Athlon Sports Tabs Georgia as Vols' Toughest Game in 2020

Athlon Sports made a bold projection this week by tabbing Georgia as the Vols’ toughest opponent.

Tennessee reached the lowest of lows last year before pulling off one of the most improbable turnaround of the entire 2019-20 season; finishing the year 8-5 on a 6-game win streak. One of the factors that allowed the Vols to turn their entire season around in such a short time was their strength of schedule. Most of Tennessee’s weaker opponents came in the final 6 games of the season — South Carolina, UAB, Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Indiana — allowing the Volunteers to get hot at the right time.

Everyone knows that strength of schedule is one of — if not the — most important factors in determining where a team will finish their season, and the Vols have a relatively tough one in 2020. It is generally a consensus that the top opponents they are scheduled to play are Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia, but Athlon Sports made a bold projection this week by tabbing Bulldogs as the Vols’ toughest opponent.

“This annual SEC East rivalry has shifted to a later date on the schedule,” wrote Athlon Sports’ Rob McVey in regards to the upcoming Tennessee-Georgia game. “That should prove beneficial to the Vols overall, breaking up the tough stretch of early-season match-ups that have plagued Tennessee in the past.”

“But it doesn't ease the burden of a road trip to face the Bulldogs,” continued McVey. “Georgia is once again expected to field one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. And if the Bulldogs can somehow find their way back on offense this season with the addition of Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman at quarterback and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Even if that doesn't happen, Tennessee still faces the unenviable task of trying to put points on the scoreboard against an elite Georgia defense on the road.”

McVey points out that there are several significant advantages for the Volunteers during their upcoming match-up with Alabama that aren’t available for the Vols during their game with Georgia — making the rivalry game against the Dawgs slightly tougher than their match-up with the Tide. “If last year's efforts in Tuscaloosa are any indication, Tennessee may be starting to narrow the gap against the Crimson Tide,” wrote McVey. “It also bodes well for the Vols that this year's Third Saturday in October match-up will be played in Knoxville, with Tennessee having the added benefit of a bye before facing its arch-nemesis from the SEC West.”

The Vols and Bulldogs are currently scheduled to meet in Sanford Stadium on November 14th, but the date could be affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Vols will look to snag at least one upset victory against one of the 4 elite squads they play this season, and while the Dawgs remain a viable option for a victory, it will certainly be an uphill challenge.