Tennessee football can still make CFP: How Vols can be assured a spot

2. LSU beats Texas A&M

Part of Tennessee football being able to make that strong case is having quality wins in their back pocket. Given the fact that they need Alabama to now lose to Auburn at home, they desperately need LSU to beat the Texas A&M Aggies. At the moment, beating LSU by 27 at their place is probably the biggest ace in the hole the Vols have.

LSU entered this week No. 5 in the CFP, and although they lost to the Florida State Seminoles to open the season, that involved lots of fluke special teams plays. Brian Kelly’s team was the better team in that one, and if they played again, it’s a safe bet LSU would win by two touchdowns.

A loss by LSU Saturday would kill any selling point for the Vols on quality wins, as Texas A&M is awful at 4-7. Jimbo Fisher’s team does have talent, though, and they are playing at home, so LSU can’t overlook them by any means. It doesn’t matter how they win. They just need to win.

Now, of course, with LSU ahead of Tennessee football, the Vols still need them to lose somewhere. Luckily for UT, LSU won the SEC West, and since they are heading to the SEC Championship game, that is where UT wants them to lose. That leads to our final team as well.