UT/Auburn

So I am going to save my overall State Of Tennessee Address for after this game. I want to give the coaching staff, players, and fans the benefit of the doubt for one more day. Until then I am going to stay optimistic and just give you my hopeful prediction for how this game should or could go.

First of all just as last week we need to be very very very careful with turnovers. Last week not only did we lose the turnover battle against florida but we lost the turnover battle at crucial times. We turned the ball over inside our own 5 yard line two times. That can NEVER happen if any team wants to win. Well today we play one of the best defenses in the country. Auburn has dominated people defensively this year and if we turn the ball over again we will be beaten badly.

If we have ANY chance in this game it is because we theoretically have a better offense than Auburn. Our D has played well including last week against florida giving up only 96 yards passing and 26 yards rushing to tim tebow, That is a strong statement however we have struggled on offense and on special teams. This week we need our defense to step up again.

I am going to predict that Auburn is reeling after a heartbreaking loss to LSU last week in the last 2 minutes of that game, Because of this if UT can strike early and then stay with the running game consistently the Vols can win.

Final score Vols 21 - Tigers 17

A BIG day.....

So I am not sure if you know this but there is a pretty big game this weekend....

UT VS. florida

There are not many rivalries in college football which have as much hatred embedded into them as the UT/florida game. I know that Auburn/Alabama and OSU/Michigan get a lot of discussion but to be honest I am just not sure there is as much deep down hatred as in the UT/fla game. There is more foul language and more fights at a UT/fla game than anything else I can eve think of. Hell I am pretty sure there are more F-Bombs dropped at the UT/Fla game than in a Quentin Tarantino movie and more fights than in Braveheart. I am not taking anything away from these other rivalries I am just pointing out that the level and hatred is higher in this game.

Now that all of that build up is done lets talk about the game. This could be an interesting game for sure. NO one is giving UT a chance in hell for this game but I am calling it now. UT WILL WIN. It will be a game that is dominated by running of the ball.

This game comes down to 2 things EVERY YEAR.
1.) Turnovers.... If UT can win the Turnover battle they can win. Eric Berry is a machine at the safety position and if he can force a turnover that will be a BIG win for UT. Crompton NEEDS to take care of the ball as well. Tennessee CAN'T afford to give the ball to florida. If we can win the turnover battle we CAN WIN.
2.) Running the ball. If UT can stick with running the ball they can control the clock and they can win. This series has shown that the team that runs the ball better wins this game. Foster, Hardesty, and Creer can run the ball VERY well and if the coaching staff will stick with it they can control the clock and get in the endzone.

The Vols can and WILL win IF and only IF they control the ball with the running game AND they win the turnover battle.

Vols 31 - florida 27

Does anyone know what time it is?

Just in case you don't know what time it is let me inform you. This is the time of year that we all look forward to. I know I know some of you like Spring showers and some of you like that time of year when there are no real sports going on AKA Summer (of course I think you are all dumb but who am I to say that I am just not a Baseball fan). I guess bottom line is the real time of the year that matters is FOOTBALL season!!!! I am just giddy with excitement and now I have Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and sometimes Thursdays to look forward to.....

Lets get down to it.

Division winners....
Dallas
CHICAGO
New Orleans
Arizona

Indy
Pittsburgh
new england
San Diego

Your SuperBowl will be Dallas VS Indy....

I know I just ruined the season for you if you are not a Dallas or Indy fan but you will live with it and you will watch every game because you are a fan. Also you will watch to see how incredible my picks are!

My Picks for the day...
Dallas beats Cleveland 34-28
NY Jets beat Miami 27 - 17
New Orleans Beats Tampa 38 - 14
CHICAGO beats INDY 27-21

It is FOOTBALL time in Tennessee and I have had some changes...

So a LOT has happened since the last time I blogged. I moved, had a baby (well my wife did, BUT I helped), and I forgot to blog.... That being said I am back and better than ever. My life feels so good after having my wonderful daughter that I feel like you all need to be graced with my sports blogging presence again. So lets get right to it. I will give you a run down on a lot of other stuff later this week but as for today lets talk about the only thing that matters in the sports world... UT FOOTBALL!!!!

First of all let me just say that tonight in the UT vs UCLA game UT should dominate. This in my opinion should be a stroll in the park. UCLA has lost 2 starting QB's in the off season so we are looking at a 3rd string guy. Our D SHOULD be bigger, stronger, and much more healthy than they were last year. That being said we did win 10 games last year including a win in the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin 21-17. Our record ended up pretty good after losing 3 of the first 7 games last year. We made a move and ended up winning the SEC East only to lose to National Champions LSU 21-14 in the SEC Championship. Our BIG question mark is the QB.

Now in my mind I can see this going the way of Tee Martin. Now NO ONE thought Tee was good enough to win us a National Championship but that is exactly what he did. Following Peyton Manning is no easy task but Tee did just fine. How did he do it you ask? Taking care of the ball, consistency, and control of the game. Tee did not turn over the ball and he made plays with his feet when he had to. Bottom line is he did not make mistakes that cost us games. IF Jonathan Crompton can play with his head in the game and not make mistakes we will have not only a good year but a GREAT year. Now I am not saying National Chaps or anything but we will certainly not lose 4 games like last year and could very well be playing in a BCA game come Jan.

This leads me to tell you that the game tonight should be a blow out. I expect final score of 34-17.

The SEC is SO much better than any other conference in the country good so keep in mind that if you have a 3 loss year in the SEC that is like going undefeated in most conferences. That being said I will give you my complete predictions for the entire NCAA football year later this week. Until then keep an eye out for my boys on ESPN tonight at 8:00 Eastern....

GOOOOOOOO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!