NASHVILLE -- For Vanderbilt, history has a bad way of repeating itself.

In 2005, the Commodores played Kentucky needing a victory to remain bowl-eligible. In that game, Vandy had a school-record five-touchdown performance from receiver Earl Bennett, outgained Kentucky by a significant margin, yet lost through turnovers and poor special teams play.

Last Saturday, the Commodores (4-7, 1-6 SEC) were led by Bennett's 220 receiving yards. But they squandered 621 yards of total offense in losing 38-26 at Kentucky.

Two of four turnovers came inside the Kentucky 5, two missed field goals and an extra point and a fumbled punt in Commodores territory played a huge part in the loss. And the loss denied Vandy a shot at a bowl game.

Now the Commodores are left hoping some of last year's history repeats itself today against instate rival Tennessee (7-3, 3-3). Vanderbilt snapped a 22-game losing streak against the Vols with a 28-24 win in Knoxville last season.

"We're making it our bowl game," fifth-year senior offensive lineman Mac Pyle said. "It's a chance to play a Top 25 opponent. That's basically what you're going to get in a bowl game, anyway."

Last year, the Commodores won with SEC player of the year Jay Cutler and Bennett. Cutler threw for 315 yards, including 167 to Bennett. Cutler's last throw went for a game-winning touchdown to Bennett with 1:11 remaining.

This year, Bennett leads the nation with 1,130 yards receiving, and he is catching passes from Chris Nickson, whose statistics are beginning to resemble Cutler's. In the last three games, he's thrown for 994 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 236 yards and five more TDs.

Meanwhile, the Commodores didn't learn until Thursday that Tennessee will start Erik Ainge, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton started last week.

"I think coach (Phillip) Fulmer's going to call me at 12:30 and tell me (who's starting at quarterback)," cracked Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson on Monday. "They've got two of them, and we've got to prepare for two of them."

Brentwood native and fifth-year senior Ben Koger, who may play today for the first time in weeks, said the game has meaning for both programs.

"I think (another Vanderbilt win) would go a long way in building this program. It makes statements about how far we've come," said Koger.

"Growing up around here, it's always been a big game more so for Vanderbilt fans than for Tennessee fans, but I think that's starting to change. Obviously after last year, there's going to be a lot of people who want Tennessee to make a statement against us."

Kovalcheck Sitting: Richard Kovalcheck once turned down an opportunity to play for the Vols.

If today progresses in the same manner as 9 of the past 11 weekends have, he won't get to play against the Vols, either.

A highly recruited quarterback out of Southern California's prep ranks, Kovalcheck spent three years at Arizona before transferring this spring to Vanderbilt in hopes of reviving his career.

"It's not what I had planned, no," he told The Tennessean of this fall in which he has completed 9-of-13 passes for 51 yards in two fourth-quarter appearances. Kovalcheck has one year of eligibility after this season.

A starter in parts of two years at Arizona, Kovalcheck was coveted by Vandy coaches for his collegiate experience.

Once he decided to leave Arizona, Kovalcheck communicated with only one other school -- I-AA Massachusetts -- before settling on Vandy and taking advantage of a new rule giving immediate eligibility to graduate students.

Though he's pursuing his master's degree in the Owen School of Management, the experience hasn't been what he hoped.

"I'm getting a great education, but I came here for football," he said.