I don't disagree with Dooley for going for it on 4th and three. However, if you know you are going to go for it on 4th down then shouldn't you run it on 3rd down? Instead UT threw it twice...

Bowl games don't count

go over their predicted (Las Vegas) season win total of 6.5 wins. After the win over NC St I felt for sure I had passed on a sure thing. Now I'm so glad that I pulled a Dooley and wussed out. What fan out there now thinks UT wont lose to Vandy and thus miss out on a bowl. Again. The SEC should make UT and Auburn play in the inaugural Turd Bowl. At least Texas A&M is trying to cheer me up.

M

Next year UT first 8 games are Austin Peay, W Kentucky, @FLa, @Oregon, South Alabama, UGA, South Carolina, @Alabama. We will probably be underdogs in all 4 SEC games and at Oregon. 3-5 at this point next year is staring us straight in the face. If that happens UT would have to win on the road at Missouri to AVOID AN 0-5 START IN THE SEC FOR THE 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR!

By disinterested and unmotivated I was referring to how the team might show up this Saturday against Troy. I think they played like they wanted to win against SC, but just suffered from the same problems that have been plaguing them all year. Now that there is no one left but the bottom third of the conference left on the schedule. Having lost against SC in such a heartbreaking fashion, with no real team goals left to play for (i.e. signature win) and given the past history of our QB in such situations, I think there is a good chance UT will slip up against one or more of the teams left on the schedule.

I don't know, I think you are underselling the talent on that 2008 team a little. I was thinking this year's team might be similarly disinterested and unmotivated. If the Vols offense comes to play they be be able to hang 50 on Troy and that would all but guarantee a victory, but I think that's a big if.
My worst experience as a Vol fan would have to be paying $110 for an upper level nosebleed seat on the 20 yard line for the Florida game in 1996. Tennessee was #2 and Florida was #4. It was my first trip to Neyland and I was 20 at the time so $110 was a lot of money. Then UT went down 35-0 in the first 20 minutes. Then it started to rain. Did I mention I went to the game with my friend who is a Florida fan? That was a terrible day, but hopefully UT will be back in a similar situation soon

UT is an 18 point favorite. Isn't that similar to the spread over Wyoming in 2008?  

National Championship game over Kansas St? I'm guessing 17 points.

This is how many total consecutive losses UT is in the midst of to the tops teams in the SEC:
Fla 0-8
Ala 0-6
Aub 0-5
LSU 0-4
UGA 0-3
USC 0-3
This has got to be proof that we are at an all
time historical low for UT football.

I can think of two words that start with horse that it was...

First and 20 is a piece of cake when you can convert on 3rd and 27

You might be able to add Georgia to that list if they lose to Florida (especially if they get blown out) and continue to play poorly (beat terrible teams by 5 points) the rest of the year.

Bray is a Jeff George wannabe.

Good guess. I just checked and they had the same total points as UT (95) through their first 3 games, but they started 1-2, with the win being against bama.

conference games and gone 0-3?

And it has come against less and less talented teams. From Fla to UGA to MSU as the talent of the opposition decreases the effort/performance of the Vols has decreased, culminating in the worst opening half I can remember, particularly when you consider UT is coming off a bye. I know some may use Dooley not being on the sidelines as an excuse, but it seems to me that either the team is still mentally weak or just doesn't believe in/ respect the coaches.

Agreed.  A win over MSU should never have to be a "Signature" win for UT as a school or its coach. Unfortunately, I think this is where UT is a program now. I'm also thinking it would be a "Signature" win in terms of turning the corner in the minds of the players and coaches finally believing and actually winning a game against an even/better opponent. Not so much a "Signature" win in terms of national prestige.

In college football home field advantage is generally thought to be worth about 3 points with regards to the point spread. That would mean Vegas thinks that MSU and UT are essentially equal teams. I think the Vols probably have more talent, but less experience winning, both for the players and coaches. MSU on the other hand hasn't been in a close game all year. Hopefully Sat will be the game where UT can hang on and get a signature win. In other interesting lines:

Florida -7.5 @ Vandy
LSU -2.5 vs South Carolina
Ole Miss -4 vs Auburn

*

I'm beginning to think the NC state game for CP was a fluke.

UGA has been giving up a lot of short complete passes to start the game. Gotta think they will continue with the big cushion on Hunter and CP. Should open up the slant routes, or possibly a reverse for CP. But you know UGA is going to blitz, hope UT uses some screens and doesn't force anything early.

Todd Gurley has been getting a lot of press, having averaged over 10 yards a carry on the season. But, if you look at who UGA has played, UT's front 7 should be markedly better than Mizzou, Vandy, Buffalo, and Fla Atl. Here is what Gurley did against Mizzou: 10 carries for 65 yards. Now, that is a 6.5 yd/carry average, but if you take out his long run of 44 yards that leaves 9 carries for 21 yards, or 2.3 carry. In that same game Marshall had 12 carries for 32 yards, or 2.7 yards per carry. As long as UT can avoid the breakdown in communication that has lead to virtually every big run we have allowed, I think UGA is going to have trouble moving the ball on the ground. Also, since both running backs are true freshman UT should try and blitz and take advantage of their potential lack of pass protection. I know that could expose our slower secondary, but I think the risk is worth the reward.

Probably, but I'm not sold on Rambo. He gambles a lot and for every pick he gets burned for a touchdown. There is also the concern about if those two are in game shape yet and how much they play. UGA's weakest point on defense has been defending the pass, especially short passes early in the game. CP should get a lot of chances on quick slants or WR screens if Bray looks his way. This should all contribute to the game being close at halftime, no surprise there.

The closing line for the UGA/Vandy game was UGA by 14. I guess this mean Vegas thinks Vandy is a better team than Tennessee...