Tennessee football: Bowl game is expectation for 2021, analyst says
Obviously, Josh Heupel is taking over a huge mess in his first year with Tennessee football. He inherits a team coming off a 3-7 season that has lost a wave of transfers among its top players. Oh, and the program is still under investigation due to infractions from Jeremy Pruitt’s staff.
Nevertheless, some analysts still have certain expectations for Heupel. In his list of expectations for first-year head coaches in the SEC in 2021, Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports said making a bowl game is the primary expectation for the Vols.
Given the fact that a bowl ban could be on the table when the NCAA finishes its investigation into Tennessee football, this goal could end up being impossible. However, on the field, Sallee has faith in them reaching bowl eligibility. Here’s a bit of what he said.
"Offense drives the bus in college football these days, and a six-win season — considering Heupel’s ability to produce high-octane offenses — should be attainable. The Volunteers’ big non-conference opponent is Pitt, which isn’t exactly Oklahoma, who was their big opponent last year before COVID-19 forced massive schedule changes. Their rotating cross-division opponent is Ole Miss at home, which is dangerous but do-able. Simply put: win the four out-of-conference games, dispatch of Vanderbilt and win one toss-up game."
More from Vols Football
- How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
- Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
- Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
- Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
- Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay
Given the past decade, bowls are no longer guarantees for the Vols. They technically qualified last year without playing in it due to COVID, but it was with a 3-7 record. Over the last 10 seasons, they failed to qualify for a bowl five times, and they have finished with a losing record in seven of the past 11 seasons.
With all the turmoil happening in the program right now, it’s hard to see this year being one of the better ones. However, Sallee is right in his take that offense can help you win a few games you shouldn’t every year. Heupel’s offense should allow for that.
Although the schedule is more favorable, that could be difficult as well. Sallee is right to point out that with the Pittsburgh Panthers on there UT could get six wins through all four non-conference games, the Vanderbilt Commodores, and a toss-up game. He mentions the Ole Miss Rebels as a toss-up. The same holds true for the South Carolina Gamecocks and Kentucky Wildcats.
Next. 10 historic coaching hires similar to Josh Heupel. dark
Those are eight games Tennessee football really could win, but Kentucky is on the road and will be much better. Ole Miss could be dangerous with Lane Kiffin. Pitt every now and then has a surprise season under Pat Narduzzi, and that could be next year. Simply put, the path won’t be easy.