VOLS do not try against good teams

I am convinced it is psychological. Every time they play a team worth a shite, they get smeared. Despite having the talent available to keep a game against a good team within one or two scores, they end up quitting in the second or third quarter.

2018 Kentucky was the last good team Tennessee beat (don't @ me, Kentucky went 10-3 that year). I believe they won that game because it's a "helmet game," and the players knew a victory against Kentucky was always within reach.

Conversely, every time Tennessee faces its Big 3 rivals- Florida, Georgia, Alabama- they are obliterated. They are so used to losing those games that they come out there without the will to win them. Sure, Alabama may be a different animal (Florida and Georgia get stomped on by them when they occasionally meet), but even a downtrodden Ole Miss program can compete with them. Similarly, Auburn can compete with them, despite not being as good recently, why? Because they have the will to win that game.

Tennessee has 35 consecutive losses against the AP Top 10, and they have all but surrendered against competition. VOLS are simply incapable of upsets, and that is entirely on the coaching staff for not mentally preparing their players for the big stage.