Tennessee football hosts Auburn looking to pick up its first SEC win.
Tennessee football is in search of its first SEC win.
The Vols (3-1, 0-1 SEC) host Auburn (3-1, 1-1) at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, seeking to pick up their first conference win against a team with a lot of familiarity. Here's a look at five keys to the game for UT to pull out a win.
1. Win the line of scrimmage on offense. Tennessee's offensive line has to play better if it wants to find consistent success in the SEC. Losing Wendell Moe for the season will make things even more complicated for an offensive line that's looking for improvement. The unit gave up 10 sacks against Texas. Granted, the Longhorns have one of the best defensive lines in the country, but 10 sacks is not a winning strategy. Sham Umarov was listed as questionable, and the unit seems to be in flux aside from Sam Pendleton at center and David Sanders at left tackle — though Pendleton is capable of playing guard as well.
2. Set Faizon Brandon up for success. Freshman quarterback Brandon had a rough showing against Texas, partly because of his offensive line's inconsistency, but also because of some of the play calling. UT went away from its screen game — only calling two true screens over the course of the game — but long developing plays put a lot of pressure on the 18-year-old to make tough decisions. The five-star suffered his first loss on Saturday since sophomore year of high school, so seeing how he responds will be key.
3. Establish the run game. Building off No. 2, getting a consistent run game for Brandon will go a long way in lightening the load. The Vols' offense is built off their rushing attack, which was nearly nonexistent against Texas, as it went for 70 yards on 44 attempts. Saturday, especially with potential rain in the forecast, offers a nice bounce-back opportunity on the ground.
4. Defense stays hot. Tennessee's defense through four games has been impressive. The Vols are top-10 nationally in team tackles for loss and lead the nation in team tackles for sacks. The unit held Texas to 20 points and 262 yards of total offense while racking up six sacks. The defense under Jim Knowles has impressed and needs to stay hot as UT continues through the conference slate.
5. Don't let Auburn hang around. The Tigers, especially under head coach Alex Golesh, have enough firepower to win SEC games. UT should be able to run away with the game if it takes care of business.
