The Tennessee Volunteers put forth one of the most disgusting performances of the year this weekend against Wyoming. There is nothing worse you can say about a team than that they quit. The Vols quit. Badly. Sure, they have excuses - the season is totally lost, they won't be bowl eligible, the coach is on the way out, and it has to be hard to get up in the morning. Still, there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever that can explain losing at home when you are favored by 27. Wyoming was up 13-0 at the half, and cruised to a 13-7 win in a totally unwatchable game. Tennessee is a total and utter mess.

Tennessee isn't alone in their predicament. Every year we have several teams at this time of year that have absolutely nothing to play for and they play like it. Teams quit every year, and bettors who can spot those teams and exploit them will find their bankrolls growing. Spotting these teams is an imprecise science, but here are six teams that could be well positioned to quit down the stretch.

Washington - I'm not exactly going out on a limb for this first pick. The Huskies are 0-9, and other than a strangely close game against BYU early in the year the games haven't been remotely close. The star quarterback is on the sideline with a thumb injury. The coach has been a lame duck for weeks, and was just lame before that. The crowds are understandably tiny at home. Two of their three remaining opponents outclass them significantly. This team is totally out of control. If you don't think this team is going to quit then you can also stay in the state of Washington and look at Washington State. They are at least as bad as the Huskies.

Notre Dame - There is a real air of desperation coming out of South Bend these days. The AD is giving Charlie Weis the kiss of death by assuring everyone that his job is secure. Weis has taken over play calling duties for the Navy game. The team looked terrible in a shutout loss to Boston College last week. After a promising start, they have lost three of four, and they only get partial credit for the win since it was against Washington. The team could quit not just because of this year, though. Charlie Weis was brought into town because he was an alleged genius, and most of the players on the team were lured to the Irish because of that promise of genius. It certainly hasn't materialized. Weis doesn't seem to have 'it', and players have to be incredibly frustrated. That frustration could turn into bad effort in the field. It probably already did last week against Boston College.

TCU - A week ago this team was getting serious, and deserved, BCS buzz. Since then, though, they have lost a very tough game, and their coach has had a very public flirtation with a better job. By the time they play their final game they will almost certainly be eliminated from the title hunt in their conference. There will be very little to play for, and lots of reasons to be frustrated.

Minnesota - At 7-1 it looked like the Gophers were unstoppable. But then they lost to Northwestern in one of the most bizarre, heartbreaking finishes of the college season. That loss seemed to completely deflate the confidence of a young team. The next week they came out and were blown out by a Michigan team that shouldn't be blowing anyone out this year. Now they have to go on the road against a Wisconsin team that has talent if not the desire to go with it. Then they have to play a resurgent Iowa team. The combination of frustration and lacking confidence could be enough for this team to come to the conclusion that seven wins is pretty darned good, and leave it there.

South Florida - Coming into the year the Bulls were media darlings, and Matt Grothe had high hopes resting on his shoulders. After a 5-0 start against a schedule most notable for its weakness, the wheels have fallen off. The team has lost three of four - all as favorites. The team is ridiculously undisciplined and is piling up penalties as efficiently as Texas Tech secures passing yards. Everywhere you turn the press is questioning whether coach Jim Leavitt has done as much with this team as he can. There are no hopes for success in the conference. The season is lost, and the Bulls could start, or continue, to play like it.

Toledo - The Rockets haven't been good for a while, but with a five-win season last year they looked to be moving in the right direction. Then this season happened. The lone highlight was a win over Michigan that still makes me cry when I think about it. Other than that, this is a lousy two-win squad. In what seems to be a growing trend this year, the school fired their coach, Tom Amstutz, effective the end of the year. That distraction, plus a reasonably tough conference schedule remaining, could be enough to convince this team that their energy is better used elsewhere than on the field.