ICYMI: An early game by game look at the Kentucky Wildcats football season

Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs out of the pocket in the first quarter of the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

OCTOBER 31
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (7-6)

The Volunteers are a team on the rise in the SEC East and they could be a surprise contender in the division. That comes with a grain of salt as South Carolina and Florida are still expected to struggle so the Volunteer’s rise could come as a result of other teams underperforming. Regardless, Butch Jones has a very solid core group of 17 starters returning from the team that manhandled Iowa in the Taxslayer Bowl. That win has the orange clad fanatics expecting a SEC Title and for the first time, Butch Jones has a little pressure.

Despite all the optimism, Tennessee still has a lot to prove. Joshua Dobbs has to continue to progress his game and the return of Marquez North and Pig Howard will speed that along. Elsewhere, this is still a very young Tennessee team that has to take the next step. Despite their bowl season, the Vols went 0-5 versus ranked teams. There will be pressure to do better.

There is always going to be a lot of comparisons between Kentucky and Tennessee because they both hired new coaches three years ago and both field a young team that should improve immensely. Howver, the Vols are just a bit better than Kentucky and have recruited just a bit better. The teams are still pretty close talent wise, but the Vols are just a bit ahead of Kentucky. This should be a good game and Kentucky has a chance to win at home, but if the Vols progress as expected, they should win.

Next: Georgia Bulldogs