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#1
Tennessee (8-4/5-3 SEC and a blow out win over a good North Western) were just one or two plays from winning the SEC East. This season will be the best Volunteers team in almost a decade.
They return virtually all key contributors on both sides of the ball, including a good and improved dual-threat QB Joshua Dobbs (2291 yds, 60% compl., 15 TDs, 5 Int., plus 671 rushing yds and 11 TDs)
Besides the departures of 2 OL and a WR, the offense returns practically intact.
Biggest loss on the defensive side is at Safety position, losing two starters including the stand-out Brian Randolph (#2 tackler with 70 tackles) A good defense in 2015 (#17 in S&P+) will have a chance to be one of the top units in the nation with the hiring of a great DC in Bob Shoop, a well regarded DC from Penn. ST (and former Vandy DC) He should have lot of talent at his disposal.
The Volunteers are arguably the most complete team in the SEC heading into 2016 season.
Appalachian St. made the jump to FBS look too easy. After starting 1-5 in 2014, they rolled off a 13-1 record, the lone loss was a beat down at the hands of last year National Runner-Up Clemson.
The Mountaineers are well coached, motivated, and not afraid of going head-on vs a power team. After a 11-2 record last year, ASU return a good dual-threat QB in Taylor Lamb (2387 yds, 60% compl., 31 TDs, 9 Int., plus 436 rushing yds and 5 TDs,) a great and intact backfield including RB Marcus Cox (1415 yds and 19 TDs). The receiving corp. suffers quite heavily with 3 of top 4 WRs departed, and the OL is absolutely thin with only 2 returning starters and virtually no experience on depth.
The defense is loaded, losing only 5 of their top 28 tacklers, and is expected to continue their dominance in the Sun Belt conference.
As good as the Mountaineers, they are still a Sun Belt team. The last two years they were blown out 14-52 at Michigan in 2014, and 10-41 at Clemson last year. In the loss to Clemson, QB Lamb performed very poorly, completing 32% for 95 yds with 1 TD and 3 Int. He also rushed 3 times for a mere 8 yds.
The Mountaineers main offensive weapon is the ground attack and it's not hard to see them having trouble against a top SEC team defense, and probably will suffer a blow-out loss.
Pick: Tennessee -20
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