The Tennessee Vols are probably a long shot to win the national championship next season, let’s be honest. However, it’s far from unrealistic to see the Vols make another run to the College Football Playoff and potentially win a couple of games. Obviously, the biggest concern is the quarterback position. Tennessee will likely be starting either true freshman Faizon Brandon or redshirt freshman George MacIntyre. Both were highly touted recruits, but leading an SEC team to the Playoff with such an inexperienced quarterback is a very difficult task.
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Nevertheless, Vegas isn't too worried about the quarterback situation going on in Knoxville. Per BetMGM Sportsbook, Tennessee is tied for 16th with Clemson and Penn State at +5000 to win the College Football Playoffs next season. However, they opened at +5000 in January after Indiana won last season's title, so, after an up-and-down spring ball, the Tennessee Vols Odds haven't shifted in any significant way.
Vegas still believes in Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols
While the spring game did show how good Jim Knowles’ new defense looked, neither quarterback option truly lit it up. Faizon Brandon flashed his impressive athleticism, strong arm, and college-ready size. However, he missed some deep throws and was inconsistent with his accuracy at times. Tennessee’s wide receivers didn’t help much either, as there were several drops throughout the game.
George MacIntyre, meanwhile, consistently checked the ball down and rarely pushed it downfield. The offensive line also struggled in pass protection, which was not very encouraging for the Vols. On the bright side, this was probably the worst it could have been, and there's still plenty of time for each quarterback to improve, and the offensive line should be a plus unit next fall. I think it was more of a bad day than a consistent issue for the big fellas in the trenches.
What we do know is that the Vols have a ton of talent around the quarterback position. DeSean Bishop is one of the best running backs in the country, while Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley give Tennessee one of the better receiver duos in the SEC. Then you throw in breakout tight end Ethan Davis, and suddenly the Vols have elite skill talent all over the field.
It also helps that Josh Heupel is one of the best offensive minds in college football. His offenses consistently rank near the top nationally, and he does a great job of putting his playmakers and his quarterbacks in positions to succeed. Pair that in with the best defensive coordinators in the country, and the Vols are in business.
Being 16th in the odds shows that Vegas thinks Tennessee is right on the verge of being a playoff team. Obviously, 16 would mean they are on the outside looking in, but they aren't too far away. Obviously, the sportsbooks aren't too worried about Tennessee's showing, or else they would have had longer odds. If Tennessee can prove that quarterback play won't be a negative, they have a really good chance to compete for their second playoff appearance in three years.
When the dust settles, the season will probably be defined by how much the defense improves and how well Tennessee does at quarterback. If both areas are solid enough, the Vols are going to be a very good team.
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