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Tennessee football vs. TTU: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: The Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a touchdown during the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: The Tennessee Volunteers celebrate a touchdown during the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Will TTU convert any third downs?

If there’s one decent thing Tennessee football has shown consistently throughout the first two weeks, it’s been getting off the field on third downs. The Vols struggled a bit more last week, allowing the Pittsburgh Panthers to go 8-of-20 on third downs, but the Bowling Green Falcons went an abysmal 2-of-14 against them.

That 10-of-34 combined success fraction for a conversion rate of 29.4 percent is good for top 30 in FBS play. Now, you can say that what they did against Pitt was far below average. However, we can counter by the fact that TTU isn’t Pitt.

In fact, the Golden Eagles are worse than BGSU, and their third down conversion rate is horrible. So far this year, they are 7-of-29 on third downs for a success rate of 24.1 percent. That’s tied for No. 100 in FCS play. Yes, we said FCS, not FBS.

If they’re that bad at that level, how will they be against a Vols team that hasn’t been bad at it? This could be a huge problem. TTU has to convert some third downs if they are going to make this a game at all. Not being able to could make this game a blowout early, one that is completely insurmountable for the Golden Eagles.

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