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Tennessee to take on #1 yet again
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In the AP Top 25 poll released on Sunday the Alabama Crimson Tide leaped over the Florida Gators to take the top spot. This comes in the wake of a close victory by the Gators over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Swamp. The Gators needed a couple of early Christmas presents from the men in stripes to pull out the win by a score of 23-20. Meanwhile, the Tide held off a stingy South Carolina 20-6 in Tuscaloosa.
So, next Saturday we will again have the opportunity to knock off the number one team in the nation. This is the first time in the history of UT football that we have played the number one team twice in a single season.
Florida was perched atop the polls when the Vols traveled to Gainesville to play the Gators on September 19. It was to be a well-deserved beating in the name of retribution for Coach Kiffin’s transgressions against King Urban. The Gators were expected to gnaw on the severed orange limbs of the Vols and spit out the bones. Although we failed to dethrone the king we did keep limbs intact and earned some respect by playing the Gators tough before losing 23-13.
This time it’s not about personal vendettas or loose lips. It’s more about what happens on the gridiron…… and the color of the uniforms apparently.........
Coach Kiffin had proposed that the Vols wear their all orange home uniforms in Tuscaloosa, and this was approved by the SEC. However, the Alabama athletic department nixed this idea.
Alabama athletic director Mal Moore told the Mobile Press-Register that he had spoken with UT athletic director Mike Hamilton and told him, "it is our desire to maintain the custom of the visiting team wearing their visiting jerseys. We'll continue to wear our white jerseys when we visit Knoxville next year."
There are always choices in life, and if the Vols should choose not to abide by the Alabama decision then they would be penalized 15 yards on the kickoff at the beginning of each half for unsportsman -like conduct. Regarding this possibility Kiffin stated, “We’re not good enough to do that. The last thing we want to do is kickoff 15 yards back.”
On the field, the game matches two strong defenses against two mediocre to slightly better than mediocre offenses. On paper at least Bama appears superior on both sides of the ball. Their defense is frighteningly good and has even drawn some comparisons to the 1992 Tide defense, which is probably the best defense in the history of college football. I'm not sure they're quite there yet, but this defense IS very very good.
The offensive game plans for both teams should be similar. Both will attempt to establish the running game supported only by short passes and bootlegs. Bama tailback Mark Ingram has leaped onto the Heisman watch list following last week’s 246 yard performance against the Gamecocks. With Ingram roaring out of the backfield there is no reason for Alabama to worry about the downfield pass. Should this change for whatever reason, the Tide do have other options. Greg McElroy has played admirably this season. His numbers are actually quite similar to UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton’s with one notable exception: McElroy has thrown only three interceptions to Crompton’s nine.
Speaking of JC, the Tennessee offensive game plan is to take the pressure off of Crompton and establish the running game early. Montario Hardesty up the middle will likely be the Vols favorite play on Saturday, if it works. Anything to the outside or that is slow in developing will leave the Vols vulnerable to the Tide’s fast and efficient defense. Third-and-long could be disastrous for the Vols and would likely lead to the destruction of whatever confidence Crompton gained by shredding the Georgia defense.
Let us assume that Crompton is kept in check and is not expected to win the game for us, because he won't. Then, the deciding factor in this game will be special teams play. The Vols absolutely cannot give up any points on kickoff or punt returns, or it’s GAME OVER. I believe that this will be the week that special teams will come to life and not disappoint. I have no reasoning here, only faith in a good coaching staff who has had an extra week to prepare.
Logic tells me that there is virtually no way that UT can score against Alabama, but, as always my heart beats pure orange and I therefore must pick the Vols to win 13-10.
GO VOLS!!!
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