re: Tennessee +10 versus West Virginia

quote:

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Hard not to choose WV, but over the years Tenn has seemed to find a way to win their first big game of the year.

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By what measure?

2017: They barely beat a ranked GT team that finished 5-6. (Their game vs UCF was canceled so likely 5-7)
2016: UT actually finished ranked and their VT win was solid (UT wins the NASCAR championship)
2015: Lose a close game to Oklahoma
2014: Lose by 24 @Oklahoma
2013: Lose by 45 @Oregon
2012: Beat a 7-6 NC State team
2011: Beat a real solid Cincinnati team, lose to UF the next week by 10.
2010: Lose to Oregon at home by 35.

Legit kudos to UT for the scheduling, but going back to Dooley's first year that's a 4-4 record vs first 'big' games - that's if you include Cincinnati and not UF as the first big game - two of which were against ACC teams ended up being 5-6 and 7-6.