While many Tennessee Football fans are hoping recruiting is about to heat up for the Vols, expectations for 2023 may be lower than initially projected. Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker dive into new odds for UT along with Josh Heupel’s track record vs. elite foes, Nico Iamaleava and another preseason ranking for Off The Hook Sports’ Thursday, June 6 podcast.
Josh Heupel a top 10 coach vs. top 25 teams
A ranking of coaches against the top 25 who patrolled the sidelines in at least 10 games against ranked foes saw Tennessee Football head coach Josh Heupel come in at No. 7. Heupel is 8-7 against such opponents, one of only nine coaches with a winning record in those type of games.
Georgia OL says Neyland better than Sanford
Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge of the Georgia Bulldogs acknowledged in a conversation that Tennessee Football plays in a better home stadium than UGA. Ratledge still claimed Dawgs fans are better, but he said Neyland Stadium is better than Sanford Stadium. Is he accurate? Where does he get this take?
Phil Steele preseason rankings place Tennessee Football at No. 19
While they have been ranging from No. 10 to No. 15 in most preseason polls, Phil Steele is much lower on Tennessee Football this year, ranking them down at No. 19. Steele has had a good read on the Vols the past two decades when ranking them lower than other preseason outlets, so is this a concern? Where will UT be ranked this preseason? Josh Ward joins to discuss.
Nico Iamaleava praised for maturity, lack of sense of entitlement
Brent Hubbs of VolQuest spoke about Tennessee Football quarterback Nico Iamaleava recently and praised his unusually high level of maturity and lack of sense of entitlement for a freshman with so much NIL money. How much hype is too much for Iamaleava given the fact that he’s not even a projected starter this year?
Will Tennessee Football be favored in fewer than nine games in 2023?
Brett McMurphy of Action Network revealed teams projected to be favored in all 12, 11, 10 and nine regular season games this year based on the Collin Wilson power rating system. Tennessee Football wasn’t projected to be favored in any of those numbers, suggesting they will be favored in only eight games or less. Which four games would they be underdogs in?
