Tennessee Football Season 2024 Preview: What to Expect, Odds, and Expert Analysis

The Southeastern Conference underwent a seismic shift this offseason, and the question on every Vol fan’s mind is: can Tennessee capitalize and become the college football best bet?

Before you jump on the bandwagon (or fade the hype), let’s dissect the Tennessee Volunteers’ season odds. By analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and the revamped SEC landscape, we can help you identify if the Vols are a legitimate threat and potentially your college football best bet .

Is Tennessee a Betting Favorite to Win the NCAA Championship? | MyBookie’s Preview of Tennessee’s Southeastern Conference Run

2024 Tennessee Volunteers Football Team | 133rd Season of the NCAA gridiron action | 4th season of Josh Heupel Head Coach
Southeastern Conference
2023 Record: 9–4 (4–4 SEC)

2024 Tennessee Volunteers this Season

The SEC went through a major change this past offseason.

Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in college football history, retired and Alabama handed the reigns to the most historic of all college football programs to an SEC outsider, Kalen DeBoer.

The conference also welcomes two of the Big 12’s best programs, Oklahoma and Texas.

Changes didn’t hit Tennessee where Josh Heupel has continued to build a program that he believes will soon rival Bama and Georgia.

Is this the year the Vols take the next step? Check out Tennessee Volunteers’ college football odds, analysis, and season predictions.

Tennessee Volunteers Season Preview

Tennessee Volunteers Changes on Offense

The Volunteers hand the ball off to 2023 freshman quarterback, and the top recruit in his class, Nico Iamaleava.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Iamaleava led the Volunteers to a 35-0 victory over Iowa in last season’s Citrus Bowl.

Nico is 6’ 6” and weighs 210 pounds.

Most consider him a top dual-threat quarterback.

Now that he’s had a full spring in Heupel’s system as the starter, the offense should excel.

That is, it will excel if the offensive line steps up.

Heupel transferred LSU player Lance Heard to start at left tackle.

The rest of the line is made up of seniors.

So if Heard can rally around the upper classmen and give Iamaleava time, the line should develop into one of the conference’s best.

Heupel always finds wide receivers and running backs.

No problem there as Chriz Brazzel, Bru McCoy and Squirrel White will ensure Iamaleava has enough targets to get the ball downfield.

Tennessee Volunteers Changes on Defense

Sophomore cornerback Jermod McCoy played for one of last season’s top defenses, Oregon State’s.

The Beavers landed in the ACC, which is why many of their players, including McCoy, transferred to other schools.

McCoy and corner mate Ricky Gibson III, a Tennessee player his entire college career, will have their hands full this season.

The SEC is chockful of quality spread offenses.

So McCoy, Gibson III, and the safeties, Andre Turrentine and Jakobe Thomas, a Middle Tennessee transfer, must be at their best.

The defensive line and linebackers include 4 seniors, a junior, and a sophomore, WLB Arion Carter.

If Carter, a highly recruited player, takes the next step, Tennessee’s defense should be good.

Tennessee Volunteers Schedule Analysis

Win Total Odds

• Over 9.5 +130
• Under 9.5 -160

Tennessee if one of the few SEC teams that must play both Alabama and Georgia.

The game versus Bama is at home.

It’s also one that the Volunteers can win this season because Alabama’s defense may not be as solid as it has been in the past.

However, DeBoer’s offense is going to roll.

Not only that, but Iamaleava is experienced.

Still, the Volunteers have depth on defense, something they haven’t had in a while, and the offensive line with the addition of Heard could be something special.

Tennessee upsets Oklahoma in Norman on Sep 21 on their way to a 2 loss regular season.

Take a chance on over the 9.5 total.

Tennessee RWS Pick: Over 9.5 +130 | Current CFB Regular Season Wins
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Prop

Tennessee Volunteers SEC Odds +1100

The SEC is too deep for Tennessee to win this season.

The Volunteers could go 10-2 during the regular season and then lose in the SEC title game, or not even make the title game, because Bama, or Texas, or Georgia, or 2 of the 3 power teams in the conference go undefeated.

Georgia should go undefeated in conference play.

Texas projects to lose 1 conference game.

Ole Miss could lose 1 conference game if the Rebels upset LSU on the road.

So the chances of the Volunteers, whose 2 losses will be versus Georgia and another conference opponent, making the SEC title game is a longshot.

Go no on the Vols winning the SEC.

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Tennessee Volunteers Odds to Win the National Championship +3300

The odds on the Volunteers put them in the midrange category.

Tennessee has a chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Still, although the playoff has expanded, only so many SEC teams will get the call.

The Volunteers could have a bang up regular season with 2 to 3 losses.

But if the 2 to 3 losses are against Georgia, Alabama, or Oklahoma, Tennessee may not have a win versus a ranked team.

So the Vols are a longshot to even make the 12-Team College Football Playoff.

Tennessee isn’t worth a play to win the National Championship.

Bet the Tennessee’s Championship Odds | College Football Championship odds MyBookie Betting Lines for the Title

2024 College Football Week 1 Schedule

Next Games in the NCAAF Calendar
Week 1 of the 2024 College Football season kicks off on Saturday, August 24th, with exciting matchups across the country!

2023 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule

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The 2022 Tennessee Volunteers were successful at putting the program back on the map. The Volunteers won 11 games last season and handed Clemson a 17-point defeat in the Orange Bowl. Now, the Volunteers have to figure out how to continue to compete in the SEC East Division. 

Tennessee will turn back to Joe Milton at quarterback following the graduation of Hendon Hooker. In limited action last season, Milton passed for 971 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. He will have to keep Tennessee’s offense running at warp speed if the Volunteers will replicate last year’s success. 

Let’s see if the Tennessee Volunteers have what it takes to back the betting lines to win the National Championship.

Tennessee Volunteers 2023 Season Betting Guide | MyBookie College Betting Preview

Tennessee Volunteers | Southeastern Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season
Alabama Odds to Win Championship: +2800
School: University of Tennessee
Head coach: Josh Heupel | 3rd season
Home field: Neyland Stadium | Knoxville, Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers Records
Volunteers 2022 SU Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Volunteers 2022 ATS Record: 10-3-0
Volunteers 2023 Over Under Record: 8-4

Expectations for the 2023 Season

The over/under for Tennessee’s season is set at nine games. How the Volunteers will fare in the East Division is impacted by who they share the division with. Tennessee has the misfortune of being in with Georgia, which is the two-time defending champions that aren’t ready to give up the crowd yet. The Volunteers are +400 to win the division and +2000 to win the conference.

The Bulldogs are -400 to win the division.

Non-Conference Play Doesn’t have Many Landmines

The Volunteers’ only tricky game in the non-conference could be their neutral site season opener with Virginia. The Cavaliers struggled in their first season under coach Tony Elliott but could present some challenges as Tennessee adjust to some new personnel, though it seems Tennessee should pound Virginia.

The Volunteer’s non-conference schedule also included Austin Peay, UTSA and UCONN. None of those teams is likely to threaten Tennessee.

SEC Play will Feature Plenty of Tough Road Trips

The Volunteers’ path to an SEC title will feature a few tough road trips at the end of October. Tennessee will have to go to Bryant-Denny Stadium to try and beat Alabama for the second straight season. The Volunteers will follow that trip up the following week with a matchup with a scrappy Kentucky program.

Winning both those games would be a plus for Tennessee, but the Volunteers need at least one to stay in the SEC East race.

Neyland Stadium will Be Busy this Fall

The Volunteers will play five of their first six games at home. The most anticipated home game won’t come until Nov. 18. That’s when Georgia will visit Tennessee. The Bulldogs have won six straight matchups against the Volunteers.

Tennessee’s last win in the series came during a 34-31 decision back in 2016. Since then, the Bulldogs have transformed into the nation’s premiere program while Tennessee is trying to find its way forward.

Tennessee Volunteers Prediction for 2023 Season

Tennessee is a team that is built to be a scoring machine. Volunteers coach Josh Huepel wants to push the pace and keep Tennssee’s offense on the move. The Volunteers won’t be challenged in the non-conference and have a friendly home schedule. If Tennesse can win on the road at Kentucky and hold serve, the Volunteers should be able to get to double-digit wins in the regular season.

We’ll give Bama one more over than under game this season because oddsmakers could, especially early in the season, discount Bama’s offense due to the change at offensive coordinator and the QB questions. Let’s go 6-6 over-to-under.  

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