Josh Heupel was hired as a fallback head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Heupel had the advantage of knowing athletic director Danny White during their time together at Central Florida. White was comfortable with Heupel as a proven winner as a head coach with a creative offensive mind. After years of losing and boring football, Vol Nation was seeking excitement. Heupel provided that and more. Tennessee finished 7-6 in 2021 with a college football odds berth in the Music City Bowl.
2022 Tennessee Volunteers Future Market Analysis
| Prop | Odds |
|---|---|
| Odds to Win National Championship | +10000 |
| Odds to Win Conference Championship | +5000 |
| Over/Under Win Total | 7.5 |
A Checkered History for Big Orange
The Tennessee Volunteers have a glorious offshore bookmaker history. But a more checkered period of tumult over the past 15 years. Tennessee has a total of six claimed national championships and eight unclaimed nattys. The last national title for the Vols was in 1998, their first since 1967. Additionally, Tennessee has 16 conference championships in its history. Tennessee has not had a double-digit win season since 2007. That was their only one since 2004.
The Tennessee descent began when they won the 1998 national championship. Then-head coach Phillip Fulmer got too comfortable and recruiting slipped badly. As a result, Fulmer was forced into retirement after the 2008 season. And the program has floundered ever since.
Namely, Lane Kiffin, Butch Jones, Jeremy Pruitt, and Josh Heupel followed Fulmer with limited success. Jones seemed to be on the cusp with 9-4 seasons in 2015 and 2016 but could not maintain momentum.
Tennessee has grown rapidly in population over the past two decades. In turn, there is more football talent available as a result. But that has not translated into recruiting success for the Volunteers.
Tennessee has had plenty of great players in its storied past. Namely, Doug Atkins, Peyton Manning, Reggie White, Eric Berry, and Johnny Majors are among the Big Orange greats.
2022 Tennessee Volunteers – SBG Odds Overview
The Tennessee faithful has regained lost enthusiasm and passion for the program. For the first time in several years, there is College football betting odds optimism for Tennessee football. Now, Heupel must prove that he can lead the program to the next step.
Josh Heupel entered a lost Vols program when Tennessee hired him in January 2021. Jeremy Pruitt had been fired weeks prior, and the Vols faced a mass exodus of players through the transfer portal. But Heupel turned around the culture. Correlate that he brought in transfers. And he developed the current roster to turn in an impressive rookie season. UT boasted a record-setting offense and a better-than-expected defense.
At the beginning of the excitement is the return of quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Heupel ignited the Tennessee program with his up-tempo offense. The Vols scored 39.3 points per game and set many single-season program records. Including points, total yards, and touchdowns.
Hooker posted the best single-season passer rating in program history and ranked third nationally. Now he is on the cusp of the Heisman conversation. Hooker threw 31 TDs and only three interceptions and rushed for five scores. Also, Tennessee’s rushing attack was a pleasant surprise. Jabari Small compiled 796 yards and nine TDs. Small is the standout returner from a group that produced 217.8 yards per game.
Certainly, Tennessee exceeded expectations in Heupel’s first season. There’s reason to think the Vols will be better in 2022. Especially if players step up at cornerback and on the defensive line.