Avoiding a catastrophe is a far cry from leaving Arkansas with a plane-load of confidence after a decisive victory.

The primary positive to come out of Tennessee’s 24-17 win over the worst team in the Southeastern Conference was that it wasn’t a loss. Besides that, in a game in which the Volunteers should have been able to name their score, they were barely able to escape on the right side of the scoreboard.

There were times in the second and third quarter when the anemic Razorback offense gashed Tennessee on the ground and in the air. At the same time, the Vols had difficulty getting the second-best run offense in the SEC flowing while the passing game was stagnant.

It’s gotta get better before Saturday.

If the same team that showed up in Fayetteville answers the bell against Alabama Saturday, it won’t be pretty.

There’s no idea how the Crimson Tide will handle their home loss to Georgia. Will Alabama be juiced and angry to hit someone, or frustrated and flat from such an emotional rollercoaster.

Actually, the Crimson Tide got jobbed in that loss. Trailing by three with 3:28 to play, an obvious pass interference penalty in the end zone wasn’t called. Receiver Rico Scott was hammered by Georgia’s KJ Bolden before the ball had a chance to get to him. No flag. Shortly afterward, Bama was forced to punt.

Everyone but the officials recognized the penalty. That one will be hard to stomach as the week goes on.

So far, what George MacIntyre has shown at quarterback for Tennessee, it hasn’t been good enough. Even if his shoulder injury from the Texas game is improved enough that Faizon Brandon is cleared to play, he hasn’t been a lot better. At least Brandon is a threat do make a play with his legs.

MacIntyre, not so much.

Ol’ George threw two interceptions — both after staring down receivers — and then simply dropped a ball before he could throw it, turning it into a fumble. One guy. Three turnovers. Against a bad defense.

Turn up the heat with Alabama’s defense and, at least right now, it doesn’t look promising for the Volunteers.

Something significant will have to be upgraded if Tennessee plans on competing Saturday. I predicted a 37-17 Tennessee win over Arkansas. I would feel a whole lot better about the Alabama game had that been the case.

Remember the good ol’ days when the big issue was finding a tight end to replace Ethan Davis? Or, what the offensive line would look like without Wendell Moe, Jr.?

Those trivial concerns seem like a lifetime ago. The Volunteers have bigger fish to fry.

MacIntyre or Brandon?

If everything else doesn’t get better, it might not matter.

Save the stogies for the pity party.

Source: Yahoo Sports