Vols look to seal the deal against struggling Kentucky

Coming off a bye week and the biggest win of the season on the road at South Carolina, Josh Dobbs and the Vols will look to keep the magic going against a Kentucky team that is trending downward.

While Kentucky got off to an impressive 5-1 start, they have dropped four straight to fall to 5-5. They had an easy opening schedule against teams such Ohio and UL Monroe, but have faltered as they hit the tough part of their schedule, something Tennessee fans should be all too familiar with over the past few seasons.

Dobbs, the sophomore sensation who has thrown for 493 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for another 241 yards and three touchdowns in just two games, will look to keep his blazing hot start to his year going versus a Kentucky defense that has given up almost 2000 yards on the ground.

A.J. Johnson, a 2014 Butkus Award semifinalist, will look to shut down and stop a Kentucky offense that has been explosive at times this season. Kentucky’s sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles has 14 touchdowns and only six interceptions on the season, while rushing for another five scores. Kentucky uses a backfield-by-committee approach and has rushed for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns as a team.

A win here for Tennessee would significantly help the chances of a bowl game, as the Volunteers would only have to win one out of their last two games to become bowl eligible. Vanderbilt, who is winless in SEC play and only beat FCS Charleston Southern by one point, is practically a guaranteed win baring a spectacular catastrophe on the part of UT.

A loss for Kentucky would send them spiraling further down, as they would be 5-6 and would have a tough time getting bowl eligible against a good 7-3 Louisville team.

Edited by Will Lomas