The Tennessee Volunteers were one of a few SEC teams safely in the College Football Playoff field, but unlike the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs, the Volunteers didn’t play in the conference championship.
If the Volunteers can win a first-round matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes, they’ll draw the No. 1-seeded Oregon Ducks. After that, it really opens up.
Who will the Volunteers need to knock off on their potential path to the CFP National Championship? College Football Network breaks down every potential matchup in Tennessee’s quest for a national title.
Ohio State College Football Playoff First-Round Prediction vs. No. 8 Ohio State
The Volunteers are the highest-ranked team to have to play on the road, and that proves tricky in a cold environment. Tennessee will need to get the run game going against a team that has struggled to match the physicality of some of its opponents.
- Win Probability vs. No. 8 Ohio State: 45.4%
- CFN Spread vs. No. 8 Ohio State: Ohio State -5.5
Tennessee College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Prediction vs. No. 1 Oregon
A win over Ohio State would pit the Volunteers against the No. 1 Ducks. On a neutral field, the Volunteers will be slight underdogs. If Nico Iamaleava plays to his potential, though, Tennessee can beat anyone in the country.
- Win Probability vs. No. 1 Oregon: 36.4%
- CFN Spread vs. No. 1 Oregon: Oregon -5
Tennessee College Football Playoff Semifinal Projection vs. No. 4 Arizona State, No. 5 Texas, or No. 12 Clemson
There are three possible opponents in the semifinals for the Volunteers: The Arizona State Sun Devils or the winner of the first-round matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Clemson Tigers. Tennessee would be sizeable favorites against both Arizona State and Clemson, while the Volunteers would be slight underdogs against the Longhorns.
- Win Probability vs. No. 4 Arizona State: 61.9%
- Win Probability vs. No. 5 Texas: 46.6%
- Win Probability vs. No. 12 Clemson: 63.1%
- CFN Spread vs. No. 4 Arizona State: Tennessee -4
- CFN Spread vs. No. 5 Texas: Texas -2
- CFN Spread vs. No. 12 Clemson: Tennessee -4.5
Tennessee College Football Playoff National Championship Projection vs. The Field
Six teams are on the other side of the bracket: The Boise State Broncos, Penn State Nittany Lions, SMU Mustangs, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Indiana Hoosiers, and Georgia Bulldogs.
The Volunteers would be favored against five of them, with the lone exception being Georgia in a rematch.
- Win Probability vs. No. 3 Boise State: 73.4%
- Win Probability vs. No. 6 Penn State: 50.8%
- Win Probability vs. No. 11 SMU: 63.6%
- Win Probability vs. No. 7 Notre Dame: 50.8%
- Win Probability vs. No. 10 Indiana: 52.5%
- Win Probability vs. No. 2 Georgia: 46.2%
- CFN Spread vs. No. 3 Boise State: Tennesee -8
- CFN Spread vs. No. 6 Penn State: Tennessee -1
- CFN Spread vs. No. 11 SMU: Tennessee -5
- CFN Spread vs. No. 7 Notre Dame: Tennessee -1
- CFN Spread vs. No. 10 Indiana: Tennessee -1.5
- CFN Spread vs. No. 2 Georgia: Georgia -2
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