VOLS consider Vandy another in series of playoff-type games

This year’s Tennessee football team is one which seemingly enjoys being the underdog. It can’t lean on that crutch this week for motivation.

As a double-digit favorite at home today against Vanderbilt, the Volunteers must instead use a shot at the Southeastern Conference’s championship game as their carrot.

"It’s a playoff situation," left guard Anthony Parker said. "We can’t lose any more games to get to the championship. So here we are; it’s week three of the playoff."

A playoff at which UT has so far survived and – at least last week – thrived. In their 34-13 romp over visiting Arkansas, the Volunteers surprised almost everyone when they shut down the Razorbacks’ powerful ground game.

The result pushed UT one step closer to the East Division title. Wins against Vanderbilt and next week at Kentucky clinch a spot in the SEC title game Dec. 1 in Atlanta.

"The best thing we are doing is playing as a football team and meeting those challenges," Vols coach Phillip Fulmer said of his team’s recent surge.

"Vanderbilt presents a different set of challenges than Arkansas in that they are much more balanced and do many different kinds of things."

Earl Bennett represents the Commodores’ biggest challenge to UT. The junior wide receiver, who smashed the SEC’s all-time receptions record in less than three seasons, leads the SEC with 67 catches despite stacked defenses and inconsistent play from the team’s quarterbacks.

But Vols defensive coordinator John Chavis insists Vandy’s offense is more than just Bennett.

"If you try to prepare to stop him, then you’re missing the boat," Chavis said.

Chavis’ observations aside, the Commodore ship sails primarily because of Bennett and defense. Vandy is the only SEC team with two seven-sack games and is third in the SEC in total defense.

That pass rush faces its toughest test by far this week, though. UT has allowed just three sacks, the least of any team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and has permitted just one in the last eight games.

Commodore coach Bobby Johnson is optimistic his team can at least pressure senior quarterback Erik Ainge.

"You force him to maybe throw it quicker than he would like," Johnson said. "Disrupt the timing of the whole thing. You don’t have to get sacks to have an effective pass rush."

The Vols’ offensive line has added effective run-blocking to its pass-blocking skills. Since the Sept. 15 debacle at Florida, when UT ran for just 37 yards in a 59-20 rout, it has averaged almost 174 yards per game on the ground.

Ainge, whose efficiency has dropped off slightly the last three weeks, is willing to accept fewer passing yards for more wins.

"Every quarterback would like to throw for 400 yards and four touchdowns every week," Ainge said. "But they’d also be lying if they said they’d rather do that than win."

NOTES: A total of 21 Vol seniors will make their last run through the band’s "T" formation during pregame ceremonies. Offensive tackle Eric Young, whose season ended last month with a left quad injury, will probably ride a golf cart through the T, according to Fulmer ... Ainge is shooting for his 25th career win as a starter ... Tailback Arian Foster needs 117 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

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