The 2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team currently have a 4-4 season record and have the potential of going 7-5 or 8-4 seasonal record and with a conference record of 4-4 or 5-3 for the 2009 season. They still have to play their last 4 games (Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky) and are predicted to win 3 of them. The Volunteers haven’t had a 7-5 season record since 1986 and haven’t been 8-4 since 2002. The Volunteers may lose to Ole Miss because their offense and defense have played decent this year although Ole Miss has struggled during the last half of their season.
Ole Miss started out as the 8th seeded team in the top 25 rankings but later went on to become an unranked opponent after losing 2 of their last 4 games. Tennessee’s defense will be a key in their victory over Ole Miss as well as their offense. Tennessee’s defense has played very well this year but their passing offense has struggled at the beginning of their first 5 games. Their quarterback has struggled in the first 5 games but Lane Kiffin (head coach) kept his quarterback and his players confident and they were sedulous and resilient in winning 2 of their last 3 games including an upset of rival #22 South Carolina 31-13 on Oct 31, 2009. If Tennessee’s offense plays with a sedulous attitude and their defense plays as well as they have been doing this year then Tennessee should beat Ole Miss.
Tennessee shouldn’t have a problem beating Memphis. Tennessee last beat them at Memphis in 2007 41-7 and out gained them in offensive yards in that game. Tennessee hasn’t lost to Memphis since 1996. Tennessee, however, when they play rival Vanderbilt are going to have to play a great football game if they expect to beat Vanderbilt who almost could have upset #11 Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt traded touchdowns in the first half of that game and went into halftime tied at 28. Georgia Tech put the game away in the second half outscoring Vanderbilt 28-3 and won 56-31. If Tennessee plays good defense they could keep Vanderbilt from scoring points. Tennessee has beaten Vanderbilt the past 26 seasons and hasn’t lost to Vanderbilt since 1982. Tennessee will also have to play decent when they play rival Kentucky. Tennessee beat Kentucky last year at Neyland Stadium 28-10 and is playing them at Neyland Stadium again this season. Tennessee hasn’t lost a game to Kentucky since 1984. Tennessee has beaten Kentucky the past 23 seasons and is trying to extend that streak.
If Tennessee has a 7-5 or 8-4 season record, then Tennessee could appear in any bowl game such as the Outback Bowl. Tennessee last appeared in the Outback Bowl back in 2007 and beat Wisconsin 21-17. Tennessee could play any opponent but that ought to depend on their season record and conference record.
