho State, get Auburn in a trap game, so an upset IS possible here for an unsung Georgia group, and a Georgia Tech team who has been too inconsistent to predict. They could go 3-0, they could go 2-1, or they could go 1-2 and miss out. I say they barely make the cut by beating Georgia Tech.

J Martin: Yes, but it'll be a nail biter.  It will take the Bulldogs all the way to the Georgia Tech game to pick up #6.  While they will probably be able to put some points on Auburn, Georgia is just 1-4 away from home this season, and Aaron Murray seemed to catch a case of stage-fright early in the Florida game that cost the Bulldogs some opportunities.  It's difficult for me to imagine them showing up to play (likely) a night game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, which has become one of the wildest environments in college football this season, and pulling out the win.  #6 is going to have to come at home vs. the Yellow Jackets.

Kevin: I like the confidence you guys have in the Dawgs to win 2 of their final 3. The saddest thing about Georgia's season is that their best victory is against Kentucky. They way Georgia Tech is playing the Dawgs could beat them and our best victory will still be against Kentucky. Like Chris said Georgia could go 3-0 (almost impossible) but they could also go 1-2. I think we will get bowl eligible. If we don't then it could get ugly around these parts. 

Ross: Yes.  They'll beat Idaho State and Georgia Tech.  They'll have a realistic shot at beating Auburn, given Auburn's defensive weaknesses and Georgia's offensive firepower, but ultimately I think Cam Newton will pull out a little more magic to get them by Georgia.  Georgia Tech looks eminently beatable, though.

Will Tennessee go winless in the SEC this year?

Brandon: No way.  Tennessee DOESN’T lose to Vandy under any circumstances, so I think they will spring an upset on them and salvage their SEC season with at least one win.

Chris: No, as much as I would like to see it happen, the Vols will not go winless in the SEC. The Vols SHOULD beat Mississippi, although the Rebs are playing somewhat inspired football right now (even in losing their last 3 games) against murderers row in the West (Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn with the first 2 of these 3 on the road) and putting up a fight. If the Vols somehow stumble on that opportunity, there is an absolute certainty (or as close as you can get) that the Vols will wear down the Commodores of Vandy with their superior athletes. Then they will finish out the season losing to Kentucky.

J Martin: No. Tennessee is bad, but Vanderbilt is worse.  The Commodores were just lucky to catch Ole Miss early enough in the development of the Jeremiah Masoli experiment to steal a win.  The Vols should at least be able to spare themselves the indignity of losing to their in-state "rival."  I wouldn't even count them out in their other two remaining conference games.  They should be competitive.  They'll be even more competitive the longer they can keep that 7th loss of their record and the bowl dream alive.

Kevin: Everybody thinks Tennessee wins one. I'm going to say they don't. Houston Nutt and his buddy Jeremiah Masoli will beat the Vols, Kentucky will beat the Vols so that leaves Vandy. Robbie Caldwell will use his expertise from working on a turkey farm and will somehow turn that into motivation for his team to beat Derek Dooley and his bunch of turkeys. Seriously, how do you not get suspended when you are in a bar fight and a dude got kicked off of the SAME team earlier this year for getting into a bar fight. 

Ross: No. They'll win one of them -- probably the game at Vanderbilt.

Georgia vs. Tennessee: Playing For Pride

“We’re pissed off...That’s our thing right now. We’re pissed off right now. We’re 1-4. We’ve got a lot of fans saying this, a lot of fans saying that. And I mean, we just want to make everybody happy. We want to be happy. We’re tired of walking around the locker room, quiet, coaches yelling at us all the time for no reason, because we’re losing. So we’re just going out there and to get our respect back. We’re pissed off right now...I’m speaking for everyone at Georgia...We can’t change the past. We’ve gotta move forward. The main thing is we’ve gotta stick together.”

- Orson Charles, Georgia, Sophomore TE (credit: Seth Emerson from The Bulldog Blog)

I did a piece earlier this year that looked at Georgia's most competitive rivals during the Mark Richt era and it turned out to be Tennessee who has the evenest series with the Dawgs as Georgia leads 5-4. On Saturday, you have two teams that have been evenly matched through the last 10 years. You have a Georgia team that got embarrassed at Tennessee last year. We have a snakebit Georgia team the has fumbled away or missed a key block that directly led to 3 losses and one fumble that kept them from getting back into a close game. Georgia is 1-4 with their only victory being a dominated of Louisiana. Tennessee is coming off of a heart-breaking loss to crazy Les Miles and the LSU Tigers. Tennessee is 2-3 with wins over Tennessee-Martin and a UAB Overtime win. This game is going to be about who wants it more on the field. I would expect Tennessee to try to mash the ball down the middle of the field (following the blue print that worked for South Carolina and Colorado) with Tauren Poole and David Oku. The question is if Georgia has enough heart and enough pride to step up and stop the Vols and win a game that on paper they should.

Other Georgia Notes:
- Look for true freshman Kenarious Gates to line up at right guard on Saturday. Josh Davis appears to be out of the mix, he's the guy that missed the block that caused Caleb King to get hit at the point of hand-off and fumble away the game at Colorado.
- Mega recruit Isiah Crowell of Carver High School in Columbus appears to be inching towards Alabama over Georgia. But with Dee Hart making his decision between Alabama and Michigan will that have an effect on Crowell?
- Georgia practiced in full pads on Monday, the first time during the Mark Richt era that this has happened.
- Branden Smith has his second concussion of the year and will miss Saturday's game. Might this open up punt returns for A.J. Green?
- It looks like Caleb King will still start at TB despite his fumble at the end of the game against Colorado (which honestly should be credited more to the OL than to him).

Georgia Bulldogs Most Competitive Rivals

Being a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs is exciting and nerve racking all at the same time because of the number of rivalries that we have. Just about every other game on the Georgia schedule is a rivalry game. We have 5 games that I consider to be "rivalry" games this year (and in 2013 we will once again met with rival Clemson). I thought it would be interesting to see how these rivalries ranked in terms of competitiveness during the Mark Richt era.

#5 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech "Clean Old-Fashioned Hate"

All-Time Series: Georgia 60-37-5
Mark Richt Record: 8-1
Current Streak: Georgia 1

The first meeting of these two state rivals was in 1893. Tech says the game has been played 104 times, Georgia says only 102 (not counting the games in 1943 and 1944 during World War II when many of the players were at war). With Paul Johnson taking the helm at Georgia Tech this rivarly could be closer over the next few years, although Willie Martinez is not around for Paul to pick on anymore.



#4 Georgia vs. Florida "The World's Largest Cocktail Party"

All-Time Series: Georgia 46-39-2
Mark Richt Record: 2-7
Current Streak: Florida 2

This game has been held every year since 1915. Since 1933 it has mostly been contested in a "neutral" site in Jacksonville, Florida. As an addition to the rivalry, after the 2009 game the "Okefenokee Oar" is given to the winning team.




#3 Georgia vs. South Carolina
All-Time Series: 45-14-2
Mark Richt Record: 7-2
Current Streak: Georgia 2

This rivalry has recently turned into a very important game for both teams as it usually gives a good indication on how both teams will fare during the year. Despite it looking like Georgia has been dominant during the Mark Richt era against South Carolina the average margin of victory is only 5 points over the last 3 years and by only 6.5 over the last 6 years. Although the Gamecocks have a big rivalry with Clemson most would say that Georgia is South Carolina's biggest SEC rival due to the proximity of the schools. I gave the nod to Georgia/South Carolina over Georgia/Florida in terms of "competitiveness" due to the scoring margin of the games in both series.




Georgia vs. Auburn "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry"

All-Time Series: Auburn 53-52-8
Mark Richt Record: 6-3
Current Streak: Georgia 4

The first game in this rivarly was in Piedmont Park in 1892. This rivalry is tied for the 7th most played in all of college football. Auburn leads the series by one game and Georgia leads the scoring margin by 56 points.



#1 Georgia vs. Tennessee
All-Time Series: Tennessee 21-16-2
Mark Richt Record: 5-4
Current Streak: Tennessee 1

While this rivalry is a late bloomer there is just a natural instinct for Georgia fans to hate anything orange. This is a big game for both teams because the states border and the impact it has on recruiting. Georgia is a very fertile recruiting ground and when Tennessee beats Georgia you can bet that the recruits will hear it.

Pre-Season Preview: Tennessee Volunteers

2009 Record: 7-6 (4-4 in SEC)
2009 Bowl: Chick-fil-A Bowl (lost to Virginia Tech 37-14)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Derek Dooley (First Year at Tennessee, 17-20 at Louisiana Tech)
Non-Conference Schedule: Tennessee-Martin (9/4), Oregon (9/11), UAB (9/25), at Memphis (11/6)

2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 29.3 points per game (6th in SEC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 157 (9th in SEC)
Passing Yards/Game: 226 (3rd in SEC)
Total Yards/Game: 383 (6th in SEC)

2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 22.2 points per game (6th in SEC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 149 (8th in SEC)
Passing Yards/Game: 169 (5th in SEC)
Total Yards/Game: 318 (5th in SEC)

2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.23 per game (6th in SEC)
Penalties: 39 yards per game (2nd in SEC)

Returning Starters
Offense: 4
Defense: 6
Kicker/Punter: 1

Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: WR Gerald Jones, Sr (0 for 1 for 0 yds)
Rushing: RB David Oku, Soph (23 carries for 94 yds, 2 TD, 4.0 ypc)
Receiving: WR Gerald Jones, Sr (46 rec, 680 yds, 4 TD, 3.8 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Herman Lathers, Soph (52)
Sacks: DE Chris Walker, Sr (4)
Interceptions: DE Chris Walker, Sr (2)

2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #47
Pre-Snap Read: #66
Sporting News: #56

2010 Pre-Season SEC East Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #4
Phil Steele: #4
Sports Illustrated: #5

Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Music City Bowl (vs. Georgia Tech)
Phil Steele: Music City Bowl (vs. Georgia Tech)

In case you missed it Tennessee has a new coach and he's the son of Georgia legend Vince Dooley. Derek was hired to right the ship at Tennessee after their last coach caused a ruckus on the way out of town and left the program in shambles. Dooley takes over after posting only a 17-20 record at Louisiana Tech in three seasons (with one winning season that resulted in a win at the Independence Bowl). The Volunteers lose a lot of starters from last years 7-6 team. They return no QBs, they lose their top two RBs who accounted for 88% of the teams rushing yardage and they return the least amount of Offensive Line starts in the SEC (and 117th nationally) with only 13 career starts. On the defensive side of the football they lose all-world Eric Berry, Dan Williams, Rico McCoy and Dennis Rogan. It's Tennessee so there is still talent here (Tauren Poole, Gerald Jones, Luke Stocker, and Chris Walker among others. The question is if there will be enough talent this year for the Volunteers to compete in the SEC. One good thing is a weak out of conference schedule. Although they play Oregon they also play three teams that any SEC team outside of Vandy should have an easy time with. We caught up with the Tennessee Blog Vols In the Fall to find out their take on the 2010 Volunteers.


What are the biggest strengths and most glaring weaknesses of the Vols this year?

The receiving corps looks to be the biggest strength right now.

“Wide Receiver U” seems to be making a comeback in Knoxville. Two seniors, Denarius Moore and Gerald Jones, will lead the Orange out wide, supported by heralded freshman Da’Rick Rogers, a five-star recruit stolen from Georgia Bulldog country. But perhaps the biggest star will be tight end Luke Stocker who had a huge year last season and looks headed for the NFL as a potential All-American.

The offensive line is the obvious answer for the weak side of the 2010 squad. The entire starting five offensive linemen of 2009 are going to be replaced by brand new starters. For a new coach with the running game as his paradigm, this must keep him up at night. And for two newly-acquired quarterbacks, it must keep them up as well.

Apart from the OL, overall team depth is the weakness that will probably have the biggest impact on the final W-L record. If injuries take a significant toll by the first of November, then the traditional light schedule that the Vols enjoy year in and year out may not prove light enough for a winning season to be a reality.

What team on the schedule do you want to beat the most?

That depends largely on your age. Nearly everybody 40 or younger will tell you Florida, for obvious reasons. They are the Vols’ biggest roadblock to winning the SEC East every season. But if you’re over 40, just the word “Alabama” lets hatred enter into your heart. The thought of the Crimson Tide coming to Neyland Stadium in October, ranked number one in the country, might create dread for some, but to ruin their season would be a gift from the gods.

Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?

I’m going to throw out the name Art Evans, a junior cornerback.

He was solid last season with the second-most solo tackles of the returning squad. You almost never hear his name mentioned, but he just quietly and consistently does his thing. With Eric Berry now in the NFL, Mr. Evans might just surprise a few people by becoming recognizable.

Who is the most impactful player on the team?

The word “impactful” gives me pause, because it generally is taken to relate to “big play”. That could be done of a number of people. I’ll go with special teams as the group of candidates for this one, which might be a scary thought to some because of our dreadful play last season.

Nobody is set to be a return man yet – that will be decided later this month if not during the first few games. So, in the spirit of giving you a name for the sake of this exercise, I think freshman placekicker Michael Palardy from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida might have the biggest impact on this rebuilding team. Last season, the Vols suffered significantly as PK Daniel Lincoln, who gained All-American honors earlier as a freshman, had a nightmare of a season due to injury and a seemingly lack of confidence. Tennessee has a very long tradition of producing great placekickers and punters, and Palardy might not only win both jobs, but also be a candidate for all-SEC at both positions. That might be saying a lot, but the left-footed specialist is perhaps the most heralded kicking recruit to grace Shields-Watkins Field in history – and that’s saying a lot.

What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach its full capability?

The linebackers.

Last season, the injury bug hit so hard that our starting MLB, Nick Reveiz was lost for the season in October, and his replacement, Savion Frazier, met a similar fate on Halloween night, leaving Herman Lathers to clog the middle during November.

This season, the position looks loaded with talent and depth, something you can’t say about any other position. Thus, they have to be the rock upon which everybody leans for support, physical and moral. If they stay healthy and effective, it could be the difference between a winning and losing season.

Who is the top newcomer that can make an impact this year?

Matt Simms, junior quarterback who is a JUCO transfer.

Simms, son of former NFL star QB Phil Simms, looks to be the likely starter in September over another newcomer, freshman Tyler Bray from California. The jury is still out, though, because none of the QBs have excited the orange masses during spring or summer.

If the QBs flame out this season, then my alternate pick for top newcomer, besides Palardy whom I’ve already mentioned, is wide receiver Justin Hunter. Nicknames “bones” due to his tall, lanky frame, Hunter has been causing a few eyes to pop out during scrimmages. He is a multi-sport star from Virginia with Olympic aspirations in the long jump who missed nearly all of offseason football workouts while working with the USA Track and Field team. He won the USATF title this summer and placed sixth at the IAAF world championships before enrolling at UT just before the start of preseason camp.

Who is the one player on an opposing team that strikes the most fear in your heart?

Georgia wide-receiver A.J. Green. He’s scary good.

For non-conference opponents, it would be Oregon running back LaMichael James running behind his offensive line that returns all five of last season’s starters.

Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season for Derek Dooley in your eyes?

I haven’t made my official pick yet for my blog Vols in the Fall. But right now, I’m leaning toward a 5-7 record as the rebuilding begins under new head coach Derrick Dooley.

For most of the Vol faithful, which I fear are not going to be realistic enough to see that a losing season is where the money is, a ‘successful season’ would be 7-5 and a late-in-the-season bowl game. For me, a 6-6 record would be a success in 2010, even with the crappy bowl that would come along with such a tally.


Previous SEC Previews: 

Alabama Crimson Tide
Auburn Tigers 
Florida Gators 
Georgia Bulldogs 
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers 
Mississippi Rebels 
Mississippi State Bulldogs 
South Carolina Gamecocks 
Vanderbilt Commodores

Next Up: Hawaii Warriors

Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Clemson Tigers, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, North Carolina Tar Heels, North Carolina State Wolfpack Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Purdue Boilermakers, Wisconsin Badgers
Conference USA- East Carolina Pirates, Houston Cougars, Marshall Thundering Herd, Rice Owls, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars,  Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, California Golden Bears, Oregon Ducks, Oregon State Beavers, Stanford Cardinal, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies, Washington State Cougars
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies