The latest set of predictions from the SEC Network’s Roman Harper certainly has the Tennessee football fanbase talking.
ESPN’s Football Power Index has Tennessee projected with a 7-5 overall record. Harper, a former defensive back with Alabama and the New Orleans Saints, sees Tennessee’s season going much differently.
On Monday morning, during a segment on SEC Now, Harper projected Tennessee Football to finish the 2022 regular season with a record of 10-2.
That’s one of the boldest predictions from an analyst this preseason regarding the Volunteers. So how did Harper get there?
Harper projected Tennessee to go 4-2 in the first half of the schedule with losses at LSU and home against Alabama. With that prediction, that also means that Harper is picking Tennessee to defeat Pittsburgh on the road and Florida at home for just the second time in the last 18 years.
“Now remember, Florida has won 16 of the last 17,” SEC Network host Peter Burns said.
“Yup, and it’ll be 16 out of the last 18,” Harper responded while selecting the win button for Tennessee. “Win right there.”
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Following back-to-back losses in LSU and Alabama, Harper has Tennessee bouncing back in the seventh game of the season against UT Martin, which he says will be a nice game to pad the stats and find their mojo. Harper then has Tennessee taking care of Kentucky at home.
Then, without a question, is the boldest prediction on the list. Harper has Tennessee going down to Athens and defeating the reigning national champion Georgia Bulldogs on the road.
“Then you’ve got to go on the road to Georgia,” Harper said. “The best thing about this is Georgia will be coming off a game against Florida. You (Tennessee) will win that game, yes you will. Tennessee pops Georgia this year and I’m calling my shot right now. After the Florida game, thank you.”
With Harper picking Tennessee to defeat Georgia, the Vols are now sitting at 7-2 in his projected season with three games remaining against teams that Tennessee defeated last season: Missouri, at South Carolina, and at Vanderbilt.
“You’ve got to go on the road to Columbia,” Harper said. “You know it’s rocking. We might even be there on SEC Nation and you know what? They’re (Tennessee) gonna win again!”
Harper has Tennessee closing out the final three games of its schedule with three straight wins to finish the season 10-2. For those following along, that’s four straight wins to start the season, two straight losses in the middle and six straight wins to enter bowl season.
Whew.
As mentioned earlier, ESPN’s Football Power Index, which factors in data and statistics from the previous season, has Tennessee projected with a record of 7-5. ESPN FPI’s projection has Tennessee losing to LSU and Alabama just like Harper, but also added in losses to Pittsburgh, Georgia, and Kentucky.
Check out the full video from the SEC Network on Thursday morning below.
10-2 🍊
Roman Harper says get ready for a big season on Rocky Top!@Vol_Football | @Harp41 pic.twitter.com/AGIHHYHNc2
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 11, 2022
