Tennessee has a long history of scheduling at least one good non-conference football opponent.

Sometimes, that opponent looks more formidable when it's scheduled than it does on game day. And sometimes, it works the other way.

This time, it will work to UT's advantage.

Sure, there might be trepidation about opening the season against UCLA in Pasadena, particularly after what happened last season in Berkeley.

But the Bruins are a team in transition with all sorts of shortcomings.

In fact, UT's overall non-conference schedule should be the easiest of the decade from a preseason vantage point.

It's comparable to 2004 when the Vols UNLV, Louisiana Tech and Notre Dame outside the conference.

The Vols beat UNLV and Louisiana Tech by 25 points apiece but lost 17-13 at home to Notre Dame when starting quarterback Erik Ainge was injured near the end of the first half.

Although Notre Dame was 6-5 that season, it also upset Michigan, whose only other loss was, of course, to Ohio State.

UCLA has a middle-of-the-pack look to it as well. It lost a majority of starters from last year's 6-7 team, which cost coach Karl Dorrell his job. Most preseason publications put the Bruins near the middle of the Pac-10; one didn't have a single UCLA player on its preseason All-Pac 10 first team.

But you don't dismiss the Bruins as a threat because they have a winning tradition, a proven coach in Rick Neuheisel, the home-field advantage and the opportunity to play a nationally televised game on Monday night against a ranked opponent. Feel free to dismiss the rest of UT's non-conference opponents.

Amidst the growing parity in college football, it has become more challenging to find opponents who require you to do little more than show up. Unfortunately, you don't always recognize patsies in advance (See Alabama vs. Louisiana-Monroe for details).

Finding easy non-conference opponents is an underrated task, especially in the SEC, where the caliber of conference opponents means you're overscheduled to begin with.

This time, UT appears to have done its homework.

Naturally, the opponents are non-BCS certified.

And all three are picked to finish in the second half of their conference or division.

First up is UAB (Sept. 13), clearly the worst of the lot.

It's also probably the worst of the eastern half of Conference USA.

The Blazers ended their first season under coach Neil Callaway on a sixth-game losing streak. Expect that streak to reach nine before it ends against Alabama State, one of the two opponents the Blazers defeated last season.

Also, expect UT to post its highest score of the season against UAB, which returns nine starters from a defense well versed in giving up points.

The Blazers allowed an average of 40 points per game in the second half of last season.

Like UAB, Northern Illinois (Oct. 4), won just two games last season. Unlike UAB, it fired its coach.

The new guy is Jerry Kill.

Compared to UAB, N. Illinois looks almost competent.

It returns 20 starters, including star running back Justin Anderson, a preseason All-MAC pick.

Wyoming (Nov. 8) could be playing for coach Joe Glenn's job when it comes to Neyland Stadium.

The Cowboys have had one winning season in five years under Glenn.

Wyoming will return 14 starters from last year's 5-7 team and should be improved.

But don't expect any grand predictions from Glenn.

Last season, Glenn "guaranteed" a victory over Utah.

The Utes won 50-0.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.