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This week, a feisty South Carolina team rides into town on the heels of a victory over Mississippi State. Tennessee took care of business against UTSA last week, performing much better than they did against Florida, and yet inconsistent enough to leave you with much more doubt than one would be comfortable with. Memories of Spencer Rattler progressing from a 3 star to a 5 star seemingly from his entire career to that point up until the Vols rolled into town remain one of the most bitter of pills for Vol fans to swallow. Can the Vols get redemption this year?
Keys to Victory:
1. Pressure and Contain: South Carolina has two chances to win this game. One of them is called "turnovers" and the other is called "Spencer Rattler". Outside of the Georgia game, Rattler has been lights out. Last year, Rattler carved the Vols defense to shreds and worse yet, when he wasn't passing, he was getting out of the pocket and picking it up on the ground. The Vol defensive line has to break through a rather terrible SC offensive line, but not only that, they have to bring him to the ground. Our defensive backs do not have the ability to hang with a back yard football chaos route after a play breaks down. We need to get to him and bring him down quick.
2. Let it Rain: The current forecast is for rain on Saturday. In east Tennessee that counts for nearly nothing 24 hours away, let along 5 days, but a wet evening would favor the Vols as USC is not good on the ground.
3. Air it Out: Milton has been decent when airing it out this year. More often than not, it's been within a yard or a TN player has dropped it. South Carolina is 126th nationally in pass defense and Will Rogers absolutely lit them up for 487 yards last week. Look for Heupel to be licking his chops and for the Vols to test the South Carolina secondary often.
4. Grind it Out: Yes, Tennessee looks to have a mismatch against the USC secondary... till you see the mismatch on the ground. The Vols have the 4th ranked rushing offense and South Carolina has the 105th rushing defense. Even if Jalin Wright can't play, Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson should absolutely blow apart the USC defense.
5. 6 over 40: Give me 6 plays over 40 yards. 3 on the ground, 3 through the air.
Prediction: This game is really concerning because the key piece of what blew Tennessee away last year is still there and our secondary looks no better than it did at that time. However... IF Tennessee can not get bogged down for a quarter and just consistently score, they can keep up, and eventually surpass SC by the end. Tennessee has the versatility to win in more than one way, and outside of turnovers or some special teams yAy bEaMeR bAW play, South Carolina does not. Rattler proves to be a nightmare again, but the Vols just make more plays in front of an electric Neyland night crowd.
TN 41
SC 34
