Tennessee football at Vanderbilt: 10 keys for Vols and Commodores

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 7: Harrison Bailey #15 hands off the ball to Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 7, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 24-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 07: General view from the field of Vanderbilt Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

9. Turnovers

Okay, so we’re sticking with discipline for our first two keys, and we’re also going a bit cliche. Every coach and every team everywhere prioritizes not turning the ball over every game. It wouldn’t be any different in this one. However, the issues facing both teams all season is why it’s more of a key than usual. Both are horrible in the turnover margin.

The Vanderbilt Commodores are last in the SEC in turnover margin at -1.12 a game. However, Tennessee football is not much better, coming in at No. 12 with -0.375 a game. This has certainly cost both of them a few games.

A critical part of this story is interceptions. Vanderbilt is dead last in the league at coming away with picks with one, and the Vols are 12th with three. In terms of throwing picks, UT is in the middle of the pack at No. 8, as they’ve thrown seven on the year, and Vandy is next to last with 10 on the year, 13th in the league.

What hurts the Vols, though, is that three of their interceptions have been returned for touchdowns on the year. Simply put, if either team comes down with a pick, that could dramatically change the out come of this game.

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