Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has sold his players on the notion that a marquee team is coming to Neyland Stadium.

All week, the Vols' have been talking up the Fighting Irish as if they were actually old enough to appreciate what Notre Dame accomplished in the 1970s and 1980s.

That extra attention, and the added motivation of scoring an impressive win before finishing the season with vulnerable Vandy and creampuff Kentucky, figures to bode well.

Sometimes it seems as if Tennessee gets bored with weaker competition and plays down to the opposition's level. This year, it's a little different because of the Vols' youth. Many UT players are making their first start against these various schools and don't have reason to believe they'll win because of the 'T' on the helmet. Also, many of the players are fighting to defend or win positions.

The biggest difference in Fulmer this year is his willingness to play more young players and shake things up.

About The Game

The scariest statistic I've seen isn't Notre Dame's seven-game win streak on CBS games. That's a fluke.

No, it's the Irish's 23-2 record after a bye week. The Irish's academic standards are tougher than most any other Division I program. That means there are a lot of smart guys who can actually make that extra week of preparation matter.

Given the limited offense Tennessee runs, that could spell trouble. Just one thing: Notre Dame's pass defense is horrid. If young Erik Ainge plays up to his potential - and he strikes me as a big-game player - the Vols' pass attack should be effective. Even moreso if Cedric Houston stays hot. Houston has been a streaky player, but that's not all his fault.

He was benched as a freshman while Fulmer tried to show America he could pound the rock with 190-pound jitterbug Travis Stephens, and he grew rusty on account of it. Houston's sophomore and junior season, when he wasn't sidelined by nagging injuries, he was caught up in a running-back-by-committee rotation that never really benefited him. The more Houston we see Saturday, the better off UT will be. Gerald Riggs is banged up, and G-Riggs has yet to show he can play through injuries. Don't forget, he's another guy that sat around two years without many opportunities and he's just now getting in a groove.

Defense

It's hard not to be impressed by Kevin Burnett's play and attitude. He fell off the map a bit last season while playing his way back from a knee injury. Burnett looks better to me than he ever has, and that's a tribute to his hard work and attitude. The defensive line has stepped up and shouldn't have any trouble handling the Notre Dame offensive line no matter how "athletic'' they are supposed to be. The Irish are not going to beat UT with athleticism. Instead, it will need a few tricks up its sleeve.

If there's a problem spot for the Vols, it's strong safety, where Robert Boulware has emerged from the doghouse to get his first career start. Boulware was supposed to be a big deal cornerback when UT signed him out of Charlotte, but so far he has been a bust on the football field after opting out of spring practices to run track. This is Boulware's big chance.

In Closing

If Tennessee doesn't win this game by more than 10 points, I'll be surprised. I know this will be the team's eighth straight week of playing, but many players are coming back from injuries, such as Michael Munoz (out last week with a concussion), Cody Douglas (saw limited action after missing a couple weeks with a sprained foot) and defensive end Jared Hostetter (his reps at end allow Turk McBride to play more inside at tackle).

Sit back, enjoy the game, and expect Tennessee to put on a show.