TENNESSEE
Just when you thought the Tennessee hype train could not get any louder, prepare yourself for expectations of Rocky Top proportion.
College football prediction and analytics website Mcillece Sports, a contributor to the Stassen Poll, ranks the Vols as the No. 1 team in the nation heading into the 2016 season. Before you laugh off the site – as noted by Rocky Top Insider – Mcillece Sports ranked as the second most accurate predictor for 2015 predictions and tied Phil Steele as the second most accurate predictor of college football over the last two seasons combined.
According to the site, the Vols may not even have a tough path to winning the SEC this season, as the only other ranked teams on Tennessee’s schedule this season – judging by their preseason rankings – would be Alabama, ranked No. 2, and Florida, ranked No. 20. Other SEC preseason ranks include LSU at No. 12 and Ole Miss at No. 22.
The site also runs 70,000 simulations of the season and ranks each school’s chances of capturing its division.
By far, Tennessee had the highest number in the SEC with a 61-percent chance of reaching Atlanta. Florida is listed with a 16-percent chance, Georgia with a 15-percent chance while the rest of the East schools all have a 2-percent chance.
In the West, Alabama is listed with a 36-percent chance of winning the division, LSU listed with a 22-percent chance, Ole Miss listed with a 15-percent, while Auburn and Arkansas are listed each with 8-percent chances, Texas A&M with a 6-percent shot andMississippi State representing the long shot with a 5-percent to reach Atlanta.
One thing is for sure after taking in all this data, the hype in Knoxville is only going to continue to grow between now and the Sept. 1 Thursday night season kickoff.
All of this preseason hype, Tennessee better hope it lives up to the expectation level.
This is an EXACT repeat of what happened last preseason. The media started hyping us up to unrealistic expectations. People started suddenly saying we’d win the East. And all the Vols fans were like, “No way this is the year, we still need to rebuild more.” But by then the damage was done. We wanted a better season and we got it. But the damage was done, and now you have the meme of “Tennessee is hyped every year.” Sure, every year except for each year from 2008-2014, and practically every year in the late 1980s, and plenty of years before that. It’s annoying to see the football fan brigading against Tennessee just because they think our fans unreasonably think we will be great, when in reality Vols fans generally have had very realistic expectations all along, especially during our down period.
Very true and well worded reply.
Umm…wow.
I don’t even think TN fans enjoy this hype. I certaintly wouldn’t.
You are Correct..
Switch lsu and Bama and switch ole pi$$ and Uga and its just about perfect. Really though, there’s about 7 or 8 teams that could be in any order at the top and still be reasonable.
Also add in auburn and tamu in the late teens and twenties.
I’m actually excited that the Conference Game will actually mean something this year. I have always respected my Alma mater’s program, even if my heritage demands I despise it. Roll Tide! Eat a Big Orange!
I agree. Bammer can eat us. LOL
Can this stop already? I believe Tennessee is top 15 or top 10 but this is getting out of hand.
We’ll have to see if it is hype or good prediction. Hopefully both players and coaches have improved from last year. Proof will be on the field.
I paid for this publication.
All these preseason polls may inflate butch Jones head so much he will start to look like Kanye West.
that $221K car is only a two seater, where will he sit?
I bleed orange, have all my life, but you’re right TClark. I beg the media to pump the brakes on this hype train a bit.
You better see a doctor about that blood problem.
Bama fans must have smokers cough from all the cigars they’ve been lighting up through the years after playing ut. I wonder if this is the year they get a break from all that smoke. Or will ut suffer from its own smoke coming off the hype train.
wtf u talking bout?
I understood him.
@ekingvol must be a one of those vols that has never set foot in neyland and has no idea about the bama/tenn tradition.
The smoke you should be concerned with is the smoke from the riots after UT beats UGA in Athens and the reality that Kirby wasn’t what y’all thought.
Somebody’s butthurt
No Butt hurt here, The Vols have a one game winning streak, they hold the lead in the All-time played series… are looking to extend the both…
One game winning streak. HA…
Butthurt
I assume that the media has resorted to voodoo and dark magic to make these wild predictions. If Tennessee underperforms (which is more likely than being #1), these same journalists (I use that word lightly) will begin chastising the Vols fan base for “buying the hype” despite the media being responsible for its creation. It’s precisely what happened last year. So let me and the other Vols fans on this comment thread –and numerous others– stand as record: I do not buy the hype. Proof is on the field, everything else is conjecture.
Exactly. See J Johnson and Auburn.
I honestly can say I’m impressed with how the Vols Fanbase is handling this. I agree with Extra_Gum (Top 15 or maybe even a Top 10)..I’d put them in the Top 5 for arguement sake.. But number 1?
At least almost every Vol Fan has been sincere and honest thus far.. Should they not live up to OUR expectations, they can”t be held accountable..
Damn #1 though?? Well I tell ya one thing, do not expect Coach Jones to play nice.. As unethical as it is to run up the score, expect him to try and beat the brakes off of every opponent when possible…WooHoo…Any Given Saturday is almost here!!!!
Hilarious
#1? Give me a break. We need to beat Florida and Bama before we should even be in consideration for anything.
Tennessee loses to GA, ALA and FLA. That should take care of that #1 ranking.
Armydawg…Ur high on something.. Bama (Maybe), Georgia less likely and Florida a NOT..
This team will be playing with everything to lose..I can see them playing in desperation mode (every yard counts mode). Unless they sit back and assumes everyone will roll over for them, I dont see them losing more than 2 games and one might be the SECCG.