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Tennessee football: Ranking 2020 games by importance

By Caleb Calhoun

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images /

6. Oct. 3 – Missouri Tigers

We move on to one more circled win for Tennessee football on the 2020 schedule. Despite the Missouri Tigers having some talent from last year’s 6-6 team, much more than the Vanderbilt Commodores and Arkansas Razorbacks, they still are undergoing a coaching change. Barry Odom to Eliah Drinkwitz won’t be easy, especially early in the season.

Now, honestly, there’s a chance Mizzou becomes a surprise team down the stretch of the year. They’ve got the continuity back on defense as Drinkwitz retained defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, and many of the offensive players have experience playing in both the spread and Derek Dooley’s pro-style already, meaning Drinkwitz will have lots to work with.

After a 12-1 season, Sun Belt Championship and win over the South Carolina Gamecocks with the Appalachian State Mountaineers, Drinkwitz has proven his offense can take off in the first year. That won’t happen this early, though. Mizzou faces the Vols the second game of the season, UT’s home opener. As a result, Rocky Top still doesn’t have to focus too heavily on this team.

If the Vols do lose this one, that would be an embarrassment, but Jeremy Pruitt has them at a level too good to do that now. Later in the season would be a different story. Still, the Tigers having more talent and being an SEC East team puts them over Arkansas. Talent puts them over Vanderbilt. UT will have to give this game more focus than the other two, but it should still win.

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