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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 Michael Chang/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images /

3. Nov. 21 – at Auburn Tigers

We go to the other SEC West team added to Tennessee football’s 2020 revised schedule along with the Texas A&M Aggies. In many ways, the Auburn Tigers are identical to A&M in terms of which games are more difficult. They are right next to each other in terms of SEC West projections, significantly below the Alabama Crimson Tide and possibly below the LSU Tigers.

Simply put, the Vols got a raw deal getting both of these teams, and both are likely losses. At the same time, there is no divisional factor that makes one game more important than the other, since both are in the West. However, taking everything into account, the Vols should focus more heavily on Auburn than A&M for a few reasons.

The first is the fact that Auburn is likely a more beatable team. This year, Texas A&M should be better, and Jeremy Pruitt owns Gus Malzahn, while Jimbo Fisher will be more familiar with him. Also, despite playing in Knoxville, we’ve already discussed how capacity rules minimize home-field advantage. As a result, if UT is going to steal a game, it likely will steal one against Auburn.

Finally, Auburn is an old rivalry. For the sake of tradition, Vols fans would enjoy beating Auburn more than Texas A&M on any average season. That adds to the importance of this game, for fans and the scope of the season. The Vols need to get one upset win, and Auburn is their best chance among the likely losses.

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