October 12, 2008

KNOXVILLE (AP) -- The Tennessee Volunteers should start worrying about their chances of bowl eligibility now that their hopes for a Southeastern Conference title are dashed.

At 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the SEC, the Vols are off to their worst start under coach Phillip Fulmer.

No team with three conference losses has ever won the tough SEC East, and losses to Florida and Georgia are sure to prevent Tennessee from becoming the first.

The Vols have a lot to do to keep their hopes for a bowl game from slipping away for a second time in four season.

Tennessee's best-looking shot at earning its first SEC win comes this week against Mississippi State (2-4, 1-2), the conference's only other team with a losing record.

The Vols must find a way to score some upsets as they host second-ranked Alabama and travel to South Carolina and 22nd-ranked Vanderbilt.

Tennessee also has a lot of areas that need improvement after netting only a yard rushing and struggling to contain Georgia's offense.