Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has spent the past week preaching to his Vols.

His message: Focus, focus, focus.

"It's always a tough battle anytime you deal with border state rivals,'' Fulmer said. "Kentucky is a dangerous football team.''

Fulmer's words might have rung hollow had Vanderbilt not provided the Vols (8-2, 6-1 SEC) with a scare last Saturday before falling 38-33 in Nashville.

Fulmer said he expects his defensive unit, which gave up 33 points and 420 yards, to show up at Neyland Stadium on Saturday against Kentucky (2-8, 1-6) with a hungry attitude.

"We did play hard, but we didn't play with the intensity and passion we needed to play with,'' Fulmer said. "The defense has matured and they should be PO'ed.''

Vols On Offense: UT will see a 3-4 defensive alignment for the first time since the season opener against UNLV. The three-down-linemen, four-linebacker look creates confusion, making it difficult for linemen to predict which linebacker will pass rush. The 3-4 also lends itself to coverages that blanket many of the underneath routes.

UT managed only 270 total yards against Kentucky last season and had to rally for a 20-7 victory.

"Playing Kentucky's defense will be challenging,'' UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said. "They'll challenge you physically and mentally. Nobody has just lined up and blown them out.''

Sanders said statistics and final scores are misleading.

"Florida was only up on them 13-3 late in the fourth quarter, and South Carolina only won 12-7,'' he said. "A few teams have just managed to pop some big plays.''

Look for the Vols to try to do the same. UT will try to beat Kentucky's man coverage with deep passes while mixing in draws and screens.

Projected Stats: Rick Clausen 15-of-27, 240 yards, three TDs; UT run game, 36 carries, 215 yards, two touchdowns.

Vols On Defense: Coordinator John Chavis took note that Kentucky scored 14 fourth-quarter points to rally for a win against Vanderbilt.

"They can do some things to hurt you,'' Chavis said. "We're going to have to tackle better this week.''

Wildcats' senior quarterback Shane Boyd (6-2, 228) is a good runner. Boyd often uses opponents' aggressiveness against them, running a trap draw after faking a handoff to a tailback out of the shotgun formation.

Redshirt freshman Andre Woodson is a better passer, as evidenced by his 17-for-26, 206-yard performance against Georgia.

UT plans to pay plenty of attention to UK receiver Glenn Holt (6-2, 195) regardless of who's at quarterback.

"He's got hands, speed and runs good routes,'' Chavis said. "He's the whole package.''

Projected Stats: Boyd 9-for-16 passing, 110 yards; Woodson 15-for-31, 210 yards; Holt five catches, 64 yards; UT two interceptions.

Players To Watch: UT tailbacks Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs are competing for carries; Kentucky defensive end Sweet Pea Burns is healthier than ever after an off week and expects to get his first sack after an injury-plagued year.

On The Spot: UT cornerback Jonathan Wade wants to prove he can handle the starting job with Roshaun Fellows limited.

Prediction: Tennessee 38, Kentucky 10.