Like the Vols, the Fearless Prediction is back to its winning ways following UT’s 45-14 dismantling of UT-San Antonio. But a bigger challenge lies ahead with South Carolina coming to Knoxville this weekend.

As all Tennessee fans remember, the Vols’ 63-38 loss in Columbia last November cost Tennessee a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Gamecocks fans remember playing the role of spoiler and have been boasting about it ever since.

UT has waited for this game for more than 10 months and will also have to wait until its 7:30 p.m. kickoff. That will give fans plenty of extra time to tailgate. Tennessee will also return their “Dark Mode” alternate uniforms. Black jerseys, black pants, black helmets.

It’s going to be a rowdy atmosphere at Neyland Stadium. Think “2021 Ole Miss game” kind of rowdy. Security guards will be on the lookout for mustard bottles and golf balls.

It looks like the Vols offense is back on track after 2 subpar performances. It picked up 512 yards against UTSA, 303 of those on the ground. Dylan Sampson had 139 rushing yards, plus 2 scores.

That running game is the Vols strength, averaging 229.5 yards per game, 8th best in the nation. Jaylen Wright, Jabari Small and Sampson make up a formidable trio that should be able to move the ball down the field against the Gamecocks.

QB Joe Milton was great in the 1st half against UTSA but was tackled awkwardly late in the 2nd quarter. He wasn’t as effective in the 2nd half after that hit. Milton was seen at UT Medical Center on Sunday, but Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel says that was only precautionary, and that he expects Milton to play “really well” against South Carolina.

Defensively, the Vols get into the opponent’s backfield early and often. They average 9.8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks per contest, 3rd best nationally in each category. Tennessee needs to pressure QB Spencer Rattler, who has taken advantage of his 2nd chance with the Gamecocks after transferring from Oklahoma.

Rattler is South Carolina’s best player, and certainly looked the part last week against Mississippi State, completing 90% of his passes. He was terrific against the Vols a year ago, completing 30 of 37 passes for 438 yards and 6 TDs. Tennessee’s secondary won’t stop him on Saturday night but can’t allow him to roll over them to that extent again.

Xavier Legette is Rattler’s top target. He’s having a big year for the Gamecocks with 27 catches for 556 yards and 3 TDs.

The Gamecocks will try to wing the football all over Shields-Watkins Field. They average 340 passing yards per game, 8th best in the nation. Now, on the flip side of that coin .. does South Carolina run the ball effectively? No, my friends, they do not. The Gamecocks average only 75.8 yards per game, a woeful 126th in the nation.

Defensively, South Carolina is … well, not great. Last in the SEC in total defense, last in yards allowed per play, last in pass defense, last in opponents 1st downs per game.

Tennessee’s offense could be in for a huge night.

Redshirt junior LB Debo Williams leads the Gamecocks with 31 tackles. Defensive tackle TJ Sanders is tops on the team with 3 sacks.

This has been an annual meeting ever since South Carolina began SEC play in 1992. With the addition of Texas and Oklahoma next Fall, UT and USC will no longer play every year. That’s a shame, because these have been quite often entertaining contests, no matter if either team was competing for a division crown.

Tennessee and South Carolina are going to each light up the scoreboard on Saturday night. I just think there will be a few more light bulb burnouts on the home side.

Fearless Prediction time …

Tennessee 42, South Carolina 34