Rocky Top Roundtable: Missouri

Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 SEC) is back on the road this week to face Mizzou (7-2, 3-2) on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. The Tigers lost 30-21 to No. 1 Georgia on Saturday at Sanford Stadium in Athens while the Vols are coming off a 59-3 win over UConn on Homecoming. The staff at Volquest gathered around the Rocky Top Roundtable to discuss the matchup.

“Tennessee has had their number and has put up huge numbers offensively,” Brent Hubbs said. “Missouri has had a tough time stopping them. This is Missouri’s best team that Eli Drinkwitz has had. I think the pressure is on Missouri in this game but it’s certainly one that the Tigers are looking forward to.”

Tennessee will need to lean on the ground game as Jaylen Wright is second nationally, averaging 7.5 yards a carry. The North Carolina native has 826 yards on just 110 carries.

“In two games the last two years, Tennessee has combined for 722 rushing yards,” Eric Cain said. “That’s what Tennessee wants to do. The passing game has come along. Joe Milton is playing efficient. The receivers are coming but Tennessee has run the ball all year long so efficiently. The number one rushing offense in the SEC and I don’t see that changing.”

Tennessee is also pushing the ball down the field a lot more the last couple of games.

Defensively, they will have to find a way to get to the quarterback and get off the field on third downs. The Vols have been superb against the run. This fall, with three games left to play Tennessee boasts the top rushing defense in the SEC and ranks 13th nationally, surrendering 97 yards per game.

“You need to have that bend but don’t break mindset,” Cain said. “Brady Cook is having a great year. Luther Burden is having a great year. How do you stop it all? Well it all starts with the run. If you can limit the run then you can focus on the aerial stuff.”

Tennessee at Missouri: How To Watch

Kickoff Time: 3:30 Eastern Time

Location: Faurot Field (62,621)

TV: CBS

Radio: WIVK-FM 107.7 and WNML-FM 99.1 in Knoxville. The Vol Network radio broadcast (Bob Kesling – play-by-play – Pat Ryan, analyst – Brent Hubbs, analyst – Jayson Swain sideline) can be heard on local affiliates across the state of Tennessee.