Vanderbilt Game Preview

The Payoff is the Playoff

I want you to think about everything Tennessee football has been through since 2008. Some of you were too young to pay attention then but if you are reading this now, you no doubt got more than your fair share of what I'm about to discuss. This preview is dedicated to everyone who suffered through the Dark Era of Tennessee football. This is for everyone who stuck with the Vols through the lean times, which were lengthy and very dark. This is for everyone that lived through that unwatchable Auburn game and the unthinkable loss to Wyoming in 2008. Everyone that watched Alabama fans take over the hallowed stands of Neyland Stadium every other year. Everyone who watched Lane Kiffin call four straight run plays up the gut against UCLA as he gagged that game away to a terrible Bruins team. Everyone who was feeling good about the season before Dexter McCluster ran through Monte Kiffin's defense. Everyone who watched as the Vols no showed the Peach Bowl against Virginia Tech. This is for everyone that watched the Vols celebrate like they just won a championship after surviving overtime against UAB. Everyone who watched the Vols ostensibly beat LSU the next week only to have 13 men on the field to give the Tigers another chance. Everyone who watched Tennessee get beat in such a ridiculous way against North Carolina in the Music City Bowl that it led to a rule change. This if for everyone that saw Arkansas return a punt when almost every Vol on the field had a chance to make the tackle. For everyone that watched our 26 game winning streak to Kentucky come to an end against a wide receiver playing quarterback. Everyone that saw the Vols have to win a shootout against Troy, courtesy of Sal Sunseri's vaunted defense. Everyone that saw the Vols lose in four overtimes to a bad Missouri team in Neyland. Everyone who suffered through Vanderbilt blowing Tennessee out in 2012. I could go on all day so I'll just trim the rest down to the greatest hits.

9-10 loss to Florida. Four consecutive losing seasons. 8 losing seasons from 2008-2020. Champions of Life. Five Star Hearts. 11 consecutive SEC losses. No top 10 wins from 2006-2022. Schiano Sunday. The Pruitt scandal. Being publicly turned down by coaches who never should have even been mentioned in the same breath as the Tennessee job. Even after getting Heupel and in the midst of our best season in over twenty years, the suffering wasn't over. Our best quarterback since Peyton Manning and our hopes to finally make the playoff were lost in Columbia, South Carolina. The Orange Bowl was a nice consolation but at the end of the day, it's about competing for championships.

If you lived through all of that, or even some of that, this preview is for you. There were times when it seemed Tennessee no longer deserved that loyalty. That its best days were behind it. That living and dying and spending our hard earned money on this team would never pay off again. The payoff is finally at hand.

THE PAYOFF IS THE PLAYOFF!

The door is wide open for the Vols. All they have to do is walk through it. A win against Vanderbilt not only means qualifying for the first ever 12 team playoff, it likely means hosting a first round game in Neyland Stadium. It's all there for the Vols.

Of course nothing is ever easy. Of course Vandy has their best team since James Franklin was their coach. Of course they have a spunky little quarterback that can make plays. But you know what? That just means this will be the most significant Tennessee/Vanderbilt game in living memory. That just means there is zero chance the Vols overlook them. Players come to Tennessee to play in games of consequence. To play for championships. Dylan Sampson had the right mindset earlier in the week when he called this a playoff game. That's exactly what it is. Win and you're in. Lose and go to a bowl game no one will care about.

Vanderbilt is a feisty team that punches above its weight. Although they've already qualified for a bowl, they would love nothing more than to knock big brother out of the playoff. I expect nothing but their best effort. They've already beaten Virginia Tech and Alabama and gave Texas all they wanted. They also lost to Georgia State and got blown out by South Carolina. They are a pretty good team but they aren't the '85 Bears.

I think Tennessee's offense has been getting better and better since the Alabama game. Nico has gotten better and better. Yeah, they were shut down in the 2nd half against Georgia but they had a long drive as the 4th quarter was winding down only trailing by 7. Heupel decided to punt with like 6 minutes left, thinking he could rely on his defense to get the ball back with time left. Instead Georgia went down the field an closed the door with under 3 minutes left and that was it. Vandy's defense is good, but it isn't Georgia good. And playing in Nashville will be a defacto home game, as opposed to playing in Athens. I think we see a lot of Dylan Sampson and I think Nico will hit some shots. I think the offense will have its best game of the year. Vandy's defense is kinda middle of the pack and Nico has seen far better this season.

Vandy's offense is ball control. Playing keep away. On the surface this seems to be Heupel's kryptonite but Vandy's offensive numbers are underwhelming. The key will be limiting Diego Pavia. I think Tennessee's secondary should be good enough to cover Vandy's receivers if the front 7 can stop him from scrambling around. I think this is a game that will be dictated by Tennessee's defensive line. If they are dominant against Vandy's offensive line like they've been against others this year, then the Vols should be fine. If they struggle to get to Pavia, this could be a four quarter fight.

I think we see Tennessee's best effort of the season. And I don't think Vandy can stay in the game if that comes to pass.

Tennessee (-10.5) 34

Vanderbilt 14

In other games...

Clemson (-2.5) 31

South Carolina 27

USC (+7.5) 37

Notre Dame 34

Alabama (-11.5) 35

Auburn 23

Ohio State 31

Michigan (+20.5) 17

Texas A&M (+5.5) 31

Texas 28

Last time 4-2(3-3 ATS) Overall Record 38-20(27-31 ATS)

As always, I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read this. We've been though a lot for the better part of two decades collectively as a fan base. All of our loyalty is about to pay off. Cherish it. Don't take it for granted. We are a far cry from the embarrassment the program was just a few short years ago. Let's hope it stays that way.

Follow me on Twitter/X @Joshes_Journal

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time with your family and friends. Eat lots of turkey and watch lots of football. To those who are participating in Black Friday, you're in my prayers. I'll be eating leftovers and watching football.

Have fun on this extended weekend and stay safe. Go Vols and God Bless.