Ranking Every Tennessee Football Game in 2015 by Importance

Nov 15, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

6. Kentucky Wildcats

There is as much to lose from a loss to the Kentucky Wildcats as there is to gain from a win over the Georgia Bulldogs, and there is more to gain from this win than there is to lose in a loss in the other game.

The Kentucky Wildcats are a game the Vols should win this year, but winning it is not guaranteed ad would definitely be something to celebrate. Listed as a probable, just like Georgia, this is a probable win.

But with Mark Stoops’s Wildcats much better this year after just missing out on a bowl game last year, and with the game scheduled to be played in Lexington, it is not going to be anywhere close to a cakewalk for the Vols.

A road win against a solid team in the SEC is something to gain for Tennessee this season, and a loss here would be devastating for a Vols team that can’t lose games like this in its quest to return to prominence. As such, they need to make sure that they do win this game to keep the momentum going forward.

While Georgia could be the difference between an SEC Eastern Division title and simply a season finishing in the Top 25, Kentucky could be the difference between a Top 25 finish and not even making a bowl game. Most Vol fans will settle for a nine-win season with a Top 25 finish this year.

That means there is much more to lose from a Kentucky loss than a Georgia loss, and a Kentucky loss is very possible.

Next: #5: Arkansas Razorbacks