When: Today
Where: Knoxville, Tenn.
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Tennessee (-3.5)

Game Buzz: Missouri can get within one win of back-to-back SEC East titles by taking an eighth consecutive SEC road win. Or Georgia, in the clubhouse at 6-2 in conference play, will claim the division title and await the SEC West champion. This game isn’t as meaningful to Tennessee, which is looking toward a bright future, but a win gives the Vols a chance to close the season with four consecutive wins behind freshman QB Josh Dobbs and a resurgent offense.

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

NO. 20 MISSOURI TIGERS

Players To Watch:

  • QB Maty Mauk
  • RB/KR Marcus Murphy
  • WR Bud Sasser
  • DE Shane Ray
  • DE Markus Golden
  • LB Michael Scherer

Keys For Missouri:

  • Stop Tennessee on early downs. The Tigers have a sizable advantage in third-and-long situations. UT’s offensive line surrenders sacks in bunches and Mizzou can unleash one of the best pass rushes in the country. If Josh Dobbs, Jalen Hurd and company can circumvent third downs or get into third-and-short, Tennessee is primed to score — maybe more than Mizzou can handle.
  • Play like an SEC team. That means win with special teams and defense, which Missouri has done this season (see: Florida). Dobbs is a young quarterback and this team needs to try to force him into mistakes, as a positive turnover margin has been one of Mizzou’s best assets the last two years. And Marcus Murphy has a few more games to etch his name into the Tigers record books for kick returns.
  • Find balance on offense. This group isn’t going to be the high-flying unit of a season ago no matter how you slice it. But being able to run effectively and involve multiple receivers in the same game, all while Mauk avoids bailing from the pocket too often, would be a big help.

Glaring Weakness To Watch: Depth. Missouri’s biggest problem for most of the season is that an injury to just about any starter means trouble. Where some teams contending for division titles (Alabama, for one) can plug-and-play, the Tigers need to keep the strong core of 25-30 players healthy.

Most Interesting Part Of The Game: It’s been a while since Missouri faced a hot offense, which Tennessee most definitely is (95 p0ints in its last two games). The road win at Texas A&M was impressive, but the Aggies haven’t been the same on offense since the first five games of the season. Florida, Vanderbilt and Kentucky didn’t present a formidable offense, either. What will happen to this Mizzou team if and when its defense can’t control the game?

Team Buzz: The Tigers (8-2, 5-1) are a home loss to Indiana away from being in the same position as last year — on top of a jumbled SEC East as the other teams wait for coach Gary Pinkel’s team to falter. Only last year Mizzou never did, coasting to a 7-1 record in SEC play. This year, the defense is the catalyst. The offense has clawed its way from bad during the middle of the year to competent. If that trend continues, this team will win the East and finish the regular season in the Top 20.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Players To Watch:

  • QB Joshua Dobbs
  • RB Jalen Hurd
  • WR Alton “Pig” Howard
  • WR Von Pearson
  • DE Derek Barnett
  • DB Cameron Sutton

Keys For Tennessee: 

  • Joshua Dobbs must continue hot streak. Dobbs is 2-0 as a starter in 2014. The sophomore brings a mobility to Tennessee’s “multiple” read option offense. Despite a struggling offensive line, Dobbs has been able to evade the opposing pass rush, which he’ll need to do against SEC sack leader Shane Ray.
  • Use Jalen Hurd as a feature back. Hurd has progressed through his first season. The true freshman has recorded over 100 yards in back-to-back games. Missouri ranks No. 29 in rushing defense, but has struggled against talented running backs. Hurd must have a big performance for Tennessee to win on Saturday.
  • Contain Bud Sasser. Sasser is the best player on Missouri’s offense. He leads the Tigers with 701 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 52 receptions. Cameron Sutton, Tennessee’s top cornerback, must contain the elusive receiver to avoid big plays in the secondary.

Glaring Weakness To Watch: Offensive line. The Vols have limited their sacks since naming Dobbs their starting quarterback. However, Tennessee will be without starting center Mack Crowder, who suffered an injury against Kentucky. Facing a tough Missouri pass rush, the Vols may struggle in the trenches.

Most Interesting Part Of The Game: Can Tennessee secure bowl eligibility against the SEC East’s top team? The Vols are a 5-point favorite and have home field advantage on senior night.

Team Buzz: Tennessee’s offense has improved in recent weeks with Dobbs at the helm. Coming off a bye week, the Vols defense looked refreshed against Kentucky, forcing two turnovers and holding the Wildcats to 16 points. Saturday’s game will prove Tennessee’s legitimacy. If the Vols win, they will end their three-year bowl drought and provide a major checkpoint in their rebuilding process.