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Tennessee football at Kentucky: 10 keys to the game for Vols and Wildcats

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; A general view before the game between Kentucky and Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; A general view before the game between Kentucky and Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Josh Paschal (4) and linebacker DeAndre Square (5) celebrate a defensive play during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Josh Paschal (4) and linebacker DeAndre Square (5) celebrate a defensive play during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Will either defense get off the field on third down?

It’s funny because Kentucky focuses on time of possession while Tennessee football focuses on number of plays. As a result, Kentucky needs to deal with this issue much more than the Vols do, but it’s a big factor in the game for both teams.

Simply put, neither defense is good at getting off the field. The Vols’ third down defense is ranked No. 117 nationally, allowing teams to convert 45.7 percent of the time. That’s second to last in the SEC, just ahead of the Missouri Tigers. UK isn’t much better, though, allowing teams to convert 41.7 percent of the time, good for No. 95 nationally and No. 9 in the SEC.

On the other side, both teams have solid third down offenses as well. Kentucky is fourth in the SEC and No. 19 overall on third down conversion rates, getting first downs 46.7 percent of the time. The Vols are sixth in the SEC and No. 28 overall, converting on 45.9 percent of third downs.

Taking this into account, Kentucky has the slight advantage, but both teams seemed destined to convert all the time on third down. As a result, the defense that gets the first third down stop may have an underrated advantage this game, so pay attention to that.

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