Preview: Tennessee vs. Arkansas

Arkansas @ Tennessee 

Game Rating: 4*- Obviously its a five star game for Tennessee Vols fans because every game from here on out is a playoff scenario. This is also a huge game for any SEC East team’s fan because if Tennessee loses it opens the door for pretty much any other team. Plus, there is that McFadden guy playing.

What to Watch- The Running Game- The game will be decided by our ability to stop the run, and run the football effectively. The fact is if Tennessee can step up and stop the run, and by stop I mean keep DMac and Jones under 200 yards, we should win this game. But lets be honest, thats about as likely as Josh McNeil watching the end of “The Notebook” without crying. Its not going to happen. That means our running game has to step up. I’m anxious to see how the Foster and Creer combination plays out, and Hardesty for that matter if he gets on the field (I still won’t let that go). That power and speed combo should be tough to stop. If Tennessee is able to run the football effectively it will keep DMac on the sidelines, which is where he needs to be if we want to win this game.

Who to Watch- Darren McFadden- Anytime you watch the Arkansas Razorbacks you watch Darren McFadden. He is the best quarterback, running back, and arguably the best reciever (if he could throw it to himself, which I heard Nutt is working on) on the team. Heck, he’s even entertaining off the field.

Felix Jones- We’ve made significant improvements on our special teams coverage, since the “Big Orange Smoothie” game in Gainesville. However, we haven’t had to go up against a good return man since then, outside of Javier Arenas who had one kick return for 62 yards. This week we will definitely be tested by possibly the best return man in the SEC.

Tennessee’s Freshmen- Eric Berry may be having to make touchdown-saving tackles on DMac all day,  Gerald Jones may line up at quarterback to give Arkansas a taste of their own medicine, Lennon Creer will provide a spark in the backfield, and may be better than Coker at doing that already, and Dennis Rogan and Brent Vinson may have to go man-man if Chavis wakes up and realizes that the zone isn’t going to work against Arkansas (or any other team this season).

Me- Yes thats right I’ll be attending the game this weekend, so if you want to catch a glimpse of VTTW himself, I’ll be the guy running onto the field in an attempt to murder John Chavis because he refused to get out of the zone defense.

Who Will Win- I don’t want to do this, but I feel like its time. I know if Tennessee wins this game all the players will come out and do that “us against the world” thing because everyone doubted them being able to win out, and I will be included in the “world.” However, I would be kidding myself to say I think we will win this game. I’ve picked the Vols all year, every game, but in this one I have to pick the Razorbacks. Nope, can’t do it. We can’t stop McFadden, and Jones for that matter, but the Vols will find a way to win, in a shootout similar to this year’s Alabama/Arkansas game.

Heading to Atlanta

TSIB Top 25

With the addition of our newest poster, TideFanInTN to the ensemble, we’re up to nine bloggers on staff. Four Tide fans, four Vols, and one militant UGA fan. So at least our bias towards our respective teams in our poll should be cancelled out by each other. Overall, I think our poll looks pretty good, although I think some voters punished Bama a little too hard for losing to the team they ranked #1 by seven in the closing minutes, but, like Ghost, I’m a homer. Only one pollster dubbed the unbeaten Buckeyes #1. SEC bias, or actually watching the games, looking at the schedules, and listening to Gobble Thunder? As always, here are the individual ballots.

Top 25 - Week 10

1.  LSU (4)    0.973
2.  Oregon (4)    0.956
3.  Ohio State (1)    0.938
4.  Oklahoma     0.889
5.  Kansas     0.831
6.  West Virginia     0.796
7.  Missouri     0.769
8.  Arizona State     0.698
9.  Georgia     0.671
10. Boston College     0.667
11. Virginia Tech     0.564
12. Michigan     0.524
13. Connecticut     0.502
14. USC     0.493
15. Texas     0.449
16. Florida     0.404
17. Auburn     0.369
18. Hawaii     0.262
19. Clemson      0.249
20. Boise State     0.231
21. Alabama     0.227
22. Tennessee     0.151
23. California      0.147
24. Arkansas      0.093
25. Tie: Kentucky, Florida State     0.062

Others receiving votes: Virginia, Penn State, Cincinnati

Megan Fox’s Goodies

We needed a good pitch person to promote our links when we provide them for you guys, so I could think of no better than the best looking woman in film.

The Ghost called her (she owes me), and she agreed to lend her name and image to the hodge-podge of links. So, enjoy.

***

Pick your jaw up off the ground.

Darren McFadden played virtually the entire game against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earlier this season (after he was apparently healthy) and he only had 124 rushing yards.

I’ve seen the 2-7 Mocs defense play. They’re only marginally better than the Vols. So, maybe we’ll be OK. It’s a stretch, I know. Now, on to the links.

Rocky Top Talk had a good breakdown on UT and McFadden earlier this week. The results aren’t pretty, but then again, I think most every Vols fan thinks it’s a stretch we win this week. Joel’s breakdown tops off a list of links for today.

Bruce Pearl is a miracle worker. There have been many great stories about the newest reincarnation of P.T. Barnum, but Chris Low’s from ESPN.com is one of the best.

Yes, it’s still football season, but this year should be fun for UT basketball. And there’s nothing better than seeing Bama lose in football and Kentucky lose in basketball, especially a blowout loss to Gardner-Webb. Here are a couple of fun links about Big Blue’s loss to the preseason eighth-best team in the A-Sun, a game they trailed 14-0 at the jump.

A comparison of Gardner-Webb and Appy State by Forde on the ‘Cats from ESPN

Several funny nuggets from our friends at A Sea of Blue

A good piece from the Chattanooga Times Free Press recounting how the fumbles haven’t gone UT’s way since Stoerner ‘98.

Scarface has an opinion on Tommy Tuberville.

One more link: It seems the greatest show on TV (not named Friday Night Lights, which is in it’s on ratings hell) is in trouble.

(And, yes, I know my name’s at the top, but I still like putting it at the bottom, too. Get used to it.)

Ghost of Neyland