As the college football playoffs get watered down with upsets and uninspired play, the Tennessee Volunteers look more like a speedboat in the national waters.
The Volunteers are one win away from solidifying a spot. And they should get it. Don’t let college pundits trick you into thinking Vanderbilt will upset the Volunteers.
Yes, the Commodores could play UT tough. But Tennessee isn’t going to let an in-state opponent deliver what would be one of the most humbling losses in school history. Vanderbilt might take the lead at some point. It may even be a close game. But at the end, the Volunteers will punch their ticket to the party.
Tennessee isn’t taking Vanderbilt for granted

Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel has given Vanderbilt the proper respect, according to knoxnews.com.
“There’s a lot of football to be played,” Heupel said. “That’s for everybody across the country, and it’s for us. We’ve got to focus on the task at hand and be our best on Saturday. You’ve got to understand you’re going to get (Vanderbilt’s) best. Their best is really good.”
“This is a longstanding rivalry. This is Thanksgiving weekend, you’re playing in a big game against one of your rivals. This is the opportunity that you want to have.”
It’s important the Volunteers respect Vandy. That means they will be dialed in. And the players have echoed the respect.
“Everybody in the building knows the reality of the game and how much it means,” running back Dylan Sampson said. “It basically is a playoff game. Take care of business.”
Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava can still be the real deal

Iamaleava is a former five-star recruit. At times he hasn’t delivered on that billing. He has missed too many open-receiver deep balls. Those are the kind of throws a big-time player should hit consistently. However, just because he’s missed them doesn’t mean he will keep doing it. The talent is there. And it only takes one or maybe two of those to completely change a game.
Plus, the Volunteers are deep along the lines on both sides of the ball. Sampson is having a record-breaking season. This team is well built for a long postseason stay.
After the Volunteers take care of Vandy and get into the CFP mix, don’t worry too much about seeding. This team is good enough to take down the best the country has to offer.
Despite Georgia game, Volunteers’ defense remains salty
One reason the Volunteers can hang at the top of the mountain is defense. Yes, the defense didn’t generate enough pass rush to make Georgia’s Carson Beck remotely uncomfortable. And he picked them apart.
But no team in the country deserves to be judged on one game. If so, Oregon would barely be good enough to compete at the top of the Mountain West Conference. The body of work shows the Volunteers’ defense is at the top of the NCAA. It is elite. There are 10 other games of proof.
Combine that with an offense that can move the football on the ground. Add in a coach who is willing to lean on his defense and win 14-10, if necessary.
There have been seasons where this year’s version of the Volunteers could not win against a big-time offense. But this isn’t Uncle Saban’s world anymore. There are no scary teams. The No. 10 or No. 11 seed could win just as surely as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
It’s a free-for-all in 2024. All teams need to do is get there, and things might fall their way. UT’s last step isn’t a traditional rival. It’s an in-state opponent the Volunteers have dominated through the years. And they need to flex their muscles and remind the Commodores this state looks best in orange.
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