Tier 3: Helping Tennessee Football SOS
None of these games involve teams who are standing in the way of Tennessee Football to reach the College Football Playoff, but the Vols need their schedule strength to improve as much as possible. Because of that, they want the opponents on their schedule to win a lot.
UTEP over MTSU
At 1-7 and as a Group of Five program, theres’ very little the UTEP Miners can do to look like a decent opponent for the Vols later in the year. However, they could not look as bad as they do at the moment. Maybe it’ll count for something?
Mississippi State over UMASS
Jeff Lebby’s team had been getting better before getting blown out by the Arkansas Razorbacks, costing themselves a shot at a bowl berth. Still, they could have a strong November. Tennessee Football fans can gain something by them finishing the year respectable except for when they face the Vols.
Oklahoma over Maine
The Sooners don’t have the same cache they had when the Vols beat them. Losing to Maine would make things even worse. Obviously, they should win. It won’t mean much, but at least it gets this team one step closer to a bowl game.
N.C. State over Stanford
Like OU, this game doesn’t have the same cache it had when the Vols beat the Wolfpack earlier in the year. Still, Dave Doeren’s team is 4-4, and a win over the Cardinal actually puts them in possible position to finish 8-4. All of a sudden, Rocky Top would look pretty good with that 51-10 blowout win.
Vanderbilt over Auburn
This would have always been the desired result for Vol fans, but now it’s even more of a big deal because of the Commodores’ newfound success. Vol fans would love for them to be a top 25 caliber team when they travel to Nashville at the end of the year. Winning at the Tigers could help that.
NEXT PAGE: TIER 2 GAMES FOR VOLS CFP ROOTING GUIDE
