Tennessee football schedule 2020: Predicting every Vols game

Tennessee football has a chance to get double-digit wins.

Nov. 7: Kentucky Wildcats

This will be one of the toughest games the Vols play all year. Had this game been in Lexington, the Kentucky Wildcats would have found a way to pull this one off. Mark Stoops is a hell of a coach up in Big Blue Nation. However, a game-sealing interception while UK is driving keeps the Vols’ slim New Year’s Six bowl dreams alive for another week. A winning season in Rocky Top. Vols, 28-24.

Nov. 14: at Georgia Bulldogs (Athens, GA)

If the Vols think they can go into Sanford Stadium and come out with a victory, they are mistaken. There won’t be any back-to-back Hail Mary shenanigans like a few years ago. This is another game where Tennessee shows it’s not ready to even dream about the playoff just yet. The Dawgs assert their dominance from the opening quarter and never look back. Dawgs, 38-10.

Nov. 21: Troy Trojans

With seven wins in their pocket and no more daunting opponents left on the season schedule, Tennessee looks to end its 2020 campaign on a strong note. Naturally, they will take out their frustrations from how things went in Athens with a thorough drubbing of the Troy Trojans in Neyland. Tennessee keeps it narrow dreams of a 10-win season alive. Vols, 42-20.

Nov. 28: at Vanderbilt Commodores (Nashville, TN)

If a team like Tennessee wants to prove to us it’s ready for the big stage in 2021, the Vols can’t drop a dumb one to end the regular season, not even if its at in-state rival Vanderbilt. UT will probably be facing a glorified coordinator in what’ll be another lost season for the ‘Dores, as Derek Mason has either been fired or is about to be. Tennessee finishes 9-3 (6-2). Vols, 27-14.

Jan. 1: Outback Bowl vs. Michigan Wolverines (Tampa, FL)

At 9-3 (6-2), Tennessee will get to play in a pretty sweet second-tier bowl game, as they’ll take on the Big Ten’s Michigan Wolverines who will have the same regular-season record. Unlike Michigan, the Vols will win their big end-of-the-season rivalry game and won’t let that bleed into the Outback Bowl. A narrow victory gets Rocky Top 10 wins and excited about 2021. Vols, 26-23.

This will be a great year for Tennessee football. Upsetting Florida at home and defeating Michigan in the Outback Bowl be huge stepping stones. However, bad losses to Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia tell the tale of how Tennessee is now a good, but not great football team entering 2021. Regardless, it’s the type of season everyone in Knoxville will have thoroughly enjoyed.

Prediction: 10-3 (6-2), 3rd Place SEC East, Top 25 ranking, Outback Bowl champions

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