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Tennessee football: Ranking games on 2021 schedule by importance

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 27, 2018; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Kentucky Wildcats helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Kentucky won 15-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2018; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Kentucky Wildcats helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Kentucky won 15-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

4. At Kentucky Wildcats

Saturday, Nov. 6; Kroger Field; Lexington, Ky.

Okay, so Tennessee football beat the Missouri Tigers at home last year and got blown out by the Kentucky Wildcats. They also face UK on the road while facing the Ole Miss Rebels at home. That doesn’t change the fact that this year, the UK game is more winnable than the Mizzou game or the Ole Miss game, which is why they should put more focus into this one.

The Vols play Kentucky right off of their bye week, so they should be much better rested than the Ole Miss or the Mizzou game. That alone makes this likely loss the one they have the best chance to steal. It does require more focus, though, as the Georgia Bulldogs will be the next week.

Also, this is the Vols and Kentucky. Regardless of what happened last year, you should almost always pick UT to win this game until the Wildcats reel off any sort of winning streak. That hasn’t happened in a really long time, and by that standard alone, the Vols have a chance.

Then there’s the rivalry factor. Given the fact that UT and UK is one of the most played series in SEC history and one the Vols can actually win, they should have pride in reasserting their dominance over this program. Failure to do so would represent something much worse for the program overall.

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