November 22nd – Missouri
Daniel: This might be the most pivotal swing game of the season if Tennessee wants to return to the postseason. Tennessee should be an improved football team at this point. The freshmen shouldn’t be playing like freshmen anymore this late in the season. And Missouri won’t be the same team that blew out Tennessee in 2013. This one could go either way, and I could see UT winning this one, but losing one other that they should win. But I give Mizzou the edge at quarterback with Maty Mauk, who ran all over the Vols last year, and the Tigers have some nice other pieces such as DE Markus Golden, RB Russell Hansbrough and WR Bud Sasser. They’ll have a good chance to end UT’s bowl chances in what, on paper, looks like a very tight contest. Winner: Missouri
Houston: Missouri lost too much off of last year’s team to even come close to duplicating their 2013 success. Maty Mauk is a solid SEC quarterback but the lack of talent around him at receiver and running back will leave him hung out to dry far too often this season. He will be forced to scramble or take sacks frequently in 2014 and I think he will take a beating at times, putting his ability to stay healthy in serious jeopardy. If the Vols can keep him in the pocket then they should be able to contain Missouri’s offense. The Vol offense moved the ball fairly well on Missouri’s defense last year but turnovers and woeful numbers on 3rd down kept them out of the end zone. My guess is that the Vols will be clicking on offense at this point and the Tigers won’t be able to outscore them. Winner: Tennessee
Reed: Don’t buy the Tiger hype this year. They captured lightening in a bottle last season and lost a ton of talent. They lost their best defensive backs, linebackers, and receivers, their top running back and two All-SEC defensive linemen. James Franklin will be missed at QB and Mauk won’t have as many weapons around him this year. The Vols will likely be underdogs in this one, but Tennessee’s young talent will be nearly a season older at this point. Tennessee picks up the victory here putting them at 5-6 headed into the last game of the season. Winner: Volunteers
