Tennessee is a double-digit favorite when the Vols play at Arkansas on Saturday. Get used to that.
Per gambling analyst Tyler Wyatt of Odds Culture, the Vols will only be underdogs in two games this season and double-digit favorites in the rest of their regular season contests. Of course, there’s a lot of football developments that will occur between now and then, but Tennessee looks like a lock to go 10-2 this season, as long as they handle their business.
The teams that will be favored over the Vols this season should come as no surprise. Alabama, who the Vols play at home on Oct. 19, would be -1.5 point favorite if the Vols and Crimson Tide matched up this week. Georgia, who Tennessee plays in Athens on Nov. 16, would be a -6 point favorite over the Vols if the two met on Saturday. That’s quite a change from the Georgia-Tennessee spread that was announced in the spring, which Georgia was as high as a 17-point favorite.
Tennessee, of course, isn’t concerned about point spreads as they prepare for the Razorbacks, who are considered a 13-point underdog against the Vols on Saturday. Keep in mind that the above projections are based on what has happened this season, not the fact that the Vols have a gimpy offensive line that still has to get healthy and budding young superstar at quarterback that will still have tough days as he proves himself as a full-time starter.
The Vols also aren’t just thinking about doing what they’re supposed to do. They’d still love to beat Bama and Georgia, go 12-0, win an SEC Championship and have a bye before the College Football Playoff. However, an undefeated season doesn’t look possible for any school with so many quality teams in the SEC.
