2010 Tennessee Volunteers Preview Odds

Tennessee Volunteers

7-6, 7-6 ATS, 3rd Place in SEC East

Odds to Win 2010 BCS Championship: +20000
Odds to Win SEC 75/1
at Bookmaker Sportsbook

Chaos has recently enveloped the Volunteers off the field. Lane Kiffin’s antics and subsequent resignation to take the head coaching job at USC left the team with a surprise head coaching vacancy. Derek Dooley, from the school of Nick Saban, will now take the reigns. Dooley coached Louisiana Tech from 2007-2009 compiling a record of 17-20. Changes will also be necessary on the field this year for the Volunteers to rebuild.

Offensive Outlook: Jonathan Crompton led the offense at quarterback a year ago, throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 13 picks. Who will replace him is very unclear. The favorite, Nick Stephens, struggled in the Vols spring game and a week later transferred. Next in line is junior Matt Simms, who is the son of NFL great Phil Simms. However, his spring debut featured just eight completions on 20 throws for 83 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The Vols will also have to replace the services of now graduated running back Montario Hardesty. Hardesty carried the ball 282 times for 1,345 yards and scored 13 times. Sophomore Bryce Brown will likely be called upon to lead the rushing game. He carried 101 times for 460 yards and a TD last year. The good news for the Tennessee offense is that all three leading receivers are returning. Gerald Jones, Darius Moore, and tight end Luke Stocker combined to catch 16 of the 27 Crompton touchdowns. Simms will have throwing options, but this Vols offense is not going to be strong enough to effectively compete in the SEC.

Defensive Outlook: The Vols defense a year ago did well, but now is facing questions of its own. The team held opponents to 169.2 passing yards per game, ranking them 12th in the nation. They surrendered 318.8 yards and allowed 22.2 points per game, ranking them 22nd and 38th in the nation. DB Eric Berry led the team a year ago with three INTs, but he decided to head to the NFL, eschewing his senior season. Only two DTs remain from last year’s team. Expect the Vols defense to be in the middle of the pack nationally, as a revamped offense will likely have them on the field more.

The Final Word: The final word for the Vols this year is “basement.” With key changes at the top on and off the field and depth questions on defense, Tennessee is due to get run over by its SEC opponents. This will be the first in a series of two or three rebuilding years, as Dooley takes over at his new school.

2010 Tennessee Volunteers Prediction: 5-7, 5th place in SEC East

2010 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule
9/4 Tennessee-Martin
9/11 Oregon
9/18 Florida
9/25 UAB
10/2 @ LSU
10/9 @ Georgia
10/23 Alabama
10/30 @ South Carolina
11/6 @ Memphis
11/13 Mississippi
11/20 @ Vanderbilt
11/27 Kentucky