Tennessee has faced tougher schedule than other CFP contenders
By Andrew Olson
Published:
SEC Network reporter Cole Cubelic tweeted an interesting observation Monday: Tennessee’s combined opponent record is more impressive than any of the other teams contending for a playoff spot.
Overall opponent record:
Ala 26-21
OhSt 18-20
Mich 21-18
Clem 27-15
aTm 23-16
Wash 14-23
UL 22-19
Neb 15-22
Baylor 8-26
WVU 17-14
Tenn 34-11— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) October 17, 2016
Any talk of the Volunteers’ resume is likely a moot point unless they reclaim the top spot in the SEC East and make it to Atlanta. Florida leads the division with a 3-1 record, but those three wins have come against Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Missouri while UT has gone 2-2 against UF, Georgia, No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 1 Alabama. Few would be surprised if UT ends up representing the division in Atlanta.
Alabama and Texas A&M have at least played above .500 competition, but Tennessee is the only team which has faced opponents with a combined 30-plus wins through seven weeks.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.