4. at Vanderbilt
Tennessee’s top four most important games this season are all vital to their success this season. It may be weird to see Vanderbilt, potentially the Vols’ weakest SEC opponent this season, here at No. 4, but they’re placed here because of where they fall on the schedule and because of how important this game will but to UT’s psyche.
The Vols and Commodores face each other in the last game of the season. It’s likely that Vanderbilt will be eliminated from bowl contention at this point, and they’ll be playing to spoil the Vols’ season if Tennessee is fighting for bowl eligibility themselves. And that’s a big possibility; Tennessee’s match-up against Vanderbilt could be the swing game for the Vols this year. There’s a good chance that UT is 5-6 heading into this contest in Nashville, and a loss would mean no bowl for Jeremy Pruitt’s first Tennessee team.
Seeing Vanderbilt beat the Vols for third straight season would be unbearable for Vol fans. Losing to the Commodores and missing out on postseason play yet again would be an even worse gut punch. Simply put, the Vols absolutely have to win this game this season even if they aren’t playing for bowl eligibility.
A loss to Vanderbilt in 2018 is inexcusable. And Jeremy Pruitt and his staff know that.
