Rece Davis predicts Tennessee under 9.5 wins in 2023

Rece Davis is putting his prediction out into the world for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2023.

The ESPN College GameDay host examined the over/under set for wins of many of the top teams in college football on the latest edition of the College GameDay podcast, and the Volunteers were one of them.

Tennessee is undergoing some fascinating changes entering the season, namely at quarterback. Hendon Hooker is on to the NFL with the Detroit Lions, and Josh Heupel is relying on Joe Milton to replace him and succeed, and not everyone is convinced it’ll be seamless.

All of that uncertainty lends Davis to believe that while Tennessee will be good, he’s taking the under at 9.5 for Tennessee.

“Picked up a transfer from Miami, a transfer from Texas to try and fortify that offensive line a little bit. The win total for the Big Orange, coming off that 11-win season, is 9.5. Trip to Florida. Revenge game against South Carolina. Sandwich game against UTSA, who they certainly should beat, but I think could be the best Group of Five team. Alabama, Kentucky. The always frightful trip to Missouri in November, and then Georgia. I’m going to take the under,” predicted Davis.

While Davis is taking the under, he’s not discounting the possibility that Tennessee could defeat Georgia, it’s just the consistency factor worrying him in 2023.

“I think they could beat Georgia on that day. Possibly. But I’m not sure that you’re going to have enough consistency, giving what they face, to go over 9.5,” explained the College GameDay host. “I feel like they’re a 9-3 type team. Really good team. Threat to win every time they play. Might be better. Might be better than 9-3. But that’s how it feels to me.”

That’s certainly not a bad spot for Tennessee to be in. Many didn’t believe Josh Heupel would have them contending in the SEC this early. However, once you defeat Alabama and almost make the College Football Playoff, expectations and timelines begin to change.

Regardless of the question marks, Milton showed out against Clemson in the Orange Bowl after Hooker was forced to miss time with an injury. If that’s a sign of things to come, the Volunteers will be in solid shape for 2023.

Time will tell, but Rece Davis is predicting the under for the Volunteers. It’s up to Josh Heupel’s squad to prove him wrong.