The Tennessee Volunteers rode their revamped running game to a 24-0 win over the hapless Vanderbilt Commodores last Saturday to record their first back to back victories since defeating Rutgers and Arkansas in consecutive games a month and a half ago.
The Vols, as usual, are starting to click as a team during the home stretch of November when games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky traditionally round out the regular season slate.
Kentucky, who switched places with Vanderbilt this year on the Vols’ schedule, poses a different kind of threat than in year’s past. The Wildcats will come to Neyland Stadium Saturday with a 7-4 record a go for broke attitude.
Because of NCAA sanctions, Kentucky is banned from playing in a bowl game. The fact that they haven’t beaten the Vols in 17-years will add further incentive to this years Cats, who feature the SEC rushing leader Artrose Pinner.
Word surfaced last week that the UT players have been told that if they can win the remainder of their games, a trip to Tampa to play in the Outback Bowl awaits. The team seems to have taken the possibility of spending New Years in warmer weather to heart.
The Tennessee offense, which has struggled to find a niche all season, have resembled Tennessee teams of the past in the last couple weeks. Sophomore running back Cedric Houston returned from injury and is showing the form that Vol coaches had seen during the off-season when he emerged as the starter.
With his 140-yard effort on Saturday, Houston has now gone over the century mark in four consecutive games. Though Houston finally being healthy is major factor in the resurgence of the UT running game, the health and cohesiveness of the much-maligned offensive line has been just as integral.
The Vols rushed for 242 total yards and banged up quarterback Casey Clausen was sacked only one time against Vandy.
The defense, which has been resilient all season, came through with their second consecutive shutout against the Commodores. The Vols blanked Vanderbilt 38-0 in 2001.
The Vols will need another strong effort by Houston and the offensive line to keep the ball away from Jared Lorenzen and the Wildcat offense. The Cats gave the Vols a major scare last season in Lexington. Kicker Alex Walls hit a 44-yard field goal with 2:49 left in the game to give UT a 38-35 win.

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.