The Tennessee Volunteers (9–3, 6–2) and the LSU Tigers (10–2, 6–2) have taken distinctly different paths to the 2007 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

The No. 5 Tigers have been in contention for a national title for the entire season until stumbling last weekend in a loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Lead by senior Glenn Dorsey, widely considered the top defensive prospect in the country, the Tigers have allowed 20.1 points per game and totaled an impressive 34 sacks on defense, both of which are second best in the SEC.

Outside of their losses to Arkansas and Kentucky, the Bayou Bengals have allowed only 14.8 points on average and defeated their opponents by 24.5 points.

"The opportunity to play for the conference championship, in the finest football conference in America, is a tremendous opportunity," said LSU Head Coach Les Miles. "You [the team and the school] put me in that position, you will understand that I am excited." "This team has achieved. I look forward and I am sure our team will look forward to preparing for Tennessee."LSU Head Coach Les Miles

Quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux have given the Tigers a change of pace on offense and kept opposing defenses on their heels all season long and helped to create the highest scoring offense in the SEC.

While Flynn has performed well for the majority of the season, a shoulder injury could hold him back. Also, one of the team's leading receivers and star return specialist, Trindon Holliday, has been battling an undisclosed injury and missed practice this week.

"Certainly without him in there we are not as fast," said Miles speaking of Holliday. "I am very optimistic. He sprinted Sunday and I think he will do the same today. He will have a light workout and he will condition and practice with the team. Tuesday is up in the air but I think by the back end of this week, he will be ready to play."

The No. 14 Volunteers give almost every statistical edge to the Tigers, but if they are able to put up points like they have late in the season, Glenn Dorsey and the LSU defense will have their hands full.

The Vols have fought back after big losses to California and Florida early in the season to position themselves for a chance at a BCS bid and SEC crown. The past four SEC matchups have all been must-win games for the Vols and they have come through every time, even when it seemed inevitable that they would lose.

Even with a defense that has struggled to close out games in the past few weeks, the Vols' offense has stepped up and pulled through against South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Kentucky. 

Last week's four overtime victory against Kentucky was the highlight of the four-game stretch and left numerous Volunteer records in new hands. Erik Ainge's seven touchdown passes are an all-time record for the Orange and White and his 28 completions leave him only 8 away from breaking Peyton Manning's single season record of 287.

"Needless to say, we are very excited to represent the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division in the championship game," said Head Coach Phil Fulmer. "To me the Southeastern Conference has created an environment there [in Atlanta] that's almost second to none." 

SERIES HISTORY:

In a series that stretches back to 1925, the Volunteers lead with a record of 20–6-3. However, in last year's matchup LSU defeated Tennessee by a score of 28–24. With nine seconds remaining in the game, quarterback Jamarcus Russell found Early Doucet to take the game from the Volunteers who had lead for the majority of the game. The loss dropped Tennessee's record to 3–2 in the SEC and effectively ended the Vol's championship aspirations.

TEAM STATISTICS:

BOWL GAME OUTLOOK:

The winner of the game will automatically be given a berth to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. If the Vols lose, they will likely fall to the Chick-fil-A Bowl or Outback Bowl while a loss would send the Tigers to the Capital One Bowl. The Volunteers will be looking for their first BCS Bowl bid since 2000 when they were defeated by the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Fiesta Bowl. If LSU comes out on top in Saturday's game, it will mark the first ever back-to-back BCS bowls in program history. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:04 p.m. on CBS. Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson will provide the in-game coverage and analysis. As of Tuesday, Nov. 27, LSU is a 7.5 point favorite over UT according to the Las Vegas Betting Lines.