That doesn’t even have to factor in Fulmer’s stubbornness regarding the punting game mismatch.

Against Florida, punting away from the returner made a lot of sense. The guy was known to beat us consistently, Florida places a great emphasis on special teams (and actually backs it up in practice), and the Gators were supremely confident in their ability to set up blocks for James. But what made punting away tempting was that the Florida offense was strong enough that a field position battle was untenable. UT couldn’t realistically hope to play a punting game to gain field position, so trying to get a few extra yards on the punt wouldn’t have been much help.

Against Auburn, you still have the problem of a well-coached punt return unit. However, the Auburn offense is not as good as Florida’s. There’s a much better chance that this game will devolve into a punting battle for field position. That’s not particularly good for UT, but it’s a better position than we were in against Florida. UT’s best option is actually to roll the dice and hope they contain the return, then hope they can hold ground and at least maintain an even footing in the field position game. UT’s offense has a better chance at breaking a stalemate than Auburn’s.

It’s a dice roll, obviously, but the risk/reward is far better than Florida. The risk is somewhat equal, but the reward is actually tangible. Against Florida, the reward was nonexistent.

Now, factor back in Fulmer’s stubbornness, and we’re punting to Dunn.

You guys are making me almost glad I won’t be able to watch the game tommorow

Almost.

For starters, just look at last week’s game. Auburn lost a heartbreaker that we probably feel we should have won. Tennessee was embarrassed in their home stadium, while boos rained down and the fans left in the third quarter. I’m worried that our players may have spent the week feeling bad about the LSU game and not focusing ahead to UT, while you know UT will come out hot and ready to play.

Also, it seems like over the past few years, since UT has fallen from its perennial top 10 status, they always spring one upset that is absolutely out of nowhere. In other words, they beat a team they have no business beating. Think Georgia 2004, LSU 2005, Georgia 2006 & 2007. I’m worried it could be my Auburn Tigers this year.

Tennessee is not without talent. Even though they have looked like a bottom-third SEC team so far this year, that’s not because they don’t have good players. For example, Arkansas is a team that just doesn’t really have any good players. UT can still turn it around this season, and a road win on the Plains this weekend would go a long way toward that.

Mainly the reason I’m picking UT in this game is the mental status of our team compared to yours. I worry that we’ll come out flat after a tough loss to LSU, while you’ll come out hot, focused, and ready to play. I think Auburn has the superior talent and coaching, but if the players aren’t ready to play, it won’t matter. I can assure you the Vols will be ready. As an example, do you think Oregon St. has superior coaching and talent to USC? If you do, then I want a pack of whatever you’re smoking/sniffing/injecting/etc.

All that being said, I hope we win by 50 :)

He’s made the big-time! Not the way you want to do it, but it counts.