Could 'trap' for No. 3 Vols shut down Tennessee-Georgia buzz?
Tennessee plans to upset No. 1 Georgia next week, but first it must beat Kentucky.
The No. 3 Volunteers (7-0, 3-0 in SEC) are one of two remaining undefeated teams in the SEC, and they have their best shot at winning a league title since Y2K. They aren't exactly a sure thing, however, as a classic trap game awaits versus No. 19 Kentucky (5-2, 2-2 in SEC) on Saturday in Knoxville.
It's the SEC's only ranked matchup this weekend, and a dangerous test that would make Admiral Ackbar feel all tingly inside.
No. 3 Tennessee won the last matchup in the series a year ago, a 45-42 shootout in Lexington. The Vols have won eight of the past 10 games in the series, with their last loss coming at Neyland Stadium in 2020.
Coming off a bye, Kentucky has rest on its side. A win two weeks ago over Mississippi State should give the Wildcats a confidence boost heading into their second straight game against a ranked opponent.
Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. looks like he's 100 percent healthy and ready to go Beast Mode. He plowed through defenders on a game-sealing touchdown run vs. MSU, ranked 16th at the time.
Rodriguez Jr. finished the game with 197 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He has run for at least 125 yards in back-to-back games. Another dominant rushing performance could keep an explosive Tennessee offense at bay.
If the Vols have a weakness, it is controlling the clock. They rank 122nd nationally in time of possession. In their win over Alabama, they held the ball for only 22 minutes, 31 seconds compared to Bama's 37:29. Meanwhile, Kentucky is seventh in the category.
With QB Will Levis, a potential NFL first-round pick, at the helm for the Wildcats, it will be tempting to air it out more. Tennessee's defense ranks 103rd in the FBS.
The Wildcats could provide enough jump scares to make this Halloween weekend matchup a spooky one for Tennessee fans.
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