I totally feel this. I usually get this anxiety as well but the last two years and our start to this year has my expectations way lowered so my anxiety is less now.
As always florida hate week is bubbling with anxiety. I feel even more nervous about this year's matchup than the past several. I want so badly to convince myself that the other UT is back as well and every year we've got to go through the gators. Even with our best team matched up against their worst, that florida voodoo is real. I know this current team has the ability to beat florida's current team, but still, this one feels iffy. Hopefully things turn out right for the good guys.
I think the matchups to watch are obviously Tennessee's pass game vs florida's secondary. But also what's the Tennessee dline vs florida oline look like, both for run and pass. I think the front 7 for Tennessee are under-sung heroes, and hopefully they can show up in a big way to put the pressure on florida right away.
Y'all are gonna be favored, and you have such a promising season ahead of you, and Bama looks vulnerable, and you could make the playoffs if you only lose to Georgia (hell, it would be an easier path than most teams will get, especially in the SECW). Even with 2-losses, the program would clearly be on the right track and the Vols would be ideally situated in the coming years. Yessir, Everything is comin' up roses for ol' Smokey...
Unless you lose to this Gator team. Man, Tennessee would look like such frauds if they lose to Mertz and his merry band of placeholders.
Just enjoy stewing on it for the rest of the week until the game is decided.