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What to know after Tennessee Football’s win

By Colton Pickard

Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) runs for a first down during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) runs for a first down during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee Football won its third game of the season and avoided dropping its sixth straight game of the season with a 42-17 win over Vanderbilt.

Ten weeks after Tennessee football’s second win of the season, the Vols finally get their third win of the year. After a rough start, the Vols were able to block Vanderbilt’s early momentum and create some momentum for themselves.

Harrison Bailey looked much better in his second start of the season. He threw for 207 yards and completed 14 of his 18 passes. Velus Jones Jr. showed he could be a weapon in the receiving corps as he caught seven passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Jeremy Pruitt rotated quarterbacks throughout the game again this week, as expected. J.T. Shrout battled it out with Bailey in what’s expected to be a long quarterback battle for the starting job for the 2021 season. Shrout went 6-for-13 for 90 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Bailey had the better game this week after Shrout showed out last Saturday against Florida. I expected one of the two quarterbacks to take advantage of the Vanderbilt defense to improve from last week, and it looks like Bailey was able to do exactly that.

I expect to see both quarterbacks again next week when the Vols face the Texas A&M Aggies. The quarterback battle might even add enough competition between the two quarterbacks to make the Tennessee offense competitive against the Aggies.

The Aggies are currently ranked No. 5 in the country and will look to finish the season with a win and an Alabama loss in the SEC Championship Game for a chance to make the first College Football Playoff in school history.

For Tennessee, the Vols will be looking to win its fourth game of the season in hopes of getting a bowl bid. The Vols won’t be going to a prestigious bowl this year with a record of 4-6 to 3-7; I’d be surprised if they go to a bowl at all.

The coaching staff is acting like the Vols will get a bowl bid, regardless of their record. The Vols coaching staff has also said they won’t take a bowl bonus if the Vols do go to a bowl game, which they shouldn’t.

After being the only two coaches to take a pay cut to help the university earlier this season, running backs coach Jay Graham and receivers coach Tee Martin should be the only coaches to have the option to accept a bowl bonus. Since both position groups have excelled this season, they both deserve the bonus. The other coaches, on the other hand, not so much.

I’ve already seen some people predict a wild game next week against Texas A&M, and after watching LSU beat Florida, I think it’s possible. As of right now, I don’t know how possible, but it could be done. The coaching staff is going to have to coach their best game of the season if the Vols want to beat the Aggies.

Tennessee Titans defense will face another unique challenge. dark. Next

The Vols now sit at 3-6 and will look to win its fourth game of the season and the second game in a row when the Vols face Texas A&M this Saturday.

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