SEC Football: The game each SEC East team must win

Tennessee Volunteers – It has been a long time since so much buzz was created by a 7-win season. That it has happened in Knoxville shows how awful the program had become over the last 12 seasons. In seven of those years, Tennessee had a losing record.

Josh Heupel took a 3-7 team to 7-6. That is undeniably impressive. Now, many Tennessee fans are expecting no less than a 10-win season. Nine wins seem to be a high bar for the Volunteers. Not because Heupel won’t have his fast-paced offense zinging again. He will, and the Vols will put up lots of points. Stopping other teams will be the problem. Mark down losses to Alabama and Georgia. To get to nine wins, with those two losses, the Vols have must-wins against Florida in September and against Kentucky in late October. Win those and the Vols can overcome road losses to Pittsburgh and LSU.

Georgia Bulldogs – The defending National Champions probably don’t have a must-win game. Kirby Smart will be playing with house money throughout 2022. The Dawgs do not have to open with a win over Oregon. More important, later in the SEC football season, will be wins over Florida and Tennessee. Losing either might signal a changing of the guard in the SEC East. Georgia fans have little reason to be concerned.

Note: Team records provided by Sports Reference.

Bama Hammer will soon follow with the same type of preview of ‘must-wins’ for SEC West teams.