Tennessee @ Vanderbilt preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2009 ) Vanderbilt 16, Tennessee 31

Suddenly resurgent Tennessee shoots for its third straight win on Saturday against Vanderbilt, a team that it has beaten four years in a row and 26 of the last 27.

After losing four straight games, the Volunteers (4-6, 1-5 SEC) have won their last two and scored at least 50 points in each. The winning streak coincides with Tyler Bray taking over the starting quarterback position. All he’s done is throw for nearly 650 yards and eight touchdowns.

If the Volunteers can win their remaining two games, they would become bowl eligible, a feat that seemed out of reach three weeks ago when they were mired in a four-game losing streak.

Conversely, after starting the season 2-3, Vanderbilt has lost five straight by an average of 30 points, including a 38-20 loss to Kentucky last week. The Commodores (2-8, 1-6 SEC) were tied, 10-10 at halftime. Vandy ranks 91st in scoring defense, allowing 31 points a game. Its offense is worse; 18 points a game, which is 110th.

Tennessee has deliberately turned to its passing game to feature the freshman Bray and a talented group of receivers. In his first start two weeks ago, Bray threw five touchdowns to five different receivers – all in the first half. Last week, Bray threw an 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

Vanderbilt has been ravaged by the pass, allowing an average of 302 yards in the air during the past four games. Arkansas shredded the Commodores for 417 passing yards three weeks ago. Despite the passing frenzy, Tauren Poole has rushed for 100 yards in the last two games and has 836 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.

In his first season at Tennessee, Dooley clearly has the program headed in the right direction. He and the Volunteers showed their inexperience early in the season as they played some of the best teams in the country. Tennessee has played five teams currently ranked in the Top 20, but that painstaking process already is paying dividends.

The team is playing together and gaining more confidence each week, Dooley said. Along with the increasingly prolific offense, the defense is gelling. In last week’s win over Mississippi, Tennessee intercepted three passes and returned one for a touchdown while holding the Rebels to 99 yards passing on the day.