Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga: 10 keys for Vols and Mocs

8. Third down defense for UT

Yes, fourth downs are key because their conversions are so rare for both teams. But third downs are much more common, and they could end up playing a huge role throughout the day. Tennessee football could be in trouble here.

The Vols are ranked No. 118 in FBS through two games on third down defense. Opponents have converted on 15-of-30 third down attempts, allowing them 50 percent of the time, which is a very horrible number for a defense that’s supposed to be led by a guru in Jeremy Pruitt. It’s actually downright embarrassing.

Meanwhile, the Chattanooga Mocs convert on about 45 percent of their third down attempts, which is above average for college football teams in general. As a result, they have a chance to convert on lots of third downs at Neyland Stadium Saturday, and that could end up being a huge deal if the game gets close.

The Mocs, by the way, have the advantage on the other side as well, allowing only 39 percent of third down conversions defensively. UT is not horrible on third downs, converting nearly 45 percent of the time. But this is still a major mismatch in favor of Chattanooga.

Again, this is something that not only would be a big deal if the game got close, but it’s something that by itself could make the game really close. The Vols have been horrible at getting off the field, and an FCS team could cash in on this weakness as much as anybody else.