It has been four years since the Auburn Tigers went undefeated in the SEC and did not get a chance to win the national championship in the biggest of the many BCS travesties.

Bad news Tennessee fans. In 2008, the same situation could happen again. And it could happen to the Orange & White.

Let me preface this by saying I do not think the Volunteers will run the table this year. I actually see the team finishing with a loss or two. However, the schedule does give UT a shot at finishing the season unbeaten.

There are four games on this season's schedule I could see the Vols dropping, but each of those is winnable. Here's why.

1. Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 20: The last time the two teams met in Knoxville, it was a 21-20 game that the Vols had control of late. It was inexcusable. I saw the replay about a month ago, and conservative play calling lost the game for UT. If the same circumstance arises this year, the same thing won't happen. The play calling will be better with new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, and UT will hold on for a win should it find itself in that spot.
2. Tennessee at Auburn, Sept. 27: This is one of the games I think Tennessee will lose, but Phil Fulmer and company have come up big in tough road games in the past. Auburn is in much the same spot as the Vols, with a new offense and some questionable experience in key spots.
3. Tennessee at Georgia, Oct. 11:  Remember in 2005 when Tennessee went 5-6? I know I do. Georgia fans should be taking notes at this point. Injuries, suspensions, a ridiculously hard schedule in the second half of the season. All signs point to a disappointing season between the hedges, and I believe the slide starts here. The Vols have the "Dawgs" number at this point, picking up two straight blowout victories.
4. SEC Championship, Dec. 6: If the Vols get here it should get a rematch with Auburn or meet LSU in a second straight title game. If Tennessee gets to this point without a loss, they won't lose.
   

No, I can't see Tennessee losing to Alabama or South Carolina. I know ‘Bama was impressive to open the season, but I'm not completely on that bandwagon. I did have them winning that game, after all.

And South Carolina doesn't have a quarterback. I saw nothing to make me think the Gamecocks can take the step forward we've been expecting since Steve Spurrier arrived.

That's not to say there's no chance the Vols drop one of those. I just wouldn't call it likely.

Now back to the Auburn comparison, and why it could happen again. 2008 Tennessee resembles 2004 Auburn in a few ways. A couple examples:

1. In December 2003, Auburn was openly courting then-Louisville coach Bobby Petrino. They flew him in for an interview in a private jet and were ready to replace Tommy Tuberville. That never happened and we know the rest. In October 2007, everybody and their brother was calling for a coaching change in Knoxville. That didn't happen either. We'll find out the rest.
2. The 2004 Auburn team brought in a new offensive coordinator, Al Borges, and the offense morphed into a world-beater behind running backs Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams and quarterback Jason Campbell. The aforementioned Clawson is bringing a new flavor to Tennessee and has a talented group of players to work with. Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty and company may not be Brown and Williams, but they're a talented bunch. The receiver position also appears to be stacked.
3. Auburn entered the 2004 season ranked No. 17 by the AP and No. 18 by the coaches. Tennessee enters this season ranked 18th in both polls.
   
4. The 2004 Tigers entered the season ranked behind four SEC teams: LSU, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. The Vols enter 2008 ranked behind four SEC teams: Georgia, Florida, LSU and Auburn.

Most would assume there's not a chance an undefeated SEC team would be left out of the title contest, but what if Oklahoma and the USC-Ohio State winner both finish unbeaten? 

Which of those teams will Tennessee jump in the polls?

The answer is neither, whether it's justified or not.

Then there's the scenario I predicited: Missouri and USC undefeated. If the Vols also finish unbeaten we'll have a situation on our hands. Missouri and Tennessee would be the more deserving teams, coming from the top two conferences, actually winning over good teams away from home, and winning a conference championship game.

But there's no way USC gets left out of the title game if it's 12-0. So who goes, the Tigers or Vols? It would be an interesting dilemma, and either way one team would wind up royally screwed.

Like I said, I don't think any of this will happen. The Vols could fall in Los Angeles tonight and make all of this moot.

But it could happen. That's the beauty of sports.

And the ugliness of the BCS.