Paul Finebaum‘s optimism grows for Tennessee football.
The SEC Network’s opinion king emerged from SEC media days feeling more bullish about the Vols’ playoff chances and their place within the conference pecking order.
“In talking to Josh Heupel and a couple of the Tennessee people, I probably am a little more optimistic about the Volunteers,” Finebaum said during an appearance on the “McElroy and Cubelic” radio show. “I’ve always felt they were in that next group after the (top tier). But I think they’re maybe closer to that first group than the second tier.”
Is that sunny outlook warranted?
On this edition of “The Volunteer State,” Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel’s Adam Sparks re-evaluate Tennessee’s playoff prospects and assess whether their estimation of Tennessee has improved, regressed or stayed about the same throughout the offseason.
Subscribe to the The Volunteer State
iTunes |Google Play Music | Spreaker
Their verdict: A 9-3 record is more likely than a playoff berth, but an accommodating schedule nonetheless helps make Tennessee a playoff contender.
Here’s a snippet of the debate:
TOPPMEYER: I’m cooling on the idea of Tennessee being a playoff qualifier and doubling down on my prediction that the Vols will finish 9-3. If betting lines were set today, UT would be a road underdog against Oklahoma and Georgia and a home underdog against Alabama. I can’t shake from my mind that beatdown in Columbia, Missouri, last season and also Tennessee’s loss at The Swamp. Are the Vols really going to storm into Norman and beat Oklahoma in the Sooners’ first SEC game? I’m becoming more skeptical of that. OU’s stadium will be buzzing.
SPARKS: When I look at Tennessee’s roster, I see 9-3. When I look at the schedule, I can be talked into 10-2. This schedule works to UT’s advantage. It helps having rivalry games against Florida and Alabama at Neyland Stadium. The Vols-to-the-playoff idea is based on Nico Iamaleava performing closer to Hendon Hooker than to Joe Milton. The Hooker-led 2022 Vols would’ve qualified for a 12-team playoff.
TOPPMEYER: Eight SEC football predictions that probably won’t happen (but totally could)
SPARKS: Neyland Stadium entertainment district will be big. It will change Tennessee game days forever
TOPPMEYER: I think Iamaleava will shine, but I’m wondering whether the sky-high expectations are nonetheless a smidge lofty for a guy with one career start, talented though he is. Also, Iamaleava doesn’t enjoy the same supporting cast as Hooker did. There’s no Jalin Hyatt equivalent in this receiving corps. Hyatt had 207 receiving yards and five touchdowns in that 2022 win against Alabama. Plus, I’m wondering about the effectiveness of UT’s new-look secondary.
SPARKS: The roster isn’t flawless, but I keep returning to that schedule and wondering where three losses will come from. The schedule keeps 10-2 in play.
Also in this episode
∎ An update on the latest developments in the Neyland Entertainment District project that would bring a hotel, restaurants and bars to liven the area around the stadium near the riverfront, at the expense of the G10 parking garage.
Where to listen to The Volunteer State
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s SEC Columnist and a published author. Adam Sparks covers the Vols with award-winning coverage for the News Sentinel. You can subscribe to read all their coverage, or check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Paul Finebaum is all in on Tennessee football. (We aren’t quite there)
Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
