Vols seek revenge vs. Vandy
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s seniors head into their home finale Saturday hoping to keep the Volunteers’ bowl hopes alive by avenging one of their most humiliating losses.
The Volunteers fell 4118 to Vanderbilt last year, their largest margin of defeat in this series since 1954. Tennessee fired former coach Derek Dooley the day after the game.
One year later, the Vols (4- 6, 1-5 SEC) get their chance at payback.
“It was definitely one of the low points, (that) and the Kentucky game the year before,” said Tennessee senior defensive end Marlon Walls, who played at Olive Branch. “Those things motivate you. We’re definitely motivated not to let that happen again.”
Tennessee needs to win Saturday and Nov. 30 at Kentucky, to become eligible for its first bowl bid since 2010.
Vanderbilt (6- 4, 3- 4) is bowl eligible for a third straight year.
MSU QBS UNCERTAIN
Mississippi State (4- 6, 1-5 SEC) needs to win its last two games to become bowl eligible for the fourth straight season. Saturday, the Bulldogs must handle struggling Arkansas (3-7, 0-6), without a clear idea of who will be under center.
Quarterbacks Tyler Russell and Dak Prescott have been limited in practice this week while recovering from injuries, leaving freshman Damian Williams as a possibility.
Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen said he’ll likely decide “probably after warm- ups on game day.”
“They’re all doing much, much better,” Mullen said. “I don’t know who’s going to start yet for us. We’ve got to see who’s the healthiest and who’s had the best week of practice.”
NO WINSTON DECISION
The prosecutor leading the investigation of the sexual assault allegation made against Florida State’s Jameis Winston said Friday there are still “four or five” things that still need to be done before a decision is made on whether to bring charges against the quarterback. State Attorney Willie Meggs said prosecutors spoke with the accuser this week but there is more work to be done. Winston is being investigated for an incident that occurred last Dec. 7 in Tallahassee.