I noticed on the prediction thread that a few

[Jarius]

They have talent and its on the road. Its not that complicated

Can you point out all of the talent? I haven’t seen much when they play.

[TrapGame]

Also, Shoop wants this game bad. He will have that D playing with its hair on fire.

[KentuckyDawg13]

You answered your own question; it's a HOME game for UT.

[chef dixon]

Can you point out all of the talent? I haven’t seen much when they play.

Considering they haven't played yet this year I can't. I'll defer the eye for talent to you.

[Jarius]

Considering they haven't played yet this year I can't. I'll defer the eye for talent to you.

Then how do you know they have talent? It certainly isn’t based on anything they did last year or the awful offseason they have had losing players.

[sleepy dawg]

Before the turmoil that has unfolded I would've picked us to beat Tennessee. We had a whole lot of question marks coming into this season, and now we have a whole lot more. I don't expect Tennessee to be great, but not bad either. On the flip side, it's pretty hard for me to think much of us at this point. We won 8 games last season. After everything we lost, it's hard to imagine us being better. Throw in all the suspensions and news, who knows how much it will affect us, but it will affect us and it will be negative. Given that addition, 8 wins seems like a bit of a stretch to me. I went with 7 wins which means a loss to Tennessee is likely, but I'm really feeling like we're more of 6.5 win team at the moment.

[WPS]

I will be disappointed if we lose to Ark. I don't see how Ark can fix that defense in one year. It isn't like they have a lot of high level talent and the DC shit the bed like Sirmon. It should take them a couple of years to get a top 25 type defense at least.

Believe it or not the defense was actually better last year than it was in 2017...but the offense and special teams put them in terrible spots game after game with turnovers and horrible field position. I think most of the team kinda gave up in the last two games. Players getting suspended, etc.

The entire DL will be seniors as will the MLB so if they still suck it won't be for lack of experience.

[chef dixon]

Then how do you know they have talent? It certainly isn’t based on anything they did last year or the awful offseason they have had losing players.

I said I can't point it out. You're right.

They've recruited better than us overall. We are losing a big handful of players this offseason as well incase you have not noticed. If you want to base it on last year, we can't disregard the fact we lost 3 first round picks of talent too. This concept that we could lose to TN is not complicated.

[TrapGame]

Before the turmoil that has unfolded I would've picked us to beat Tennessee. We had a whole lot of question marks coming into this season, and now we have a whole lot more. I don't expect Tennessee to be great, but not bad either. On the flip side, it's pretty hard for me to think much of us at this point. We won 8 games last season. After everything we lost, it's hard to imagine us being better. Throw in all the suspensions and news, who knows how much it will affect us, but it will affect us and it will be negative. Given that addition, 8 wins seems like a bit of a stretch to me. I went with 7 wins which means a loss to Tennessee is likely, but I'm really feeling like we're more of 6.5 win team at the moment.

Sleepy, have you tried anti-depressants? They're awesome!

I'm telling ya, if we have a legit deep threat w/ Tommy and the WRs we will be tough to beat outside of elite defenses. And even then we'll score some points and maybe have a shot in 4th quarter.

[TrapGame]

Believe it or not the defense was actually better last year than it was in 2017...but the offense and special teams put them in terrible spots game after game with turnovers and horrible field position. I think most of the team kinda gave up in the last two games. Players getting suspended, etc.

The entire DL will be seniors as will the MLB so if they still suck it won't be for lack of experience.

Just out of curiosity who's your DC? And are you guys expecting Morris to make a jump with the offense this season?

[Jarius]

I said I can't point it out. You're right.

They've recruited better than us overall. We are losing a big handful of players this offseason as well incase you have not noticed. If you want to base it on last year, we can't disregard the fact we lost 3 first round picks of talent too. This concept that we could lose to TN is not complicated.

They have not recruited better than we have. That is pretty apparent when you see the players on the field for the past few years. They have had better recruiting rankings than us, which do not account for attrition and the fact that the rankings where our 2 programs are usually located are extremely subjective and not nearly as correct as the rankings where the elite teams are located. If we lose to Tennessee it will be considered an upset. They are not better than us at a single spot on the field outside wide receiver unless they have some players make significant strides. Maybe at DT and qb as well, but that is tbd and not based on anything their returning players have done. More of how unknown our players are at those positions.

[WPS]

Just out of curiosity who's your DC? And are you guys expecting Morris to make a jump with the offense this season?

John Chavis. Greg Brooks is actually starting at nickel immediately, FWIW.

All 11 offensive starters are different than what they were at the start of last year, which I don't think has ever happened here before. Having a guy like Hicks who knows the offense and Starkel who has more talent than either of our QBs last year should help. Of our QBs last year, Ty Storey is a backup at Western Kentucky and Cole Kelley is a backup at Southeastern Louisiana lol. Rakeem Boyd played all year with a torn rotator cuff last year and now he's healthy. And we signed a great WR recruiting class which should infuse some talent there but they are freshmen so can't set the expectations too high. It all comes down to the OL which was probably the worst in the conference the last two years and they may be better but only marginally. The offense should be better overall just from being in the system for another year now but it still won't be great and I think most would be satisfied with 5 or 6 wins as acceptable improvement. Morris is infatuated with KJ Jefferson so I'm sure we'll try to get his four games in too.

[sleepy dawg]

Sleepy, have you tried anti-depressants? They're awesome!

I'm telling ya, if we have a legit deep threat w/ Tommy and the WRs we will be tough to beat outside of elite defenses. And even then we'll score some points and maybe have a shot in 4th quarter.

IF IF IF IF... I figure Tommy will be pretty good, not great. As far as the wide receivers, who the hell knows. Everyone thinks we'll be so much better, but we have no idea. Until they prove it in a game we don't know. On top of that, how many of our WRs will be suspended for 12 games? It's all a big question mark. Chemistry on offense is huge and right now, it seems to me that we won't have it more than we will.

[TrapGame]

John Chavis. Greg Brooks is actually starting at nickel immediately, FWIW.

All 11 offensive starters are different than what they were at the start of last year, which I don't think has ever happened here before. Having a guy like Hicks who knows the offense and Starkel who has more talent than either of our QBs last year should help. Of our QBs last year, Ty Storey is a backup at Western Kentucky and Cole Kelley is a backup at Southeastern Louisiana lol. Rakeem Boyd played all year with a torn rotator cuff last year and now he's healthy. And we signed a great WR recruiting class which should infuse some talent there but they are freshmen so can't set the expectations too high. It all comes down to the OL which was probably the worst in the conference the last two years and they may be better but only marginally. The offense should be better overall just from being in the system for another year now but it still won't be great and I think most would be satisfied with 5 or 6 wins as acceptable improvement. Morris is infatuated with KJ Jefferson so I'm sure we'll try to get his four games in too.

Oh hell, I forgot you guys got Cheese!!!

Man, as long as Hunter Henry no longer has any eligibility we good!

[TrapGame]

IF IF IF IF... I figure Tommy will be pretty good, not great. As far as the wide receivers, who the hell knows. Everyone thinks we'll be so much better, but we have no idea. Until they prove it in a game we don't know. On top of that, how many of our WRs will be suspended for 12 games? It's all a big question mark. Chemistry on offense is huge and right now, it seems to me that we won't have it more than we will.

I hate 2018 gave half his board battered wife syndrome.

[Turfdawg67]

Another impartial metric (the one that there entire sports universe uses) will have us favored to win the game on the road.

Funny how they'll use metrics in one argument and Vegas in others... whatever fits their negative narrative.

[SmokeyDawg]

I picked us to win but really have TN and LSU as toss ups. Both out recruit us. Tennessee's OL is very talented. I think those 2 games will determine how good Stevens is. We have our holes too but if he can overcome our deficiencies and get those wins it would say a lot about him.

[Turfdawg67]

John Chavis. Greg Brooks is actually starting at nickel immediately, FWIW.

Nice subtle jab there. He wouldn't be starting for us... FWIW. Maybe he can counter the 52-6 butt stomping y'all incurred last year.

[Homedawg]

I find it more interesting that we have numerous people that think Stevens is throwing for 3600 yards in the reg season. Mcsorely's best season was 3615 and that was w a bowl. 3600 is a lot of faith. A whole lot.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Nice subtle jab there. He wouldn't be starting for us... FWIW. Maybe he can counter the 52-6 butt stomping y'all incurred last year.

LOL