Where On3 predicts Tennessee to finish in the SEC standings

On3’s JesseSimonton has Tennessee football as his No. 2 team in the SEC East this season, according to predictions released on Sunday afternoon. The Vols finished behind Georgia in Simonton’s East standings but ahead of No. 3 Kentucky, No. 4 South Carolina, No. 5 Florida, No. 6 Missouri and last-place Vanderbilt.

“The more interesting question is who will be the No. 2 team in the East in 2023?” Simonton wrote. “Last year, I hit on Tennessee having a resurgent season, and I’m doubling down on the Vols again this fall. I don’t foresee the Vols being in the mix for a College Football Playoff (still skeptical about a major defensive leap), but even with the enigma that is Joe Milton at QB, they’re a safer bet to win 9ish games over Kentucky or South Carolina.”

On3 predicted LSU to win the SEC West over Alabama and ahead of No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Arkansas, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Auburn and No. 7 Mississippi State.

“I am one of the dummies shortchanging Alabama this offseason and have the Tigers winning the SEC West for the second straight autumn,” Simonton wrote. “It’s probably a stupid pick. Alabama hasn’t missed consecutive SEC Championship Games in 13 years. The internet is ripe will Old Takes Exposed tweets calling out idiots who dared to bet against Nick Saban. Line me up, though.” 

Vegas gives Vols fourth best odds to win SEC this season

In Las Vegas, Tennessee has the fourth best odds to win the SEC according to odds released in June by BetOnline. The Vols, at +1400 are behind Georgia (+100), Alabama (+200) and LSU (+525).

ESPN’s Football Power Index ranking has Tennessee at No. 12 heading into the season. The Vols are the fourth-highest ranked SEC team, behind Alabama, Georgia and LSU. ESPN’s SP+ ranking, which weighs returning production, recent recruiting and recent history, has Tennessee ranked No. 6 overall, with the No. 2 offense and No. 32 defense.

The FPI predicts Tennessee will go 8-4 in 2023 — the projected win-loss record is 8.2-3.9 —and gives the Vols a 98.1 percent chance to win at least six games. They have a 5.4 percent chance to win the SEC East, a 1.2 percent chance to win the SEC and a 2.5 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff. There’s an 0.7 percent chance to make the national championship game and an 0.2 percent chance to win the title. 

The Vols announced on May 31 that the September 2 game against Virginia, a neutral-site game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, will be a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC. It will be the second consecutive year the Vols will be on ABC after the Pitt game was televised on the network last September. 

The road game at Florida on September 16 will be a 7 p.m. ET start on ESPN. South Carolina at Georgia will be the SEC Game of the Week on CBS earlier that afternoon.

The kickoff time for the September 9 home-opener against Austin Peay has not yet been set, but the game will be an ESPN+/SEC Network+ online live stream.