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Tennessee football: Vols fans 2019-2020 bowl game rooting guide

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 5: The Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey runs through the end zone after a score against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 5: The Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey runs through the end zone after a score against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images /

16. Belk Bowl

Kentucky Wildcats over Virginia Tech Hokies

Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Noon ET; Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.; ESPN

This is a game that impacts Tennessee football on a larger scale than the Mississippi State Bulldogs. If the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Virginia Tech Hokies, they’ll be an eight-win team that Rocky Top managed to beat on the road, which would look like a very good win for them. It could actually make the Wildcats UT’s best win on the year.

UK won three straight games after losing to the Vols to finish 7-5, and Mark Stoops had a case to make for Coach of the Year given all the talent he lost and the fact that he had to replace his starting quarterback. Running a receiver at quarterback to get to where he got this year is beyond incredible and worthy of praise.

Anyway, them winning the Belk Bowl could potentially have them making a push in the final rankings as well, since they already are getting votes in the Coaches Poll. They still won’t jump the Vols, since they just lost to UT back in early November. So everything works out for Rocky Top with a Kentucky win. It’s SEC pride, improved schedule strength and a quality win all in one.

Also, Virginia Tech could potentially threaten if they win in convincing fashion. After all, they are receiving votes in the Coaches Poll as well, and they are 8-4. Virginia Tech is favored by two and a half, so this will be tough, but it would be great for UT.

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