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Tennessee football at Vanderbilt: 10 keys for Vols and Commodores

By Caleb Calhoun

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)
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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Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Third down advantage for Vanderbilt

Another major advantage for the Vanderbilt Commodores is actually on third downs. It’s not that they are great on either side of the ball on that front, but Tennessee football is beyond awful. That could become a major factor in this game.

The Vols are dead last in the SEC in third down conversion percentage, converting only 31.3 percent of the time. Accuracy issues in the passing game are a huge reason for this. The Vanderbilt Commodores, meanwhile, are 10th in the SEC in third down conversion defense, allowing teams to convert 46.1 percent of the time.

On the other side of the ball, the Vols are worse in terms of third down defense, allowing teams to convert 49.6 percent of the time, ranking 116th nationally and 12th in the SEC. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is in the middle of the pack in the league on this front, converting 43.3 percent of the time. As a result, they could be a real problem for UT on third downs.

If this holds, then the Commodores will have a great opportunity to stay on the field offensively, and that could be key to them winning this game, as their thin defense will need rest. Taking that into account, keep an eye on this factor.

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