Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer delivered a simple message to his players Sunday night.

Beginning with the 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday against Vanderbilt in Neyland Stadium (TV: Pay-per-view), the No. 19 Volunteers need two wins to reach the SEC championship game for the first time since 2004.

And there really are just two choices.

"I just told them you can be smart or you can be stupid. You can be mature; you can be immature," Fulmer said. "It's very important that we're smart and we're mature about how we approach this."

Smart and mature means the Vols will prepare and maintain the focus they have during a three-game winning streak.

But this week, at least, the Vols will face a different challenge than the one they've grown used to.

This week, the Volunteers are supposed to win.

Across the board, Tennessee is double-digit favorite to beat the Commodores. With the exception of its homecoming game against Louisiana-Lafayette, Tennessee hasn't been the vogue pick.

In October, the Vols were supposedly no match for Georgia.

Tennessee won 35-14.

After a 41-17 loss to Alabama, South Carolina was supposed to end UT's championship hopes.

The Vols won 27-24 in overtime.

And last week, Arkansas was supposed to run all over the Vols and send Georgia or Florida to the title game.

The Vols won 34-13.

Tennessee has shown it can play the underdog.

But how will this team handle being the favorite?

"I think we will respond well because we know what's at stake," defensive tackle Dan Williams said. "A chance to go to the SEC championship is on the line so we're going to play our best."

Those championship hopes are a recurring theme from players and coaches.

Following Saturday's win, players talked about how the team's detractors - fans and media alike - have provided ample motivation to win.

But that's small-time compared to Tennessee's chance at its first SEC championship since 1998 and its first division crown since 2004.

"This is a championship caliber game," linebacker Rico McCoy said following UT's victory Saturday. "Every game from here on out is."

That includes Vanderbilt, which has beaten Tennessee once since 1982 and five times in the last 50 years.

"We've got to get wins to get where we want to be," McCoy says. "Vanderbilt is the most important game of the season. I guess we're going to keep stressing it. That's the next game we got to play. That's the only thing that's going to be on our minds."

Being smart means the Vols keep going with what works, too.

"We're playing solid, sound football right now. I think they understand and see the difference, even though there's some youth out there that every day's a challenge, every day's a thrill," Fulmer said. "Even in the game Saturday, there was two or three things that didn't hurt us but certainly could have.

"I think the leadership on this team understands what's at stake and they'll see that things get in line."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.