Tennessee Volunteers vs. Missouri Tigers Complete Game Preview

You'd never know it by the grumbles around Rocky Top, but Tennessee is on a three-game winning streak and needs to close out Missouri and Vanderbilt for an eight-win season.

The Volunteers' four losses are by 17 total points, they're third in the SEC in scoring and they are on pace to have more rushing yards than in any season since the national-championship year of 1951.

Still, it's hard to watch UT and believe coach Butch Jones' team is playing its best football. 

They'll have to play much better this upcoming weekend than they did in Saturday's 24-0 sleepwalking win over hapless North Texas to continue the recent winning ways. The Vols must travel to Columbia, Missouri, to take on a Tigers team that will have plenty for which to play.

Not only are they coming off a big win over BYU to get back to .500 on the year at 5-5, the Tigers will have the added motivation of playing for coach Gary Pinkel in his final home game after announcing his retirement last week. 

Though Mizzou has serious offensive issues, it is one of the nation's top defensive teams. Meanwhile, UT's quarterback, Joshua Dobbs, struggled the past few weeks and is visibly not 100 percent. Can he soldier through and be the dual-threat weapon UT needs to run the table?

Let's take a look at everything you need to know heading into the game.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21

Time: 6:15 p.m. ET

Place: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Vol Network, Mizzou Tigers Sports Network

Spread: Vols by 9, according to Odds Shark.

Tennessee Keys to Victory

David Stephenson/Associated Press

Shake the slump

Again, the Vols are putting up some impressive numbers throughout the course of the season. But they're hitting some serious lulls after hot starts on offense.

It's been the case all year.

It seems that the scripted plays are the ones that are working, and then UT is stalling somewhat and getting into predictable play-calling habits. Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord needs to get back in his groove. Against North Texas, the Vols were discombobulated as their second-half possessions were limited.

That was also the case against Arkansas and South Carolina earlier this year.

Tennessee needs some big plays, and it needs to get back to the team that is an enforcer throughout. When the Vols let their guard down, they're mediocre, and the weapons certainly haven't been as abundant recently as they should be. 

Senior offensive tackle Kyler Kerbyson said after the win over the Mean Green (in quotes released by Tennessee's athletic department):

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As on older guy or someone that some other guys will look to, if I'm getting frustrated or yelling at somebody, or just getting down, they will feed off of me, and they will want to do the same thing. I can't have that happen. If we all are like that we're not going to be a good football team. I just have to stay positive as much as possible, and I think everybody else does too. We trust in everyone on the offense, we trust in the play calling, and we just have to go out there and get it done. It's not just Xs and Os it's the blood, flesh, and bones of the people that are out there doing it. We have to take that on ourselves, and be able to work on it.

"

Cure what's ailing Dobbs

Coach Butch Jones says he's banged up, and quarterback Joshua Dobbs says he's fine. But it's obvious that there's something not just right with the junior signal-caller.

The past two games, UT's offense was limited by Dobbs' lack of mobility. He never really took off and tried to make things happen with his feet, and he's quite frankly not a great passer, so that negatively affects UT's offense.

Now, the Vols must face a Mizzou team that's third in the league in total defense and in the top four in virtually every important category.

The Vols need Dobbs to be the dynamic, dual-threat athlete who carried them against Florida and Georgia. If he has to just stay in the pocket and beat the Tigers with his arm, that's not good news for the Vols.

Drive-enders

South Carolina is not a very good offense, but the Vols struggled getting them off the field two weeks ago in potential drive-ending situations. 

The Gamecocks got chunk yardage, and that's a big reason why they had a 21-point third quarter to get back in the game. They were also marching downfield when Malik Foreman stripped Jerell Adams inside the 20 for the game-winning turnover.

You can't really count the shutout against a horrendous North Texas team, but UT's defense needs to dial up some pressure against Mizzou freshman quarterback Drew Lock, rattle him and get the Tigers off the field.

They're last in the SEC in every important offensive category except passing offense, and only LSU is worse in that area. This is a game UT's defense should dominate and control. If the Vols allow some big plays and third-down conversions, this is a game they could lose for the third year in a row.

Missouri Keys to Victory

Colin E. Braley/Associated Press

Let Hansbrough control the flow

Mizzou senior running back Russell Hansbrough hasn't enjoyed the kind of season he expected when he figured to tear up some rushing numbers as one of the league's most underrated tailbacks and try to help lead the Tigers back to the SEC Championship Game.

Instead, he battled injuries for much of the year, and Mizzou is fighting and clawing just to be at 5-5.

But now that he's finally healthy, Hansbrough is beginning to look like the player he is expected to be. In a big win over BYU this weekend, he had 117 yards on 26 carries. It's no secret that a putrid Tigers offense began to show signs of life this week after a four-game skid.

It's because Hansbrough was the workhorse again. If he can get going against Tennessee, that spells bad news for a Vols rush defense that is ninth in the league.

Disrupt Dobbs

Anybody who's watched Joshua Dobbs the past two weeks knows he isn't himself, and Mizzou has rattled him in each of the past two seasons with pressure.

Though this year's rendition of the Tigers doesn't have the pass-rushing phenoms it enjoyed with Kony Ealy, Michael Sam, Shane Ray and Markus Golden, they have budding superstars Charles Harris and Terry Beckner Jr. They also are fourth in the league with 26 sacks, so the numbers haven't dropped off too much.

After last year's 29-21 win over UT in a game where the Vols were favored, Golden talked about the game plan that resulted in six sacks of Dobbs.

"We felt going in we had to get after Josh Dobbs to win this game," Golden told the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "That's exactly what was on our mind."

With that recipe for success, think this year's Tigers won't do the same?

Tennessee's offensive line has allowed 21 sacks this year, and it's struggled in recent weeks. They've got to do a much better job at keeping Dobbs off the ground this week, because you know the Tigers are coming.

If they get to him and force him into hasty decisions, that can lead to mistakes and turnovers. That's right where coordinator Barry Odom's unit wants the Vols.

Coming of age

There's no denying the immense potential of former blue-chip recruit and freshman gun-slinging quarterback Drew Lock.

He just hasn't put it all together.

Lock makes too many mistakes and too many rash decisions, and he has yet to develop that sixth sense that will help him consistently lead the Tigers to wins, but he took a major step forward against the Cougars on Saturday. Lock threw for 244 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, and he made many more good plays than bad.

He doesn't have the best group of receivers, but as he continues to develop a rapport with him, the Tigers offense is showing signs of breaking their season-long funk. Now, they'll get a UT pass defense that has been awful all year.

The Vols are 12th in the SEC in pass defense, and they struggle to consistently stop anybody. This is the ideal time for Lock to have his breakout game. If he does, the Tigers may just get bowl-eligible.

Tennessee Players to Watch

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Darrin Kirkland Jr.

For weeks and weeks, he's been improving and growing into his role as the starting middle linebacker for the Vols. 

On Saturday, the true freshman man in the middle hit a quiet milestone: It was the first game where he registered more stops than the tackle-gobbling man beside him, Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Kirkland had eight tackles against North Texas, one of which was for a loss.

Coach Butch Jones was pleased with his youngster's progression, according to quotes released by the university.

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He has great instincts for the football. We knew that this would be a game that would challenge his discipline and how far he’s come and his maturation as a linebacker just because of all of the attachment plays and reading the pulling guards and all that. Like we say every week, every rep he gets in a game situation is a great learning experience for him and then you accumulate an amount of reps over time and that’s how you greatly improve. 

"

The Mizzou game may be the most important game Kirkland has left. With all the spreading out and motion that coach Gary Pinkel likes to employ, lining everybody up and getting the proper run fits against Russell Hansbrough are pivotal. Kirkland needs to have a mammoth game.

Alvin Kamara

It's obvious who Tennessee's biggest playmaker is on offense, especially with Joshua Dobbs ailing. For weeks, Kamara has been on this list because, quite simply, UT must use him more.

For weeks, it's been written here that it would be great to see what Kamara could do with 15 touches.

Well, he got 16 against the Mean Green, and he flipped those chances into 132 yards and two touchdowns. He led the team in rushing, and he was pretty much the only weapon UT had on a vanilla, stagnant day.

That doesn't need to happen just against inferior opponents. There's nothing wrong with running Jalen Hurd between the tackles and punishing defenses play after play. But Kamara needs to get his opportunities, too. 

He's the game-breaker.

Cameron Sutton

The Vols' electrifying cornerback hasn't enjoyed his best season to date. As a matter of fact, teams have shown they aren't afraid to throw in his direction.

Whether he's been playing injured or not hasn't been publicized, but while Sutton hasn't taken a step back, he isn't the lockdown cornerback most expected, either.

This is a game where his athleticism and instincts need to shine. It would be huge for the Vols if he'd make a pivotal play in the passing game such as a crucial interception or forcing a fumble. Sutton has the ability to change plays with his talent. The Vols need for him to make more of those plays down the stretch.

Missouri Players to Watch

Alex Menendez/Getty Images

Kentrell Brothers

The best defensive player you've never heard of in the SEC, without question, is Mizzou senior linebacker Kentrell Brothers.

Just think of how vital Jalen Reeves-Maybin is to Tennessee's defense and how he's been all over the field this year for 89 tackles, a number that should put him up there in the conversation for an All-SEC linebacker.

Now add 39 more tackles, and you've got Brothers. 

The 6'1", 235-pound playmaker from Guthrie, Oklahoma, has 128 stops this season, 31 tackles clear of the second-best in the SEC in Auburn safety Jonathan "Rudy" Ford. That's already six more than he had a season ago when he made the second-team all-conference and returned as the SEC's top tackler.

In the biggest games, Brothers shines the brightest. He'll be all over the field Saturday.

Nate Brown

They aren't the best combination of receivers in the SEC by a long shot, but the Tigers have a sophomore tandem of Brown and J'Mon Moore who have the potential to break out.

Each has about the same number of catches (25 and 26, respectively) and they both have more than 300 yards. Brown has one more touchdown than his teammate, and they're both enjoying the more dropback style of Drew Lock.

With Tennessee's secondary issues, they've got to do a good job of shutting both these guys down. Brown is the biggest threat at 6'3", 205 pounds. Though he's a far cry from those huge, talented receivers coach Gary Pinkel employed just a couple of years ago, Brown still has plenty of physical ability.

The Vols must neutralize him.

Charles Harris

Death, taxes and defensive ends developed by Mizzou defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski.

Every year, the Tigers are going to have a really good one, and this season is no different. Sophomore Harris is tied with Texas A&M's Myles Garrett for the league lead with 17 tackles for a loss. He's also tied with teammate Walter Brady with seven sacks.

The bad news for the SEC is the redshirt sophomore already told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Dave Matter that he's not going to the NFL after this season.

"I’ve thought about it, but I feel like it’s not even a choice because I feel I’m obligated to stay," Harris said. "I feel like I owe the Mizzou fans, my Mizzou staff and team another year. I feel like I owe (injured defensive tackle) Harold Brantley…another year because I've never balled out with him."

The bad news for the Vols is they have to find a way to block him this weekend. Good luck.

What They're Saying

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

In quotes released by the University of Tennessee, senior tackle Kyler Kerbyson discussed following the North Texas win just how important these next two games against Mizzou and Vanderbilt are after getting bowl-eligible.

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It's huge. Vanderbilt is our rival so, we always want to win that game no matter what. And, Missouri has had our number for the past few years. We want to be able to get that monkey off our back. We aren't trying to play these games to get in a better bowl. We are trying to play these games to win. We don't want to lose. We aren't concentrated on what bowl we go to. We're concentrated on Missouri now, and that's it. One day at a time, one week at a time. Once we figure this out, we can move on to the next week. 

"

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Dave Matter relayed some very nice moments between the Missouri players and coach Gary Pinkel, who announced last week this would be his final season. The Tigers were able to celebrate with their coach following a win over 7-3 BYU that snapped a four-game skid.

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As his players interrupted Gary Pinkel's postgame interview on SEC Network, the producers wisely stayed with the scene—with no sound from sideline reporter Maria Taylor or the broadcast crew—and let the image tell the story. A wave of players, black and white, pulled away their 63-year-old coach, the soon-to-be former Mizzou coach, so they could finally celebrate. Among the first players to embrace Pinkel were safety Ian Simon and wideout J'Mon Moore, two of the leaders of last week’s player boycott that swept Mizzou into an unforgettable odyssey. Over the last seven days, a lot of people had a lot to say about race, protests, boycotts, hunger strikes, resignations, hashtags, cancer. All the uproar and unrest subsided for that moment as the players could finally exhale and dance with their coach.

The scene moved into the locker room at Arrowhead Stadium, captured by Mizzou Network’s cameras. Players gathered around Pinkel.

"Guys, what a week, huh? What a week," Pinkel told them. "Look what you did. Look what you did. You overcame all that stuff. Then yesterday, the things I was forced to do — I wanted to do Sunday but it got out and broke my heart. You focused through all of that crap. And you made a great statement. We’re a great team and we’re a great family. When things get tough and they were really friggin tough, we friggin’ battled. Every guy out there did. The offense did. The coaches did. The defense did. The kicking people did. Everybody did. That’s how you win big games like that. I’m proud as hell. I’m overwhelmed."

"

There's no doubt that Tennessee's offense is nowhere near as good when quarterback Joshua Dobbs can't run, and coach Butch Jones wasn't mincing words when asked about it following a lackluster performance against North Texas.

“Well, it takes an element out of your offense, make no mistake about it,” Jones told GoVols247's Wes Rucker. “But we have to be able to execute in the other phases.”

Prediction

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Tennessee is about to head into some very dangerous territory these next two weeks as its up-and-down offense gets ready to face two of the four best defenses it will play all season.

The Missouri Tigers are legit on that side of the ball, and Vanderbilt isn't too shabby, either.

But first thing's first: A night game in Columbia is never easy. Two seasons ago, Joshua Dobbs made his first career start, and the Vols were embarrassed 31-3 by a Tigers team that eventually played in the SEC Championship Game.

This isn't anywhere near as good of a team, but coach Gary Pinkel's team is still dangerous, in part because of him. Saturday will be the veteran coach's final home game at Faurot Field.

On top of all the emotions from the player boycott, the dramatic win at Arrowhead Stadium over BYU and everything else, this is a team that could bond together and play its best ball of the season.

Just when it looked like Tennessee found its sea legs and began to live up to the massive preseason hype, the Vols coasted a little too much after jumping out to an early lead over South Carolina and were fortunate to win. Then, they never woke up for the morning game against a bad North Texas team, coasting to a 24-0 victory.

The Vols can't do that anymore this season, and surely they know it. They need to respond to the moment and rise to the occasion with a chance to take a major step forward with a couple of wins to close the season.

Nothing about this game will be easy, but UT should survive and advance.

Prediction: Vols 23, Missouri 17