Bracketology: Tennessee’s Playoff Projections Split Heading Into Week Three

Tennessee sits in an interesting position in terms of playoff projections heading into Week 2 of the college football season.

While the Vols have destroyed their first two opponents (including a Top 25 opponent) 120-13, analysts know that Tennessee’s three biggest tests – Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia – are still down the road.

The consensus thought seems to be that while Tennessee is one of the top programs in the country, Josh Heupel’s squad is still a fringe playoff team for some. Analysts who believed in Tennessee heading into the year likely see the first two outcomes as an expected beatdown en route to a sure playoff spot while others are noting Tennessee’s dominance but want to see it against better teams before slotting them into the Top 12 spots.

RTI looked at eight bowl projection lists since the end of Week 2 on Saturday, with four analysts predicting Tennessee to land in the playoffs and four projecting the Vols to miss.

Interestingly, three of the four projections have Tennessee taking on an SEC team with two of those against Alabama. If that does happen, if Tennessee is the higher-seeded team in the first round, it would be the second matchup between the Vols and Tide in Neyland Stadium in three months.

More from RTI: Four Tennessee Players To Watch Against Kent State

Here’s a look at how the experts around the college football world are projecting the playoffs entering the third week of the regular season. Click the organization’s name to see more.

ESPN

• Mark Schlabach: 7-seed in College Football Playoffs
  • Has Tennessee defeating 10-seed Alabama in the first round, losing to 2-seed Ohio State in the quarterfinal round (Rose Bowl)
  • “Tennessee’s offense looks very explosive with quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and it appears the Volunteers have taken a big step forward on defense. They surrendered only 143 yards of offense and forced three turnovers in a 51-10 rout of the Wolfpack.”

• Kyle Bonagura: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Michigan (Dec. 31)

• Heather Dinich: 11-seed in College Football Playoffs against 6-seed Ole Miss
  • “With Notre Dame falling out of the bracket this week, the Vols were promoted after their win against NC State. Tennessee and Ole Miss don’t play each other during the regular season. The Vols do play at Georgia, though, on Nov. 16. In this scenario, if Tennessee were to win three straight playoff games, it could see the Bulldogs again in the national championship game. The committee doesn’t consider the possibility of rematches when voting for its Top 25.”

CBS Sports

• Jerry Palm: Las Vegas Bowl vs Arizona (Dec. 27)

CBS Sports

• Brad Crawford: 10-seed in College Football Playoffs against 7-seed Oregon
  • “Did America overlook Tennessee? Sure looks like it. After a 41-point destruction of NC State over the weekend, one of the Vols’ 50-50 tests is over. Three games of interest on Tennessee’s schedule will determine the SEC race and the program’s playoff chances — Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia. If the Vols finish with 10 wins, they likely get a shot in the tournament.”

The Athletic

• Austin Mock & Athletic Staff: 11-seed in College Football Playoffs against 6-seed Oregon

Action Network

• Brett McMurphy: Las Vegas Bowl vs Arizona (Dec. 27)
  • Has an early line of Tennessee -2 for the projected contest

Athlon Sports

• Steven Lassan: 10-seed in College Football Playoffs
  • Has Tennessee losing to 7-seed Alabama in the first round of the playoffs