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Tennessee football vs. Vanderbilt: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

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 /
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Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates his touchdown with offensive linemen Dayne Davis (66) and Jerome Carvin (75) in the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates his touchdown with offensive linemen Dayne Davis (66) and Jerome Carvin (75) in the NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and South Alabama Jaguars in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 20, 2021.Utvsal1120 /

6. How big of a first quarter lead will the Vols get?

Sticking with the mismatches here, it’s pretty obvious Tennessee football’s route to beating teams has been a dominant first quarter. Against the two SEC teams they blew out, the Missouri Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks, they jumped out to 28-3 and 28-0 leads respectively to take control. They could just run out the clock against S.C. after that.

The Vols have consistently been dominant in the first even since then. They lead the nation in first quarter scoring at 14.8 points per game, and they are No. 32 in first quarter defense, allowing 4.4 points per game. So they outscore foes by 10.2 points a game in the first quarter.

On the other side, Vandy is horrendous in the first. They score 2.6 points per game, which is No. 124 nationally, and they allow 12.7 points per game, which is dead last nationally, so they get outscored by 10.1 points per first quarter. Vandy is also equally bad in the second quarter, but the play of UT drops off.

It is a wildcard in the second half, as the ‘Dores have the No. 60 ranked third quarter defense and No. 60 ranked fourth quarter offense, but that could be garbage time. To not have to know how legit that is, though, Rocky Top should just continue its first quarter dominance .That could be historic in this game.

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