In these intra-division games between the East and West, it often provides the fans some insight into which division may or may not be a stronger collective entity.

Since 2010, Tennessee has certainly not been a fan of these contests.

The Volunteers have not beaten an SEC West opponent in six years. The last time came in 2010 — when UT defeated Mississippi by a score of 52-14.

But there’s more to the story when looking at the statistics. Yes, the boys in orange and white have struggled immensely against SEC West foes. But it does make sense when delving into the strength of the teams they’ve played.

Since 2011, Tennessee’s SEC West opponents have a combined record of 122-24. These teams are also 63-6 overall during the actual game-week of the game versus the Volunteers.

History has a habit of repeating itself — with this year being no different. Tennessee will be taking on an undefeated Texas A&M squad this week. Next week, Alabama will stroll into Knoxville.

These statistics not only illustrate how tough Tennessee’s schedule is on an annual basis, but also truly how strong the SEC West traditionally has been.