Tennessee football ranked 7th in SEC by preseason magazine. Why I disagree | Adams

The first preseason college football magazine was published last week. It wasn’t especially complimentary to Tennessee.

Lindy’s Sports ranked the Vols seventh in the SEC. But that ranking could be more reflective of the conference’s strength than Tennessee’s shortcomings.

The Vols were ranked 15th nationally, which tells you the nation’s most formidable conference has become even stronger with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. Lindy’s ranked eight SEC teams among its top 19 teams nationally.

It picked Georgia No. 1, followed by Ohio State at No. 2. My guess is virtually every preseason top 25 will have the Bulldogs or Buckeyes at the top.

Other ranked SEC teams: Texas (third), Ole Miss (fifth), Alabama (seventh), Missouri (ninth), LSU (13th), Oklahoma (18th) and Texas A&M (19th).

I’m not surprised by Lindy’s high regard for the SEC. I am surprised Tennessee wasn’t ranked higher in the conference.

The biggest reasons I consider the Vols a potential top-10 team and playoff qualifier: quarterback Nico Iamaleava, overall experience on offense, a solid defensive front, and an accommodating schedule.

Nobody in the SEC has an easy schedule. But some schedules are significantly easier than others.

For example, take Missouri. The Tigers will play just three teams ranked in Lindy’s top 25 – Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Alabama. And they won’t play the conference’s three highest ranked teams – Georgia, Texas and Ole Miss.

Tennessee won’t have the advantage of avoiding Georgia. However, like Missouri, it will play only three ranked teams, including Alabama and Oklahoma.

The six conference teams ranked ahead of Tennessee all have a more experienced quarterback. Experience aside, Georgia’s Carson Beck is the only SEC quarterback I would take over Iamaleava.

Iamaleava’s talent is obvious. Moreover, his skill set…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-football-ranked-7th-sec-111724309.html

Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-06-05 11:17:24

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