Date: Saturday, November 30th
Game Time: 4:00 pm ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Network: SEC
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The Vols cruise back into Knoxville this weekend with a bowl monkey off of their back, winners of 5 of the last 6 on their incredibly unorthodox path to bowl eligibility. In most of our lifetime's there never would have seemed to come a day when VANDY held a three game winning streak over the Vols, but that is the day that we live in. Fortunately, Saturday is a new day, and the era of
VANDY establishing streaks against the Vols is over. Let's have a look.
VANDY has complied three wins on the season over Northern Illinois, Mizzou (who Mason thought was the defending champs of the world at the time) and knocking off ETSU in front of a frantic crowd of dozens last week. They are traditional
VANDY bad and that's something you just
hate... love to see. The 3-8 record doesn't really tell the whole story though... and I don't mean this in the positive way. Of their 8 losses, none have been closer than 17 point margins of defeat. But make no mistake... just as in the ways of old, this is their Bowl Game. Everyone goes home after this one, and they want another year of thumping their chests with "Our State!." Well... it's time to set things in order.
Keys to Victory:
1. Release the Hounds: VANDY has a defense giving up 8 points a quarter. They are pretty consistent in their ineptitude, ranking 109th in rushing defense and 79th in passing defense. While the Tennessee rushing offense has not been stellar this year, the 200 yards per game
VANDY is giving up is as welcoming as a warm cup of hot cocoa on a brisk winter morning. Tennessee should be able to establish the ground game at will and average over 5.0 YPC. But the question is... "How much does Tennessee want to run?" While 79th in passing defense is not the bottom of the NCAA pile, a closer look tells more of the story. They are giving up a whopping 8.49 yards per attempt and 13.47 yards per completion and both of those plant them in the bottom 10% of the NCAA. If you like to see Calloway and Jennings smile... and who doesn't?... get ready, because Chaney is going to release the hounds.
2. Finish Drives: If the Vols let
VANDY stick around by not finishing drives off and settling for 3 point attempts... which have not been converting lately, you run the risk of letting them start to believe they can win this game. Tennessee needs to be methodical in getting into the endzone early and asserting their dominance over
VANDY.
VANDY gives up TD's at a 4.6 ratio to made FG's so Tennessee should be happy with that result.
3. Avoid Turnovers: Tennessee is the better team. Play solid fundamental football and avoid the mistakes that equalize the field.
4. Run Defense: VANDY is not good on offense at all, but if they can get any traction, it will need to be on the ground. The Vols are 61st nationally in run defense, giving up 3.8 YPC while
VANDY rushes for 4.26 YPC. Ke'Shawn Vaughn is a really good back on a really bad team but still has managed over 1,000 yards this year and 1,200 last year. Look for the defense to key on Vaughn and to dare
VANDY to try to beat them through the air... which they will not be able to do with their 115th ranked passing offense facing the 10th ranked Tennessee passing defense.
Prediction:
There it is folks. For the first time in awhile, Tennessee fans can sit down and enjoy a game with minimal stress. Neyland should give a nice showing for Senior Day and send out this group who has been through a lot, finally turning the corner, on a good note. Look for an offensive explosion and for Pruitt to allow Chaney to really dial up some fun... especially if the Vols can get an early lead. When I was growing up in the 90's, this game was about putting a cherry on top of the regular season. The question was simply one of how many the Vols would score. In recent years, it has been not just a contest, but another loss in the column. "Retro" is always in, and this Saturday feels like vintage late 90's football. Even the walk-on's get to play a little and we give up a late score...
TN 44
VANDY 14
program into oblivion...
I’m sure they would too
