In the wake of the Troy game, this Vols fan thinks that the competition that will matter most for the remainder of the season is between Tennessee's offense and Tennessee's defense. Which is greater, our offensive superiority or our defensive liability? Attach that morbid question to what our remaining opponents did this past weekend, and, well, here's where we change our minds about the rest of the season.

Missouri Tigers

• Week 1: Beat SE Louisiana Lions, whoever they are, 62-10.
• Week 2: Lost to Georgia, 41-20.
• Week 3: Beat Arizona State, 24-20.
• Week 4: Lost to South Carolina, 31-10.
• Week 5: Beat UCF, 21-16.
• Week 6: Lost to Vanderbilt, 19-15. That's right. They lost to Vanderbilt and remained unwinned in the SEC. Rock M Nation is getting the stink out into the air.
• Week 7: Lost to Alabama, 42-10.
• Week 8: Bye.
• Week 9: Beat Kentucky, 33-10.
• Week 10: Lost to Florida, 14-7.

• Joel feels __________ about this game this week: WORSE. And it's not just us, it's Missouri, who was one overthrow away from tying the game with five seconds left. Changing this one from preseason predicted win to predicted loss.

@Vanderbilt Commodores

• Week1: Lost in the aforementioned squeaker to South Carolina, 17-13.
• Week 2: Lost to Northwestern, 23-13.
• Week 3: Beat the Presbyterian Blue Hose, 58-0.
• Week 4: Lost to Georgia, 48-3.
• Week 5: Bye.
• Week 6: Beat Missouri, 19-15. Oh, right. Missouri's QB was knocked out of the game in the first quarter.
• Week 7: Lost to Florida, 31-17.
• Week 8: Beat Auburn, 17-13.
• Week 9: Beat UMass, 49-7.
• Week 10: Beat Kentucky, 40-0.

• Video, in bits and pieces.
• Joel feels __________ about this game this week: WORSE. Changing this one from preseason predicted win to predicted loss as well. Maybe we can outscore them, but they're going to score almost at will as well.

Kentucky Wildcats

• Week 1: Lost to Louisville, 32-14.
• Week 2: Beat Kent State, 47-14.
• Week 3: Lost to Western Kentucky in OT, 32-31.
• Week 4: Lost to Florida, 38-0.
• Week 5: Lost to South Carolina, 38-17.
• Week 6: Lost to Mississippi State, 27-14. A Sea of Blue wants Jane to stop this crazy thing.
• Week 7: Lost to Arkansas, 49-7.
• Week 8: Lost to Georgia, 29-24.
• Week 9: Lost to Missouri, 33-10.
• Week 10: Lost to Kentucky, 40-0. Yes, Kentucky. Mostly their fault.
• Joel feels __________ about this game this week: SAME. I think they'll score, but we shouldn't have any problem scoring against them at all, unless we completely check out mentally again, which isn't likely to happen two years in a row. Especially because I think it's fairly likely we'll have a new coach by then, assuming my new predictions on the previous two games is correct.

Conclusion after Week Ten

With a defense that couldn't stop the aging ushers of Neyland Stadium, you have to think we're in for a couple more games like the Troy game, so it comes down to whether we can outscore our remaining opponents. Last week I said that I didn't think there was any way, absent a complete meltdown, that Tennessee loses to either Troy or Kentucky, and I thought that they had a distinct edge over Missouri and Vanderbilt. After nearly losing to Troy, I think we've lost our distinct edge and have probably lost any edge whatsoever. Offense woo, defense boo. What is greater, our offensive superiority or our defensive liability? I'm guessing it's our defensive liability against halfway decent teams. So here's where we change our minds and predict a third losing season in a row and the fourth in five years. Oh, and another new coaching staff, too. Yay.