2. at South Carolina
Almost all of Tennessee’s SEC match-ups outside of Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia will be considered toss-ups this season. And the Vols’ contest against South Carolina will be one of those games, and it’s also one of the most important games for Tennessee this season.
South Carolina will be facing the Vols coming off a bye week, and Tennessee will be facing the Gamecocks coming off a road game against Auburn and hosting Alabama. The Vols will be beat up, and South Carolina will be rested. Tennessee will likely be coming off at least three straight losses, and South Carolina will have faced Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas A&M before their by week.
You probably couldn’t find two teams headed in less similar directions at this point in the season. And that’s another reason why this game will be so important for the Vols.
Tennessee will be looking for a way to give fans some positivity after a brutal stretch, and South Carolina marks the end of UT’s gauntlet this season. Their match-up with the Gamecocks could also be a swing game for the Vols, one that could decide their postseason fate.
There’s a chance Tennessee is 2-5 when they face South Carolina this season. A loss to the Gamecocks would put the Vols in a dire position. This game is huge for the Vols, and it could be about as “must win” as possible.
