Three potential trap games for Tennessee football in 2015

Expectations are certainly present around the Tennessee football program heading into the 2015 season after a solid finish to 2014.

The Vols are expected to start competing with the powers of the SEC, and even contend for the SEC East title.

While Tennessee probably will become more competitive with teams like Alabama and Georgia, they need to be cautious of overlooking the teams that they have been beating, even in their down seasons.

Here are three games that the Vols need to be careful of overlooking:

Bowling Green (in Nashville), Sept. 5

The chances of Tennessee losing to Bowling Green are definitely very slim, but the Falcons do deserve the Vols’ full attention – much like last year’s season opener against Utah State.

Bowling Green finished the 2014 season with an 8-6 (5-3 MAC) record, which included an appearance in the MAC Championship Game, and a win over Indiana.

The Falcons high-powered offense will give Tennessee’s defense an early test.

Bowling Green returns 10 of 11 offensive starters, including their leading passer, rusher, and receiver from last season.

But while Tennessee would be unwise to overlook the Falcons, at the end of the day, Bowling Green just doesn’t quite have the talent to beat the Vols.

Tennessee will get a test on the first Saturday of the season, but should prevail over Bowling Green.

at Kentucky, Oct. 31

There is no doubt that Kentucky football is trending in the right direction under third year head coach Mark Stoops.

And though the Wildcats were blown out by Tennessee last season, this year could be different.

Kentucky will most likely finish in the bottom half of the SEC East, but they will have the talent to pull off an upset or two.

The game against Tennessee is a perfect opportunity for the Wildcats.

The Vols will be coming off of a big time game against Alabama, and could potentially dismiss the game against Kentucky the following Saturday.

This game is also being played on Halloween, which ensures that the environment in Commonwealth Stadium for this rivalry game will be a tough one.

The Vols are a better team than Kentucky, but if the Wildcats were to notch a rare win over their rivals, this will be a good chance.

South Carolina, Nov. 7

Just because Tennessee has beaten South Carolina two years in a row, it doesn’t mean that wins over the Gamecocks are going to start coming automatically.

Tennessee’s two comeback wins over South Carolina in the last two seasons have come by a combined five points, but since it is the only major success that the Vols have had in that time span, the Tennessee team and their fans will likely overlook the Gamecocks when the two teams meet in November.

But it’s general rule of college football to never underestimate South Carolina head coach and future Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier would love nothing more than to steal a victory in what will most likely be his last game in Neyland Stadium.

Spurrier will definitely have some tricks up his sleeve, and they will probably involve wide receiver Pharoah Cooper.

Cooper torched the Vols last season, and he will be a large part of the Gamecocks 2015 season.

Tennessee will be favored when these teams do battle late in the season, but South Carolina still has the talent to hang with anyone in the SEC, and will have extra motivation against the Vols.

#southcarolina #bowlinggreen #kentucky #tennessee