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Four West teams Tennessee football wants if non-SEC play canceled

By Caleb Calhoun

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers leads his team to to the field prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers leads his team to to the field prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images /

Sept. 12 – Auburn Tigers (Game Two)

Game that’s replaced: at Oklahoma Sooners

Just behind LSU for second in the SEC in replacing the most starters come the Auburn Tigers. Last year’s 9-3 team only has nine starters returning, and it lost six players to the NFL Draft. As a result, here is another team Tennessee football will want to play early in the hopes of taking advantage of their lack of experience entering Gus Malzahn’s eighth year on the job.

Now, Auburn does return quarterback Bo Nix and All-SEC players K.J. Britt and Christian Tutt, so key guys will be able to bring some experience early in the season. That’s why we said it’s better for UT to play Auburn in the second game. They won’t get as much of an advantage playing them in the first game as they will against LSU. This one will depend a bit more on talent.

Still, the combination of a limited talent gap and some inexperience could really favor the Vols in the second game of the year. The Oklahoma Sooners, their would-be opponent here, are wildly inexperienced as well, which has many people marking that game as a potential early upset for Rocky Top. Auburn isn’t as inexperienced, but they are less talented.

Taking all of that into account, this would be a great second game for Jeremy Pruitt and co. if they have to replace their non-conference opponents. Remember, Pruitt beat Auburn with Jarrett Stidham on the road back in 2018. This Auburn team is less experienced than that one, and Nix is not as good as Stidham. As a result, this could work for the Vols, even if Auburn would be favored.

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