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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 Head Coach Josh Heupel walks off the field after his in win the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel walks off the field after his in win the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /

5. Focus and motivation Vols have for rivalry game

There’s a reason Tennessee football is favored by four and a half touchdowns. The Vols have beaten all three of their Group of Five opponents by at least 32 points. Then there’s their 38-point win over Mizzou. Taking that into account, it’s hard to not see them blowing out Vanderbilt to end Josh Heupel’s first regular season game with an exclamation point.

However, if they don’t pay attention to history, they could be in trouble. Vanderbilt has a history of playing way above its head against the Vols. From 1995 to 1997, three straight years in which UT was a top 10 team and had Peyton Manning, the Vols never beat Vanderbilt by more than a touchdown despite Vandy never coming into the game with more than three wins.

This is still a rivalry game, no matter how dominant UT is. Heck, over the last nine years, Vanderbilt has won five games, and until the past two years, they had won three straight and five of seven. That’s better than Rocky Top has done against Florida this century.

Simply put, if the Vols aren’t motivated, they could face trouble. Vanderbilt should’ve beaten South Carolina and was in it with Missouri and Ole Miss. They’ll put up a fight Saturday, and UT needs to come out just as focused as it did last week early against the South Alabama Jaguars.

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