🏈 Tennessee tries to shock everybody

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Keeping hope alive as Tennessee prepares for the nation’s No. 1 team

• A VFL offers strong thoughts on what needs to change with UT’s program

• Tennessee Basketball receives more national praise ahead of a big tournament

• Tennessee’s top recruiting targets will be in Knoxville this weekend

DO THE VOLS HAVE A SHOT VS GEORGIA?

This hasn’t been the most exciting week for Tennessee football fans. 

The Vols lost in an ugly way at Missouri last weekend. 

Tennessee went from competing for the SEC East to scoring only seven points against Missouri. 

The same Missouri program that gave up a combined 128 points to Tennessee the last two seasons. 

The other reason for the downtrodden mood this week: Georgia is coming to town. 

The same Georgia that just beat Ole Miss 52-17 and holds a 27-game winning streak. 

Let’s face the facts here: this won’t be an easy game for Tennessee. 

And anyone who thinks the Vols don’t have a shot has obvious reasons. 

The oddsmakers are giving Tennessee a shot, though. 

Not a great one. 

But Georgia is a 10.5-point favorite. 

That’s close to the point spread from last season when Alabama came to Knoxville favored against Tennessee. 

Who won that game?

Of course, this Tennessee team lacks the firepower of last year’s squad. 

The Vols entered last year’s Alabama game with a ton of momentum. 

This Tennessee team is looking to get back on track. 

The Vols are also trying to hold onto their home winning streak. 

Tennessee hasn’t lost at Neyland Stadium since 2021. 

That loss came against… Georgia. 

How will Tennessee respond this week after getting whipped by Missouri?

That’s the biggest question on Tennessee’s side. 

Center Cooper Mays didn’t want to hear any talk of players not getting excited to play the No. 1 team in the country. 

“I think that everybody’s going to come out ready to play,” Mays said. “If you’re not, then something’s wrong with you. If you can’t get hyped up for this game, there won’t be one to get hyped up for.”

There’s also the question of Georgia’s focus.

Are the Bulldogs totally dialed in after clinching the SEC East last week?

Georgia also knows it’s handled Tennessee in the last few seasons — and that the Vols just struggled against Missouri.

That’s probably why Georgia coach Kirby Smart challenged his team earlier this week.

Smart has mastered the motivation game, knowing he has to keep his team dialed in when facing inferior opponents.

If you lack confidence in Tennessee’s ability to win this game, it’s easy to understand why. 

But there’s no denying the opportunity. 

Tennessee has a chance to end its losing streak against Georgia and snap the Bulldogs’ winning streak.

Tennessee would grab the national headlines if it can pull off the upset.

➡️ This would look good for the Vols:
Tennessee snaps Georgia’s 27-game winning streak 

Along with the publicity, a win would keep Tennessee’s hope of winning 10 games (with a bowl victory) alive. 

Plus, there’s the recruiting impact (see more below) that Tennessee could enjoy. 

Worried about this game for Tennessee?

No need to explain why.

But don’t completely rule out the chance of an upset.

They’re called upsets for a reason.

TENNESSEE’S LESSON FROM MISSOURI

Last week at Missouri brought up questions about Tennessee’s program moving forward. 

NOT whether Josh Heupel is the right coach for Tennessee. 

But questions about what Tennessee needs to do to avoid results like the losses at Missouri, Florida, and South Carolina during the last two years. 

Something was missing on Tennessee’s sideline during those games. 

VFL and former NFL cornerback Jonathan Wade joined Josh and Swain on Tuesday and asked some of those questions. 

He also shared his opinion on what Tennessee needs to compete at the highest level in the SEC.

“Are we recruiting the right guys?” Wade asked. “Because these guys make you think we don’t have the right attitude, we don’t have the right character guys on the field. This is what these games show. The no fight.”

Wade pointed to Tennessee’s issues on the road as a reason for concern about the team’s attitude at times. 

“Going on the road, it’s your locker room vs the world,” he said.

It’s too early to know what Tennessee’s team will look like next season.

Tennessee has to finish out the 2024 recruiting class and add players through the transfer portal.

Several seniors have extra eligibility and have to decide if they’ll return.

But Wade emphasized the need for something to change if the Vols want to return to championship contention next season.

Wade shared some strong thoughts during our Cover Tuesday conversation.

Check out the full segment below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. ⬇️⬇️

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Here are five reasons to believe Tennessee can upset Georgia. After reading it… do you believe?

🏈 Jim Harbaugh accepted his three-game suspension and the Big Ten has agreed to end its investigation into Michigan’s program.

🏈 VFL Joshua Dobbs has become one of the NFL’s top stories after arriving — and winning — in Minnesota. (Catch Dobbs’ weekly segment on Tyler and Will each Monday.)

🏈 Here’s a look at the latest CFB hot seat talk with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

🏀 Jeff Borzello of ESPN+ has some reaction to the early-season action we’ve seen in college hoops.

🎓 Award-winning sports writer and broadcaster Gene Wojciechowski will join the University of Tennessee’s CCI faculty.

🎙️ Charissa Thompson admitted on Pardon My Take that she would sometimes invent quotes from coaches during her sideline reporting days. The response from fellow sideline reporters has NOT been supportive.

📙 Non-sports: Writer Morgan Housel (author of The Psychology of Money) is a personal favorite and he just released a new book: Same as Ever. His writing never disappoints.

TENNESSEE BASKETBALL TAKES ON THE BEST

Tennessee basketball is on its way to Honolulu for next week’s Maui Invitational. 

(The tournament will take place in Honolulu due to the Maui wildfires.)

Tennessee is part of a loaded field. 

The Vols will play Syracuse on Monday, which should be a good warmup. 

This is not the typical Syracuse. 

The Orange are led by Adrian Autry, who replaced long-time coach Jim Boeheim after last season.  

The winner and loser of Tennessee/Syracuse will play the winner and loser of Gonzaga/Purdue on Tuesday. 

Both Gonzaga and Purdue are ranked in the top 10 by KenPom.

The other side of the Maui field includes Chaminade, Kansas, Marquette, and UCLA.

This is a huge opportunity for Tennessee. 

The Vols will play against some of the nation’s best teams for a chance to gauge where they are as a team and boost the team’s resume for later in the season. 

The Vols have received a lot of buzz to start the season. 

Tom Izzo called the Vols a Final Four team after his Michigan State team lost by one to Tennessee in an exhibition game. 

Earlier this week, CJ Moore of The Athletic and Andy Katz of NCAA.com both put Tennessee at No. 1 in their respective rankings. 

From Moore’s article in The Athletic:

Add this hype to the Final Four and national title talk from ESPN and the hype is real. 

Now let’s see if Tennessee can match it. 

Here’s another reminder: we’re way too early to have a real idea of what will happen in March. 

But Tennessee has the personnel to do some damage this season. 

So don’t worry about whether Tennessee can live up to the hype and go further than any team in school history. 

Enjoy the big stage. 

Because Tennessee belongs on it. 

FINAL TURN ON THE RECRUITING TRAIL

The early signing period is less than five weeks away.

Most of the prospects from the 2024 class will sign on Dec. 20.

That’s why this weekend will be so important for Tennessee.

The Vols will host several key recruits from the 2024 and 2025 classes.

The top priority on the list is five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton.

The IMG Academy standout is ranked as the nation’s top offensive tackle by multiple recruiting services.

When Jonathan Wade talks about the type of player Tennessee needs, Seaton is an example.

It’s difficult to know if Seaton would start immediately — that would be hard for any true freshman tackle.

But with the unknown surrounding the Vols’ O-line next year, he would have a shot.

Catch up on the latest with Tennessee’s football recruiting in our most recent conversation with Austin Price of Volquest.

➡️ One note before listening to Austin: four-star CB Cai Bates announced Thursday (after our chat with Austin) that he won’t visit Tennessee this weekend.

That’s a loss for the Vols if Bates ends up not visiting and/or signing with the Vols.

He was a high priority for Tennessee after decommitting from LSU recently — and you’ve probably noticed Tennessee needs help in the secondary.

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