VANDERBILT (4-7, 2-5 SEC) AT TENNESSEE (7-4, 4-3)
4 p.m. * Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. * SEC Network/106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
The most noticeable improvement Vanderbilt has made in head coach Derek Mason's second year has been defensively, where the Commodores have gone from 70th nationally in total defense in 2014 to 22nd this season.
With Mason calling the defense, Vanderbilt has held all 11 opponents under their season scoring average. The Dores' are especially effective in the red zone, where they've allowed just 14 touchdowns on 41 possessions.
"They've got very good football players, and their scheme is multiple: Multiple fronts, multiple coverages, different types of blitzes," Vols offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. "They play with great technique as well. I don't know anything about their offense, but I do know their defense is really good."
In five other games against top-25 defenses this season, Tennessee averaged 24.4 points and 194 rushing yards.
Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland (34) celebrates after a play in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Bowling Green Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Nashville.ONE TO WATCH
One of the most positive developments of the season for Tennessee has been the progress of freshman Darrin Kirkland Jr., who is no longer playing like a first-year player.
The former four-star recruit has 22 tackles in the past three games. He's third on the team and second among SEC freshmen in tackles (57) and could have the fourth-most tackles by a freshman in Tennessee history with another strong performance today.
The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Kirkland still must improve against some of the more traditional offenses the Vols face every year, but his speed is impressive for a linebacker.
"The game of football today is really sideline to sideline," defensive coordinator John Jancek said. "Everybody's spreading it out and running the quarterback. Darrin has made some plays that because of his speed, he was able to make them, and that's huge."
IN THE END
Offensive lineman Jashon Robertson (75), head coach Butch Jones and the rest of Tennessee's football team celebrate after the Vols won at Missouri on Nov. 21, 2015. (Photo By Craig Bisacre/Tennessee Athletics)It seems like it was forever ago, but Vanderbilt actually beat Tennessee the last time the two in-state rivals played at Neyland Stadium. That was the second of two wins in a three-season stretch by the Commodores in the series the Vols have owned, but the orchestrator of that success is now plying his coaching trade in the Big Ten.
With a victory Tennessee could set itself up with a nice bowl destination and win at least eight games in a season for the first time in eight years.
Vanderbilt can stay competitive thanks to its defense, but it can't win with that offense. The 'Dores have scored the fewest points (154) in the country, managed just 44 points in its past six games and were shutout by Houston and Texas A&M. Tennessee should win going away.
PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 27, VANDERBILT 3