NASHVILLE -- No letdowns.

That's the goal for Tennessee's football team in the final weeks of the 2006 season.

After suffering back-to-back losses against LSU and Arkansas, the Vols' record went from 7-1 to 7-3.

They dropped from No. 11 to No. 22 in The Associated Press poll and out of the BCS picture.

Another letdown now would be unacceptable.

At least that's how linebacker Jerod Mayo sees it.

"If we lose one of these games, it's going to play to the mindset of we're going to be down for this offseason," Mayo said. "I don't want to have that feeling. I want to go into the offseason with the foundation that we're going to come back next year and go undefeated. That's what we're trying to do."

The first step for a pleasant finish begins today against Vanderbilt (TV: WVLT, 12:30 p.m.).

The Commodores (4-7, 1-6 SEC) have plenty to play for, too, despite being ineligible for a postseason bowl game.

After downing the Vols last year in Knoxville, Vandy still has a chance for its first back-to-back victories against its in-state rival for the first time since 1925 and 1926.

How's that for motivation?

"I think it helps," Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. "Your players get fired up during the week, they practice harder and they practice better. You don't come in the dressing room and all of a sudden say, 'My gosh we are playing Tennessee, I am going to play well today.' Doesn't happen."

What the Vols hope -- and need -- to happen today is a return to the offensive success it enjoyed earlier this season.

Through its first eight games, the Vols averaged 401.6 yards of total offense, the last two they've averaged only 257 yards.

Tennessee will get a boost from the return of Erik Ainge at quarterback, after the junior missed all but the first three series against LSU and all of last week's game at Arkansas with an injured right ankle.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Ainge was "right at 100 percent" on Thursday.

That's just about where the Vols' offense is, too, after fighting through its share of injuries this season.

Tailback LaMarcus Coker returned last week and appears to be close to fully healthy after suffering a knee injury against Alabama on Oct. 21.

That's the last time Tennessee had all of its offensive weapons available at the same time.

"That's probably a big factor of why offensively our production has been down recently," offensive guard David Ligon said. "I think it's very important to have everybody out there."

It's also important that the Vols find a way to contain a running quarterback for the first time this season.

"When you have a mobile quarterback, you have to keep the pocket and the lanes collapsed at all times," Mayo said. "Sometimes one person gets of out his lane and it just opens up and the quarterback can take off."

That's what happened with South Carolina's Syvelle Newton and LSU's Jamarcus Russell, who tallied a total of 156 yards rushing between them.

Vandy quarterback Chris Nickson is the Commodores' leading rusher with 650 yards this season. He averages 59.1 yards per game and nine touchdowns.

He's also completed 55.8 percent of his passes for 1,988 yards and 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

Last week Nickson went wild in a 38-26 loss to Kentucky, throwing for 446 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 71 yards and a pair of scores.

"He's a real good quarterback," Mayo said. "But we've faced many mobile quarterbacks this season. We'll be prepared this week."

And motivated.

At the top of the list is getting back in the win column after a last-second loss to LSU and a blowout at Arkansas.

There's the added incentive of exacting revenge for last year's loss, which ended Tennessee's 22-game winning streak against the Commodores.

And of course, that momentum for the offseason.

"We still have a chance for a 10-win season, if we win these next two and our bowl game," center Josh McNeil said. "That's 10 wins. Remember back at the beginning of the season, I don't think anyone would have said we'd win 10 games.

"There's a whole lot to fight for -- good bowl games, pride -- there's a bunch to play for still."

Tennessee: Probable -- QB Erik Ainge (right ankle), RB LaMarcus Coker (left knee) , LB Marvin Mitchell (shoulder), Guard David Ligon (elbow), WR Robert Meachem (ankle), WR Austin Rogers (shoulder); Questionable -- Center Josh McNeil (ankle); Out -- Antonio Reynolds (sprained neck), Safety Antonio Wardlow (suspension).

Vanderbilt: Questionable -- Guard Brian Stamper (hamstring); Out -- CB Sean Dixon (broken wrist), TE Steven Bright (fractured fibula), Safety Ben Koger (right fibula), TB Jeff Jennings (ACL tear).