Jacob Bunn's 2011 Tennessee Football Preview

 

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Jacob Bunn

Predicted 2011 Record: 7-5 (3-5)

This is the second year for Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley. Last season, the Vols fell into a hole during the early portion of the season but recovered toward the end to qualify for a bowl. Tennessee's bowl experience was a disappointment.

Can the Volunteers turn things around this season? It’s not going to be easy. No SEC schedule is a cake walk, but Tennessee has to play Cincinnati in addition to conference teams. While the jury has not come in yet on the job Derek Dooley is doing in Knoxville, and his team still has plenty of questions, 2011 will be a critical year. Quarterback play will be a key for sure, and the defense will probably be called on to save a game or two.

This is how I see Tennessee’s 2011 season shaking out:

Sept 3 – Montana – Win 55-7

Sept 10 – Cincinnati – Win 23-10

Sept 17 – Florida – Loss 24-20

Sept 24 – Off

Oct 1 – Buffalo – Win 40-6

Oct 8 – Georgia – Loss 28-20

Oct 15 – LSU – Win 27-24

Oct 22 – @Alabama – Loss 17-10

Oct 29 – South Carolina – Loss 24-14

Nov 5 – Middle Tennessee State – Win 30-12

Nov 12 – @Arkansas – Loss 31-20

Nov 19 – Vanderbilt – Win 17-13

Nov 26 – @Kentucky – Win 20-17

The Volunteers have to win the non-conference games and must beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky or a top-tier SEC team to be bowl eligible. I have them accomplishing both of those tasks. You may think I am crazy for predicting a win over LSU. But I think Tennessee will beat a team it’s not supposed to this year, and LSU is the perfect storm. If Tennessee finishes as projected above, it will be an unquestioned success for Dooley and the Volunteers.