Southern Miss @ Tennessee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2007 ) Southern Mississippi 19, Tennessee 39

Amid loud calls for coach Butch Jones' dismissal, Tennessee looks to snap a four-game losing streak when it hosts non-conference foe Southern Miss on Saturday. The Volunteers have dropped all five of their Southeastern Conference contests, including a last-minute loss to Kentucky last weekend, while the Golden Eagles are coming off their first loss in four games - a rout at home at the hands of UAB.

The Volunteers do come off their best offensive showing - 26 points - since the second weekend of September but suffered their third loss by a margin of six points or fewer. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is showing more and more confidence and production, throwing for a career-best 242 yards in the loss to Kentucky to more than double his season total. Freshman running back Ty Chandler also is coming off a career-best performance, with his 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats putting him in line for many more carries over the next few games. Southern Miss and its rotating quarterback combo of Keon Howard and Kwadra Griggs will put pressure on Tennessee with its offense, which averages 438.6 yards and 27.4 points per contest.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET. SEC Network. LINE: Tennessee -6.5

ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (5-3): Howard has started the last five games under center, but coach Jay Hopson put Griggs into the game in the fourth quarter of the loss to UAB, raising questions on his rotation against Tennessee. Hopson said he didn't blame Howard for the team scoring only 12 points - six of which came on an 84-yard touchdown pass to Ito Smith on the game's opening play - but just wanted a spark when he put Griggs in the game. The team's depth chart doesn't indicate one or the other being the starter this week, but whoever is on the field at the beginning, it looks like Hopson may want to use a rotation until the offense really starts to click.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (3-5): The Volunteers will get back leading rusher John Kelly after he sat out against Kentucky after an off-field incident, but who he'll be running behind on the offensive line is unknown. Starting tackle Brett Kendrick already has been ruled out and the other starter at tackle - Drew Richmond - is questionable, while top backup Marcus Tatum also is out. The Volunteers may need to try to utilize their passing game and move Guarantano out of the pocket, especially against a Southern Miss defense that allows just 127.6 rushing yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tennessee recovered four fumbles against Kentucky, the most by the squad since it recovered four versus Texas A&M in the 2005 Cotton Bowl.

2. Southern Miss WR Korey Robertson has made a catch in 21 straight games and is coming off a six-reception, 65-yard performance against UAB.

3. The Volunteers have the nation's No. 1 pass defense, which is allowing just 148.6 yards per game.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 24, Southern Miss 20