2018 Tennessee schedule out of sorts. Here's a remedy.

The University of Tennessee football team released its 2018 football schedule last week, and the lineup of games looked about as easy as scoring from the 1-yard line at The Swamp.

I mean, seriously. Starting off the season with West Virginia?

A four game-stretch against Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Alabama? 

Did Butch Jones not offer the schedule maker's kid a scholarship or something?

The Florida and Alabama games are home games and sandwich the road games at Georgia and Auburn that have a bye week in between.

And when that span is all over, the Vols will head to South Carolina and head coach Will Muschamp – whom Jones has never defeated.

The Fulmer Curse might have ended when Tennessee hired former coach Phillip Fulmer as a special adviser in June, but this brutal schedule seems to be the product of some kind of residual Dooley voodoo.

Jokes aside, this will not be a record-prediction article. Rather, a look at what a perfect Tennessee schedule should look like, using the 2018 schedule dates. 

Here we go: 

The Vols would welcome Army for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 1.

Tennessee, 29 times out of 30, wins this game. But the four-quarter effort will be there from Army, and that's what you want in an opener – an opponent who'll get your team ready for the season. As for the fans, being able to show Southern hospitality to the Army fan base would make for a more profound tailgating and gameday experience.

The second game, a home game on Sept. 8, would be against either UCLA or Notre Dame. Personally, I have really enjoyed watching Tennessee tango with UCLA and Notre Dame in the past. Those two programs need to be on the schedule more. I wouldn't mind seeing Boise State in this slot, either. 

Next come consecutive SEC road games at Missouri and Vanderbilt, respectively, on Sept. 15 and 22. Tennessee needs to work its way into SEC play. Not start out with Florida, per usual.

Speaking of which, the Gators come to Tennessee for a night game on Sept. 29, the Vols' fifth game. Tennessee would be battle-tested and have a clear team identity and depth-chart by this point, making the Vols much more prepared to face Florida than normal. 

Plus, the fan base would be raucous given it wouldn’t have had a home game in a few weeks. Moreover, Neyland at night is simply special. 

East Tennessee State follows Florida on Oct. 6, giving the host Vols a quasi-breather after three consecutive SEC games. 

After a road game at South Carolina on Oct. 13, Tennessee would welcome Alabama for its traditional third-Saturday-in-October tilt with the Tide. With a bye week set for the following week, Tennessee could push itself hard against 'Bama.

Following the bye, Georgia and Ole Miss would come to Knoxville on Nov. 3 and 10. Austin-Peay would be the final home game for senior players on Nov. 17, giving Tennessee's starters one last gasp before the season finale at Kentucky on Nov. 24.

And that's that. The perfect schedule for Tennessee.

Or, at least, something way better than what the Vols will actually play next year.