Week 5: Tennessee at Mississippi State
This has 'trap game' written all over it. Last campaign, the Mississippi State Bulldogs were the worst team in the SEC. No, we're not just saying that - MSU went 2-10 overall and a disheartening 0-8 in conference play. Yup, it was a year to forget for them.
Come Week 5, the Bulldogs will host the Vols and this indeed will be a game that plenty of Tennessee supporters will overlook. Could Mississippi State do the unthinkable and post an upset while a lot of us assume this will be a free win for UT? Nah, not going to happen.
Prediction: Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 15
Week 7: Tennessee vs. Arkansas
With Tennessee having a BYE for Week 6, it will have extra time to prepare for a Oct. 11 dance with Arkansas at Neyland. The Razorbacks are also coming off a disappointing season, with Arkansas going 7-6 overall in 2024 and 3-5 in SEC action.
Taylen Green is back for Arkansas and he's going to want to stun the Vols in the same way Arkansas did last campaign when it took down Nico and Co. Is another upset win on the way? Thankfully, Tennessee will get some sweet revenge in October.
Prediction: Tennessee 27, Arkansas 24
Week 8: Tennessee at Alabama
This might be one of the best games of the week and we wouldn't be surprised if College GameDay makes its way to Tuscaloosa to see these two SEC rivals go to war. This is going to be a massive test for Aguilar, but the same can be said for Kalen DeBoer.
DeBoer, believe it or not, is going to have his seat pretty warm if he doesn't turn things around with Bama in '25. There are talks that he could get fired if the Tide miss out on the College Football Playoff, which will make this meeting with Tennessee all the more important. Ty Simpson won't be stopped in this one, throwing the pigskin all over the field. Loss No. 2 for the Vols will be posted.
Prediction: Alabama 30, Tennessee 20