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Tennessee football vs. Purdue: 10 keys to the Music City Bowl game

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 14, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of Nissan Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of Nissan Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /

7. How big of a first quarter lead can Vols get?

We all know about Tennessee football’s first quarter dominance this year. They are No. 1 in first quarter scoring, averaging 14.1 points a game then, and they even have the No. 23 ranked first quarter defense, allowing four points a game.

However, after the first quarter, it’s clear the Vols struggle. They get outscored by nearly three points in the second quarter, and in the second half, they give up and score 14.5 points per game. Simply put, the Vols build all of their dominance in the first quarter and just hold onto their leads the rest of the way. That’s what they’ve been doing all year.

Purdue is the opposite. They don’t get outscored in the first the way UT outscored people, as they are No. 49 in first quarter points allowed at 5.3 points per game, but they score only 4.5 points per game in that quarter, which is No. 94. In the second quarter, they are No. 23 in points per game with 10.4 and No. 37 in points allowed in 6.4.

While UT wins the first quarter and Purdue wins the second quarter, Purdue outscores teams 12.6 to 8.8 in the second half. As a result, the question about this entire game is how big a lead the Vols get in the first quarter. Purdue will likely dominate the rest of the way.

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