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Tennessee football: Five Vols to watch vs. Mississippi State

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 31: Ty Chandler #8 of Tennessee Volunteers runs into the end-zone to score a touchdown against Georgia State Panthers during the first quarter of the season opener at Neyland Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 31: Ty Chandler #8 of Tennessee Volunteers runs into the end-zone to score a touchdown against Georgia State Panthers during the first quarter of the season opener at Neyland Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images
Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images /

At 1-4, Tennessee football faces the Mississippi State Bulldogs in search of its first FBS win. Here are five key UT Volunteers against MSU.

Saturday’s 43-14 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs was just another blowout loss to a Power Five program for Tennessee football and another loss overall to an FBS program. In two games against Group of Five schools and two games against Power Five schools, the Vols are 0-4.

However, there were some individuals who gave some signs of life, and that is relevant heading into this week. The loss to Georgia was expected, even after a bye. But the sparks provided with a quarterback switch, which spotted them a 14-10 lead, now come with expectations to build on that in a home game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Can UT finally get an FBS win on the year and prove that it has turned things around? Well, it’s definitely possible. Sure, MSU is 3-2 on the season and is coming off a bye, but Joe Moorhead’s team has lots of weaknesses, many of which the Auburn Tigers exposed two weeks ago.

But if Tennessee football is going to pull this one off, the Vols will need some of their usual suspects to step up. And they’ll need a few new ones as well along with certain players who can exploit the weaknesses of Mississippi State. You’d be surprised who some of those players could end up being, but you’ll also expect some of them.

Anyway, there is reason to believe that Rocky Top really does have a chance in this game, but right now it’s just a chance. And they have to cash in on the few strengths they have while exploiting the weaknesses of MSU.

What are those strengths and weaknesses. Who could be the players to exploit them? Let’s take a look here. These are the five Vols to watch for when Tennessee football hosts the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday.

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