Vols have volatile nature of college football in their favor, but little else, vs. Georgia

If you watched Tennessee's wobbly performance against UMass and Georgia's dismantling of Mississippi State, you probably see no point in going to Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

But most of you know better. You know that a dreadful or superb showing doesn't mean something similar will follow. Examples abound.

And you don't have to look beyond the SEC to find them.

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Vanderbilt opened the season with three consecutive victories, including an upset of nationally ranked Kansas State. I was impressed enough to rank it No. 19 on my Associated Press ballot.

I wasn't impressed enough to give it a chance against Alabama, which revived the worst memories of Vanderbilt's historically bad program in a 59-0 victory. 

That's just one game, though. And it doesn't mean Vanderbilt is incapable of beating Florida this Saturday.

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And it doesn't mean Georgia's throttling of Mississippi State assures more of the same against the Vols. But the uneven play in college football isn't sufficient evidence for UT fans to assume the best, either.

Tennessee is 3-1 but could be 1-3. Fans who stuck around for the fourth-quarter drama against UMass can attest to that.

Combine the mishaps against Florida with the 17-13 victory over UMass, and it's reasonable to conclude that the offense is a mess. It's also an appropriate time to remind you that UT first-year offensive coordinator Larry Scott has no coordinating experience at this level. He was a co-offensive coordinator at Sebring (Fla.) High School. That was 13 years ago.

But most critics are pointing fingers higher up UT's chain of command.

I wasn't overly critical of coach Butch Jones' game management in a last-second loss to Florida. Perhaps that's because I have low expectations for most coaches on game day.

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Nonetheless, I was surprised by Jones' decision to replace quarterback Quinten Dormady with backup Jarrett Guarantano against UMass.

Jones said he was trying to spark an offense that seemed stuck in neutral. That's a noble pursuit. But consider the circumstances.

A week earlier, UT didn't trust Guarantano to take a goal-line snap under center. Also, after Guarantano's first series, which produced minus-4 yards, UMass lost its starting quarterback, Andrew Ford, to injury.

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So the Minutemen, who surely have one of the worst offensive lines in FBS, turned to a backup quarterback, whose passing attempts suggested he had just been introduced to the position that afternoon.

Conclusion: UMass' best chance for success was for UT's offense to hand it a victory, raising a question: Why entrust the game to a backup quarterback?

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A potential disaster was averted when Tennessee offensive tackle Brett Kendrick recovered a Guarantano fumble on the last play of the third quarter. A couple of series later, Dormady returned to the game, and the Vols closed out a victory that left fans grumbling, and wondering  "What's next?"

For them, the most hopeful answer is: something altogether different than what they saw Saturday – from both Tennessee and Georgia.  

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.

More from John Adams:

Did Tennessee football have Georgia on its mind? Vols' lackluster win raises questions

SEC predictions: Against Vols pass defense, even UMass is a threat

Vols football under Butch Jones has too many star recruits not reaching potential

Vols still have resolve and resilience, especially with quarterback Quinten Dormady

Tennessee Vols fans' anger at least shows they still care

Vols not doomed in SEC East, but Georgia now must-win game

Vols football comeback in Swamp sunk again by Florida on Hail Mary

Florida's 2007 victory over Vols reminder of Gators' QB decline

Tennessee vs. Florida football prediction: Who has the edge at each position?

SEC football predictions: Can Tennessee Vols scam Florida Gators in The Swamp?