TENNESSEE (5-6, 2-5 SEC) AT VANDERBILT (5-6, 2-5)
4 p.m. › Commodore Stadium in Nashville SEC Network & 106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
Tennessee has struggled to keep its quarterbacks upright, with defenses able to create pressures in different ways all season. The Volunteers’ offensive linemen spent part of this week taking questions about their level of play and would love to have a big game that can serve as their collective answer. Going against a defense that hasn’t created a ton of pressure — the Commodores have 20 sacks in 2018 — could provide an opportunity for a Tennessee offense that has had its share of ups and downs to experience some success. That should be the case whether redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano or fifth-year senior Keller Chryst starts at quarterback for the Vols.
ONE TO WATCH
Commodores senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur has thrown for nine touchdowns and more than 900 yards in his three games against the Vols, with Vanderbilt losing 53-28 in 2015 before back-to-back wins the past two seasons, 45-34 in 2016 and 42-24 in 2017. Shurmur has made few obvious mistakes throwing the ball in his collegiate career, with 29 interceptions in almost 1,200 passes, an average of 41.1 tosses between pickoffs. Much like the offensive line, Tennessee’s defense had to watch video of a bad performance after last week’s 50-17 loss to Missouri in the home finale, and one of the keys to getting a win in the last chance for bowl eligibility will be finding ways to affect Shurmur.
IN THE END
Veteran Tennessee players spent this week talking about how some of them have never defeated the Commodores. Realistically, they probably shouldn’t win this year’s matchup either — the Vols are in the first season of a complete program rebuild, while Vanderbilt is in year five under coach Derek Mason and has a senior quarterback who has proven to be reliable. But there’s something to be said about the importance of this intrastate rivalry, one the Vols have historically dominated on the way to leading the all-time series 75-31-5, according to Tennessee records. The Vols are tired of losing, especially to Vanderbilt, and they will figure out a win to win a close game and earn one more game this season.