The 2016 Tennessee Volunteers hype train continues to careen down the college football landscape at a near-uncontrollable pace.

Butch Jones’s program is considered the odds-on favorite to win the SEC East, and eventually represent the division in Atlanta for the conference title.

All of the ingredients are there for a big run: A veteran quarterback, a two-headed monster at running back, a deep stable of defensive linemen, and a battle-tested squad ready to take the next step in becoming a force within the SEC.

While Alabama is the unquestioned top dog within the conference, ESPN FPI actually gives Tennessee the best odds to win the SEC in 2016. The football power index takes into account a number of factors — including strength of schedule.

This ultimately may be settled on the field come Oct. 15 — as the Crimson Tide head to Knoxville to take on the upstart Vols.