John Adams

USA Today Network - Tennessee

KNOXVILLE — A survey isn’t necessary to know which games Tennessee fans most want to win this season. Florida and Alabama stick out from the others for obvious reasons.

The Vols haven’t beaten Florida since 2004. They haven’t beaten Alabama since 2006.

The 11- and nine-game losing streaks are compounded by the history of the rivalries. Florida became UT’s most important game when the SEC went to divisional play in 1992. Traditionally, Alabama has been UT’s No. 1 rival.

However, the Georgia game might be the one that matters most if the Vols are to win the SEC East as expected. This point is best made through hypothetical football.

Suppose UT would lose to both Florida and Alabama. If it won the rest of its conference games, it would finish 6-2 in SEC play. Because a head-to-head victory would give Florida the tiebreaker advantage over Tennessee, the Gators would have to lose three league games for the Vols to pass them in the standings.

But that’s hardly out of the question.

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Although the Gators’ defense again should be solid, their offense is full of questions, most notably a first-year starter at quarterback.

Also, Florida won’t get any breaks in its West schedule. It will be an underdog to LSU at home and will have to play at Arkansas late in the season.

Not only will the Razorbacks have the home-field advantage, they will have two weeks to prepare for the Gators. Conversely, Florida will play Georgia the week before Arkansas.

Overcoming a loss to the Bulldogs wouldn’t be as easy for the Vols. Georgia seemingly has more depth of talent than Florida and also has an easier conference schedule outside the division.

Beating Ole Miss in Oxford will be a challenge, but Auburn at home isn’t nearly as threatening as it appeared when the last season ended.

After the 2015 season, Auburn looked loaded at running back. Now, it’s lost at running back.

First, Peyton Barber decided to go pro early. Then, Roc Thomas announced he was transferring to Jacksonville State. Finally, starting running back Jovon Robinson was dismissed from the team just last week.

Meanwhile, Auburn is still trying to decide on a starting quarterback.

Ole Miss should pose a greater problem for the Bulldogs. But Georgia could gain an edge in that matchup through the previous week’s schedule. While Georgia will play Missouri the Saturday before (Sept. 17), Ole Miss will have to deal with Alabama.

Whether the Rebels beat the Tide for a third consecutive season or lose to the SEC West favorite, they could be set up for a letdown the following week against Georgia.

The Bulldogs would have an easier path than Florida to the SEC championship game once past Tennessee on Oct. 1. After the UT-Georgia game, the Bulldogs will play back-to-back games against South Carolina and Vanderbilt, probably the two worst teams in the East. They then would have two weeks to get ready for Florida in Jacksonville. And their only other conference game would be at Kentucky on Nov. 5.

The emotional buildup from all the losses to Florida and Alabama might make those games more meaningful to Tennessee fans. But Georgia vs. Tennessee could mean more in the standings.