Tennessee Volunteers - SEC Preview - Tennessee Volunteers head coach Phillip Fulmer...

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Phillip Fulmer is on the hot seat . The Volunteers have not won the SEC title since 1998. Tennessee has a good foundation to build on with pure passer Erik Ainge at QB but question marks surround the wide receivers and D-line are lingereing. The schedule also is unforgiving this year with road games at California, Florida and Alabama all before halloween. SportsBetting.com has the Tennessee Volunteers at 45 to 1 odds to win the 2008 BCS.

On offense the Vols are a balanced team that likes to use alot of power running. This could be a breakout year for the the 6-6 QB Ainge who has a rocket for an arm and has shown steady improvement under his teacher David Cutcliffe. Ainge however had a knee injury in spring so he might not be at 100% for a while. The running game has a good stable of backs with the best being, 5-11 195, Lamarcus Coker who can fly. Unfortunately Coker has been suspeneded indefinately due to personal problems so for the time being, 6-1 225, Arian Foster will be the #1 man.

The receivers are unproven and short on overall talent. Junior College transfer Kenny O'Neal, 6-0 195, was a star in J.C with his all around skills so he will be the best option for Ainge. There are also some big targets in tight ends Brad Cottam, 6-8 270, and sure handed Chris Brown, 6-3 250. The offensive line returns three starters from an above average group that has a hole opener in RG Anthony Parker, 6-3 305.

The Vols have played in the 4-3 for over 20 years but with depth concerns on the line, the Vols have been tinkering with the 3-4. On the defensive line there are some big question marks but DE Xavier Mitchell, 6-2 255, is a stud athlete that only needs to get more consistent. MLB Jerod Mayo, 6-2 230, and OLB Rico McCoy, 6-1 215 lead a decent Linebacking core.

In the secondary FS Jonathan Hefney, 5-9 185, is an all-american that willl have to lead a group of inexperienced players. All the players in the secondary have ability and the unit has a chance to be very good in due time. All-american kicker\punter Britton Colquitt is a weapon that can blast sky high punts or kick 50+ yard field goals with consistency. Jonathan Hefney doubles as a gamebreaking punt returner.

This is a team that can go places if the ground game steps up. That said, in the mean SEC it will be no easy task to win a conference title and with the suspension of Coker it will be an uphill battle for Fulmer to please the Tennessee Volunteers faithful. Expect an 7-9 win season if Ainge stays healthy.

Brad Marchetti Opening Day Tennessee Volunteers Power Ratings: 20-80 Scale

20- Poor
30- Well Below Average
40- Below Average
50- Average
60- Above Average
70- Very Good
80- Great

Coaching: 60
Quarterback : 65
Backs : 60
Receivers : 55
Offensive Line : 55
Defensive Line : 55
Linebackers : 60
Secondary : 60
Special Teams : 65

SportsBetting.com has posted college football betting odds to win the 2008 BCS:

Alabama
100 - 1

Arizona
300 - 1

Arizona St
50 - 1

Arkansas
60 - 1

Auburn
100 - 1

BYU
300 - 1

Boise St
100 - 1

Boston College
200 - 1

California
40 - 1

Clemson
100 - 1

Colorado
200 - 1

Florida
8 - 1

Florida St
30 - 1

Georgia
35 - 1

Georgia Tech
75 - 1

Hawaii
300 - 1

Iowa
100 - 1

Kansas St
300 - 1

LSU
6 - 1

Louisville
20 - 1

Maryland
300 - 1

Miami FL
30 - 1

Michigan
8 - 1

Missouri
25 - 1

Nebraska
40 - 1

North Carolina St
300 - 1

Notre Dame
60 - 1

Ohio St
30 - 1

Oklahoma
12 - 1

Oklahoma St
50 - 1

Oregon
50 - 1

Oregon St
300 - 1

Penn St
40 - 1

Pittsburgh
300 - 1

Purdue
300 - 1

Rutgers
75 - 1

South Carolina
75 - 1

South Florida
100 - 1

TCU
100 - 1

Tennessee
45 - 1

Texas
10 - 1

Texas A&M
60 - 1

Texas Tech
300 - 1

UCLA
35 - 1

USC
5 - 2

Virginia Tech
30 - 1

Wake Forest
300 - 1

West Virginia
8 - 1

Wisconsin
30 - 1

Field (Any Other Team)
100 - 1

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