Despite absolutely annihilating archrival Alabama from a physical standpoint last weekend, the No. 11 Volunteers head to the Palmetto State as the underdog for Saturday’s bout at South Carolina.
The Vols (6-1, 3-1 SEC) handled the Crimson Tide wire-to-wire in the 26-10 victory and opened as 2.5-point favorites over the Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC), according to FanDuel. The line quickly shifted to 2.5 points in favor of South Carolina by first of the week.
Shane Beamer’s seat was scorching hot following three-straight losses to begin conference play, but an impressive 38-19 win at Florida ahead of the open date revitalized a team – and fanbase – that was left for dead.
The Vols are 2-1 against the Gamecocks under Josh Heupel, but suffered an embarrassing 63-38 defeat in 2022, the last time the game was played at Williams-Brice Stadium.
With Tennessee firmly in the college football playoff picture, here’s five keys for the Volunteers vs. South Carolina as they eye a victory before a needed open week.
Lean into ‘22
Why not? You can’t erase what happened.
Whether you are full-blown conspiracy theorist or in the camp of it being just the worst day, Tennessee was a shell of itself on that wild night at the Hen House in 2022. The loss crushed any playoff hopes and you left town down a quarterback with the injury to Hendon Hooker in the sandbox.
It was the worst day for that Tennessee team. Remember it. Embrace it. Use that and whatever else for motivation. It’s hard to win on the road in this league and if college football has taught us anything after last weekend, expect the unexpected.
Sometimes the better teams don’t win. Expect a dogfight.
“Understand the type of environment you’re getting into. Understand the approach of your opponent,” Heupel said Monday. “You’re stepping into a ring, you better understand your opponent. Be prepared to be your physical, mental and emotional at your peak.”
Win the redzone
Tennessee was batting a higher average before last week when the Vols settled for three first quarter field goals instead of touchdowns, but this has been a good finishing team overall inside the 20-yard line with touchdowns scored on 70 percent of redzone trips.
On the flipside, Jim Knowles’ defense has been elite in keeping the opposition out of the endzone as teams have punched it in just 47 percent of the time when reaching the redzone.
Heupel needs this to stay the same on Saturday and he would like for his offense to get back to scoring more touchdowns.
South Carolina hasn’t been great in the red area when possessing the football, scoring touchdowns just 67 percent of the time. Defensively, the Gamecocks have allowed 11 touchdowns on 16 redzone trips. Nothing to hang your hat on.
Tennessee’s defense needs to travel and stay consistent. The offense needs to get back to scoring sixes and less threes. For a game that could be a trip, cash in when you need to.
Tennessee must allow George MacIntyre to do more
Tennessee’s sophomore signal-caller will be starting his third-straight game this weekend. The numbers may not suggest from afar, but George MacIntyre has been really solid for the Vols. He’s been efficient and decisive in the throw game. He gets the ball out quick and puts his receivers in position to go and make plays.
The scheme has been different with MacIntyre compared to true freshman Faizon Brandon, who started the first five games of the year. More quick game and less deep shots. Relying on the run game and that elite defense. That’s fine and Tennessee should continue to be itself in those areas, but there should be ample opportunities through the air in this one.
In three SEC losses, South Carolina has allowed 895 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air compared to 381 yards and three scores on the ground. The Gamecocks rank 13th in the league in pass defense but sport the third-best rush defense.
Tennessee will aim to establish the run and be who it is with DeSean Bishop, but there will be opportunities for MacIntyre to have his best game throwing the football.
Create more possessions for the offense
Tennessee’s offense does one thing consistently well and that’s run the football. With more possessions there’s more opportunity to not only get points but find rhythm as well.
The Vols tallied four takeaways in last week’s win over Alabama, handing additional possessions over to the offense. Tennessee didn’t do a well enough job in cashing in on those takeaways, but it still took control of the game midway through the first half.
South Carolina has eight turnovers on the season – four fumbles and four interceptions. The offensive line has allowed 10 sacks on the year with eight in four SEC games. In both the loss to Mississippi State and win over Florida, the Gamecocks allowed three sacks of Sellers.
Tennessee leads the nation with 30 sacks and ranks third in the league with 13 takeaways. Sellers is arguably playing the best football of his career with new offensive coordinator Kendall Briles, but the South Carolina has proven to blow second half leads.
Continue doing what you’re doing and get after the quarterback. Confuse the veteran signal-caller, who threw eight interceptions a season ago. Set the edge and spy the athlete as he will undoubtedly take some chances with his legs. Tennessee has done a decent job with running quarterbacks this season and that needs to continue.
