Volunteers' 2008 schedule looks as challenging as ever

For better or worse, The Nightly Daily is fixated on the Tennessee Volunteer football program 12 months a year. So, even though the 2007 season just ended, it is not too early to start talking about next season.

A good place to start is the 2008 schedule. It looks to be as difficult as it was in 2007.

Here it is:

Aug. 30 -- UAB
Sept. 6 -- at UCLA
Sept. 20 -- Florida
Sept. 27 -- at Auburn
Oct. 4 -- Northern Illinois
Oct. 11 -- at Georgia
Oct. 18 -- Mississippi State
Oct. 25 -- Alabama
Nov. 1 -- at South Carolina
Nov. 8 -- Wyoming
Nov. 22 -- at Vanderbilt
Nov. 29 -- Kentucky

Traditionally, the Volunteers play one high profile non-conference opponent, and this year, it will be UCLA. We play them on the road, so let's hope that trip goes a little better than our visit to the University of California last season. The Bruins struggled in '07, but a lot of that was due to injuries. Look for a tough game.

Additionally, a trip to Auburn comes on the schedule, replacing Arkansas in the SEC schedule rotation. Another tough road trip will be to Georgia, who will likely be the pre-season favorite to win the SEC Eastern Division. So that is three tough road games right there.

The home schedule features games against Florida and Alabama. Both those teams crushed UT in '07 so hopefully a little payback will be forthcoming. The Vols play a total of seven home games.