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Game Time: Noon ET
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Odds: After starting as 10.5-point favorites, Tennessee is a 14-point favorite via OddsShark.
Tomorrow in Knoxville, the Tennessee Volunteers will host the Kentucky Wildcats in a game that might have championship implications. No, seriously.
Both the Volunteers and Wildcats have taken home at least three losses this season, but are still in the hunt for the east’s spot in the SEC Championship. The Wildcats are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Georgia last week and looking to prove that they can hang with the big boys, as they have yet to put away any top tier SEC teams this season.
To do so, they will look to run the ball with their two outstanding running backs Stanley ‘Boom’ Williams and Benjamin Snell against a Tennessee defense that can sometimes be caught lacking in the interior. The run game will be absolutely vital to Kentucky’s success consider that they have needed to rush at least 200-yards in all five of their wins this season, and have taken home an L when they fail to do so.
The Volunteers on the other hand have a few question marks that need to be addressed if they are going to be effective on Saturday. Tennessee is going to need participation form veterans Alvin Kamara and Cam Sutton who, according to Butch Jones, are still questionable. Kamara, the junior running back who hinted that he will be leaving for the NFL Draft after this season, will more than likely see some playing time as he works his way back in from a knee injury.
Although there has been chatter that Sutton will be ready for tomorrow’s game, it still seems like we might see the senior cornerback sit this one out.
This could mean it will be a similar situation offensively for the Vols, as they look to John Kelly to lead them on the ground and rush for another 100-yard game, against a Wildcat defense that gave up over 200 yards in last week’s loss to Georgia.
In the end, if all is going right for these two teams tomorrow, it should come down to who turns the ball over at a higher percentage. Kentucky has managed to turn the ball over a staggering 22 times this season, but Tennessee isn’t far behind with 20 turnovers.
Fans on both sides will be rooting for not only their team, but for the South Carolina Gamecocks, as well. Both teams need the Florida Gators to lose again, along with a victory of their own to keep the SEC title hopes alive.