Tennessee Volunteers (-8) at Vanderbilt Commodores
Tennessee's season has been so full of disappointments that it might be easy to lose sight of the fact that this week is the first week that the Vols are actually out of the SEC championship hunt. That means that while there may only be two remaining games, the real disappointment is just beginning. The offense is starting to click, but the defense has collapsed down the stretch despite the return of some key contributors. Up until two weeks ago, none of the 32 teams that had allowed 400 rushing yards had won that week. But now Tennessee has done it twice in a row. The past two games, the Vols have allowed 1,375 yards, 863 of it on the ground, and have been outgained by nearly 200 yards. And they've won those games by a combined 40 points.
Just like the early-season Vols couldn't keep leading the nation in fumbles and getting away with it, the luck will also run out on the late-season version. The Vols have faced some bad defensive teams the past two weeks but this time have a different animal in a Vanderbilt squad that hasn't allowed more than 26 points since September and just scored the most points in a conference game of the Derek Mason era. Vandy is running the ball with authority, peaking in the passing game and playing inspired defense at home. Expect the Commodores to control the game on the ground and physically humiliate the Vols on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Tennessee's season has been so full of disappointments that it might be easy to lose sight of the fact that this week is the first week that the Vols are actually out of the SEC championship hunt. That means that while there may only be two remaining games, the real disappointment is just beginning. The offense is starting to click, but the defense has collapsed down the stretch despite the return of some key contributors. Up until two weeks ago, none of the 32 teams that had allowed 400 rushing yards had won that week. But now Tennessee has done it twice in a row. The past two games, the Vols have allowed 1,375 yards, 863 of it on the ground, and have been outgained by nearly 200 yards. And they've won those games by a combined 40 points.
Just like the early-season Vols couldn't keep leading the nation in fumbles and getting away with it, the luck will also run out on the late-season version. The Vols have faced some bad defensive teams the past two weeks but this time have a different animal in a Vanderbilt squad that hasn't allowed more than 26 points since September and just scored the most points in a conference game of the Derek Mason era. Vandy is running the ball with authority, peaking in the passing game and playing inspired defense at home. Expect the Commodores to control the game on the ground and physically humiliate the Vols on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
