Kentucky @ Tennessee preview
Neyland Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2009 ) Tennessee 30, Kentucky 24
Tennessee and Kentucky, two teams trying to salvage their seasons, want the same thing when they square off Saturday: a win and one more game.
Both the host Volunteers (5-6, 2-5 SEC) and Wildcats (6-5, 2-5) need a victory to become bowl eligible.
One month ago, that seemed like a pipe dream for Tennessee, which had lost four games in a row. But the Vols have put together a three-game win streak and first-year coach Derek Dooley has the team believing in itself. Dooley will look to continue a long-standing Tennessee streak: the Vols have beaten Kentucky 25 consecutive games.
The Wildcats have ridden a roller-coaster season, starting with three wins followed by three losses. Kentucky enters Saturday’s game on a two-game win streak after losing the previous two. In between, the Wildcats stunned highly ranked South Carolina, which had just beaten then-No. 1 Alabama.
Tennessee’s turnaround coincides with Dooley inserting quarterback Tyler Bray into the starting lineup three weeks ago. Since then, the Vols are averaging 42 points a game, including two of at least 50. The defense has done its part too, giving up just 12 points a game.
Tennessee deserves credit for its manhandling Mississippi by 38 points, but those numbers likely are a combination of improved play and inferior opponents, and Kentucky will provide a good gauge of just how much progress the Vols have made.
Kentucky possesses the second-most potent passing attack in the SEC, trailing only Arkansas, and is averaging 274 yards a game (20th in the nation). Mike Hartline has more than 2,900 yards passing and 22 touchdowns and he has two standout receivers in Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews, both of whom have more than 800 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
The teams are similar in that they’re pass-oriented offenses with strong receiving corps and very capable backs with comparable styles and stature. For Kentucky, Derrick Locke has 719 yards and nine touchdowns and Tauren Poole leads Tennessee with 935 yards and 10 touchdowns. Both average more than five yards per carry
Defensively, Tennessee has evolved into a turnover machine. In the last three weeks, the Vols have produced 12 turnovers, including five each against Memphis and Mississippi State.
Kentucky will be without starting defensive tackle Mark Crawford (suspension) and starting cornerback Martavius Neloms (suspension) will sit out the first half.
The game could go down to the wire, much like last year. After Kentucky forced the game into overtime with a last-minute field goal, Tennessee won 30-24 on a touchdown run by Montario Hardesty.