The Tennessee Volunteers have used a frenetic offensive pace and a persevering defense to surprisingly get within one victory of bowl eligibility with three games remaining.
Facing Georgia, the nation's No. 1 team, won't change who they are.
"It's actually been a testament to the team this year in that we can go in with the mindset that we need to be us and then just be a better version of us," fifth-year senior defensive tackle Matthew Butler said. "The mindset doesn't need to change. We don't need to do anything special. We just need to do the ordinary things at a very high level."
Tennessee has lost four consecutive series meetings to Georgia by at least 23 points, and the Vols are 20-point underdogs for Saturday afternoon's showdown inside Neyland Stadium. The Vols led last year's matchup in Sanford Stadium 21-17 at halftime before succumbing 44-21, and they led the Bulldogs 14-13 late in the first half two seasons ago before falling 43-14.
If the Vols score 14 points, it would be the most surrendered by Georgia this season. The Bulldogs lead the nation in fewest points allowed with 6.6 per contest, with their defense having yielded just five touchdowns while scoring three.
"I really think the numbers speak for themselves," Vols receivers coach Kodi Burns said. "Statistically, they're the best defense in the country, and you can compare this defense to some of the better defenses that have come through the SEC. We can't have any self-inflicted wounds."
The Vols will wear their black jerseys and black pants, a combination that made its debut during their 45-20 thrashing of South Carolina last month. The most recognized Tennessee alum, former quarterback Peyton Manning, will be in attendance as Josh Heupel's first team tries to notch the program's first triumph over a national No. 1 since the 1985 whipping of Auburn.
Tennessee is 5-4 with a couple of likely victories against the closing duo of South Alabama and Vanderbilt, while Georgia is 9-0 with a 13-game winning streak dating to last season.
"We don't really look at the records," Tennessee senior safety Theo Jackson said. "We get that they play good team ball, but we play good team ball, too. They put their pants on the same way we do."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.