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All for Tennessee Official Week 8 SEC Power Rankings: Vols Move Up

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Ray Wingo (14) is congratulated by quarterback Drew Lock (3) after scoring during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Faurot Field. Middle Tennessee won 51-45. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Ray Wingo (14) is congratulated by quarterback Drew Lock (3) after scoring during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Faurot Field. Middle Tennessee won 51-45. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Even after their blowout loss to the Florida Gators two Saturdays ago in which we dropped the Missouri Tigers to this spot in our SEC Power Rankings, they still had reason to be encouraged.

After all, in his first year, Barry Odom’s team was set to begin an easy schedule that could get them to six wins. However, they collapsed in the first game of that four-game stretch. Despite the fact that Odom is a defensive-minded coach, the Tigers showed far too many problems on that side of the ball on Saturday.

And the Middle Tennessee State Blue Radiers shocked them in a shootout. Drew Lock was his usual self by putting up huge numbers against inferior competition, but the defense has turned into a real concern. It has changed our projections on the Tigers from a potential six-win team to perhaps going 2-10.

That’s a huge drop-off, but even with the Kentucky Wildcats, South Carolina Gamecocks, and Vanderbilt Commodores all up next, it’s hard to see them getting to a bowl game now.

Middle Tennessee was a devastating loss en route to them reaching that goal. As a result, we have to keep them at the bottom of our SEC Power Rankings, and at this point, it’s not even close.

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