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Tennessee Hype Train Has Been Derailed Until Vols Show They Can Man Up

I picked Tennessee as a dark-horse contender to make the third edition of the College Football Playoff.

I picked Tennessee to take the logical next step after falling one play short of the SEC East title last year and reignite the glory days that have been absent on Rocky Top for a decade.

After 60 minutes (and an overtime) of football against Appalachian State on Thursday night in Neyland Stadium, that seems more like fiction than reality.

Sure, Tennessee dug itself out of a hole and found a way to post the 20-13 win over the Mountaineers—complete with a fumble from quarterback Joshua Dobbs recovered by Jalen Hurd in the end zone for the most appropriate game-winning touchdown imaginable for one of the sloppiest games you could imagine.