Five Reasons the Vols Won’t Win the SEC East

The Vols are poised to have a solid 2015 season, but that doesn’t mean they will win the SEC East. PHOTO: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Volunteers should be much improved in Butch Jones’s third season as head coach when they take the field in Nashville to kick off the 2015 season against Bowling Green. 2014 saw the Vols have their first winning season since 2009 and earn their first bowl victory since the 2008 Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.

But expectations have risen for 2015. Some may even say to outrageous heights.

Last week, we gave you five reasons why the Vols could win the SEC East in 2015. Over the weekend, ESPN jumped on board the bandwagon as well, giving their reasons why the Vols will rise to the top of the SEC East next season as well.

ESPN also recently posted their 2015 preseason college football power index, placing the Vols at No. 14 on the list, a spot ahead of 2015 opponent Oklahoma and 7 spots ahead of 2013 National Champion Florida State. Brad Edwards of ESPN also predicted the Vols to play Baylor in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2016.

While these predictions certainly could come true, that doesn’t mean Vol fans should buy in to the hype and book their reservations for Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game or New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. In fact, the Vols may not even finish in the top three of the East in 2015. The Vols haven’t won the SEC East since 2007, and they haven’t finished in the top half of the division since 2009.

Tennessee should be thoroughly improved in 2015 compared to their first two years under Butch Jones, but it may be a season or two premature to start predicting the Vols to conquer the SEC East.

Here are five reasons why the Vols won’t win the SEC East in 2015.