If there's one thing a year and a half of lurking has taught me, it's this: enjoy the conversation, be entertained by it, but don't put much stock into it. Especially when it comes to quarterbacks. And especially when it comes to freshman quarterbacks being good enough to jump the depth chart.
I personally think Appleby will be fine, barring maybe one stupid throw that ends up not hurting us that much. He'll go something like 13-22 with a touch and a pick. I think our ground game carries us this year against their pretty exploitable run defense.
And I don't think we realize just yet how good our defense actually is. We'll be ready this year when Dobbs goes mobile, and he is a below average passer. I think he'll be under constant pressure and have an absolute nightmare of a day behind center.
I think Tennessee had their best chance already. I think if VT doesn't turn the ball over 5 times, it's a very different game and a very different conversation. I don't think the team is all that cohesive, nor do they particularly like playing for Butch Jones, and I think it shows. If they really want to be considered nationally relevant, they should be coming out and doing to lesser opponents what similarly-ranked teams like Washington, Miami, and Nebraska are doing. Instead it's been all lackluster efforts.
I think this game is the start of the end for Butch. I think they lose 4 games this year (3 of the next 4, and then a surprise by a Mizz or UK at the end), which obviously won't be good enough to put up with his douchebaggery for another year. Then it's at least a couple more years of transition and mediocrity before they are a factor again.
29-13. And they only get to 13 well after the game is in hand.