3 SEC games that could give Josh Heupel's Tennessee a hard time in 2024

The Tennessee Volunteers enter 2024 with expectations of competing for a playoff spot. The Vols have been successful since Josh Heupel took over as head coach in 2021.

Tennessee also has a new starting quarterback in Nico Iamaleava. Heupel recently gave his approval of Iamaleava's performance thus far:

“I really think that’s started from day one and how he came into the building, who he is and how he interacts and develops relationships with his teammates. I think that’s really important... Just his growth and how he competes has been really important, too. The players have great trust and confidence in him because of those things and then obviously the talent, as well," Heupel said (via VolsWire).

Entering 2024, the Volunteers do have a statistically tough SEC schedule, with three conference games standing out as games that could give Heupel and the Vols a tough time.

3 SEC games that could give Josh Heupel's Tennessee a hard time in 2024

#1, Georgia, Nov. 16

The Georgia Bulldogs are the favorites to possibly go undefeated and win the national championship in 2024.

The Volunteers have to go on the road to play the Bulldogs in Georgia which makes the game that much more difficult.

Tennessee is a massive 16.5-point underdog to Georgia, statistically, this is the toughest game on the Vols schedule.

#2, Oklahoma, Sept. 21

Oklahoma is now a member of the SEC and the Tennessee Volunteers will go on the road to play the Sooners on Sept. 21.

Playing in Oklahoma is no easy task and the oddsmakers agree as Tennessee is listed as three-point underdogs. The Volunteers do have the talent to win this game, and had this game been in Tennessee they likely would have been the favorites, but being on the road makes it that much harder.

#3, Alabama, Oct. 19

The Tennessee Volunteers play their annual rivalry game against Alabama on the third Saturday in October.

The Crimson Tide would usually be higher up on this list, but there are some questions about how Alabama will perform without Nick Saban as head coach. This game is also in Knoxville which does help Tennessee, which is why this game is below Georgia and Oklahoma.

Despite all that, the Volunteers are +2.5-point underdogs heading into the 2024 college football season.