2023 Tennessee Football Schedule: Vols Season Predictions, Biggest Games, Best Bets

Get ready, Rocky Top… Tennessee Football begins the 2023 season in just five short days.

Tennessee Football will open the season by traveling to Nashville to take on the Virginia Cavaliers in Nissan Stadium. The Volunteers will be riding on the back of veteran 5th-year quarterback Joe Milton III, who could likely become one of the frontrunners for the Heisman trophy this season.

Tennessee Football’s 2023 Schedule, Predictions, and Biggest Games

Week 1: Tennessee vs. Virginia – W

Location: Nashville, TN

Time: September 2nd, 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 40+ points

Reasoning: UVA is the worst team in the ACC and one of the worst teams in all College Football. I believe that Vegas has set this spread right around -28.5 for the Vols, but I think the Vols win by far more than just four touchdowns.

*More in-depth analysis will be coming out this week.*

Week 2: Tennessee vs. Austin Peay – W

Location: Knoxville, TN

Time: September 9th, 5 p.m. ET

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 30+ points

Reasoning: Vols will be rolling after getting the butterflies out in Nashville.

Week 3: Tennessee @ Florida – W/L

Location: Gainesville, FL

Time: September 16th, 7 p.m. ET

Prediction: Either team to win by 1-3 points (Could go both ways)

Reasoning: In last year’s Tennessee vs. Flordia game, the score seemed much closer than the game was. The Vols dominated from start to finish, and there was never really any doubt that Florida would come back despite it being a 5-point game at the finish.

I see it being closed again this year, and now that it’s in Gainesville, this may come down right to the wire.

Week 4: Tennessee vs. UTSA – W

Location: Knoxville, TN

Time: September 23rd, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 20+ points

Reasoning: This prediction can vary tremendously depending on the game’s outcome a week before against Florida. If the Vols win at Florida, this game may be closer than expected due to a little victory hangover since the Vols haven’t won in Gainesville since 2003. Still, if the Vols fall short on the road, I can see this game getting ugly quick and maybe even end up beating them by 35-40 points.

Week 5: Tennessee vs. South Carolina – W

Location: Knoxville, TN

Time: September 30th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 20+ points

Reasoning: Ah yes, finally, the revenge game from last year’s meltdown in Columbia. The Vols will finally get some redemption and tear apart the gamecocks at home.

Week 6: Tennessee vs. Texas A&M – W

Location: Knoxville, TN

Time: October 14th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 3-7 points

Reasoning: This is a tricky game to handicap, and many factors come into it. Much of this prediction is based on the fact that Tennessee would be hosting A&M with an undefeated record. Texas A&M might also be undefeated depending on if they can take care of business at home against Alabama the week before. If both teams are undefeated, I can easily see this as a one-score game. Still, the home-field advantage is no joke in Knoxville, and the Vols should be able to handle business.

Week 7: Tennessee @ Alabama – W/L

Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Time: October 21st, TBD

Prediction: Either team to win by 1-3 points (Could go both ways)

Reasoning: The Volunteers pulled off the upset of the decade last year when Alabama came to town, but can they realistically pull it off again?

The third Saturday in October of 2022 is a night that Volunteer fans will remember for the rest of their lives. But how likely is it that the Vols can pull off the same upset in Tuscaloosa? It’s less likely than it was last year at home.

However, there is still uncertainty in Alabama as to who will even start at QB this year, so maybe the powerhouse Crimson Tide won’t be as good this year, but I doubt it. Rivalry games will be close no matter who is out on the field, and being away from Neyland isn’t helping Tennessee Football this year.

I’m optimistic for now and will have to re-evaluate this prediction later in the season.

Week 8: Tennessee @ Kentucky – W

Location: Lexington, KY

Time: October 28th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 7-14 points

Reasoning: Another rivalry game away from home, and depending on how the Vols do against Alabama, I can once again see a letdown spot following a victory and a blowout win following a loss. However, no matter what happens the week before, the Vols should take care of business in Lexington.

Week 9: Tennessee vs. UConn – W

Location: Knoxville TN

Time: November 4th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 30+ points

Reasoning: Regroup time for Tennessee Football. Rest up some starters, take care of things at home, and prepare for the season’s last stretch.

Week 10: Tennessee @ Missouri – W

Location: Columbia, MO

Time: November 11th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 7-10 points

Reasoning: This game could get sneakily close, in my opinion, because Missouri always has the firepower and home-field advantage to make any game interesting. I think the Vols still find a way to take care of business and use this as a step to start gearing up for the biggest game of the year.

Week 11: Tennessee vs. Georgia – W

Location: Knoxville, TN

Time: November 18th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 3-7 points

Reasoning: On November 18th, the Vols will welcome Georgia to Neyland Stadium in the second to last game of the season. This game will not only be a deciding factor for the SEC Championship game but will likely be a make-or-break for the College Football Playoff.

In this game, Vegas currently has Tennessee Football as a 7.5-point underdog, but I think the wrong team is favored. The Vols are no strangers to a +7.5 home spread to their biggest rivals. Against Alabama last year, the Vols were once again +7.5 underdogs to the Crimson Tide, and we all know how that game ended.

247Sports predicts that Neyland Stadium will be the loudest stadium in 2023 when Georgia comes to town, and many CFB analysts predict that the Tennessee vs. Georgia game will be the No. 1 matchup in 2023.

There’s no better time to have a veteran 5th year senior at QB than on November 18th, and it will show on the biggest stage. Georgia just lost their veteran and has to turn to the 20-year-old Carson Beck. I find it hard to believe that Neyland Stadium won’t be able to get under his skin.

Week 12: Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt – W

Location: Knoxville, TN

Time: November 25th, TBD

Prediction: Tennessee to win by 20+ points

Reasoning: Homecoming on Rocky Top, the city will be buzzing, and the Vols will show their little brother what real football looks like in the regular season finale.

Final Regular Season Predictions:

Floor: 9-3 (losses to Florida, Alabama, Georgia)

Ceiling: 12-0 (Advance to CFP)

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