Vols expect big play from mismatched Tigers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin went through the record books to get familiar with the Memphis series.

What he saw were a bunch of close games in the interstate rivalry, including a big Tigers win over a Volunteers team led by Peyton Manning.

"We know they're going to come to play, I'd imagine (this is) their biggest game of the season for them with a bunch of Tennessee kids on their roster," Kiffin said.

For a Memphis team that's struggled all season, any win would be big. A win over Tennessee? That would probably get the Tigers (2-6) over their hump.

Memphis has won only once in the series — the victory over the Manning-led sixth-ranked Vols in 1996 — but have never taken a game in Knoxville.

"This is a game that we can just go lay it on the line since nobody expects us to win," Tigers coach Tommy West said. "It would be huge to go up there and win. I have to get our team better, and I think that is the most important thing right now."

Not much has gone right for the Tigers this season. They've been riddled with injuries, including sophomore quarterback Tyler Bass's torn labrum that required season-ending surgery.

They've struggled with turnovers and the rushing game — both running the ball on offense and stopping the run on defense.

"I have been a head coach 15 years and I have never had a year quite like this," West said.

Memphis has one major weapon that the Vols (4-4) can't compete with. The receiver tandem of 6-foot-4 Duke Calhoun and 6-foot-9 Carlos Singleton have combined for 41 touchdowns this season.

Calhoun notched a three-game streak of 100+ yards receiving in the middle of the season, including a season-high 174 yards against Tennessee-Martin. Singleton had a season-high 105 yards against Texas-El Paso.

They also haven't seen a defense quite as good as Tennessee's. The Vols rank 13th in defense in the nation, with pass defense as their strength.

"If you go up for the ball make sure you come down with it and they don't. That's the biggest thing," Tennessee safety Eric Berry said.

Tennessee hasn't faced a defense that has struggled as much as Memphis since their 63-7 rout of Western Kentucky in the opening game of the season. The Tigers rank 100th in the nation in giving up an average 416.5 yards and 30.4 points per game.

On paper, it should be a homecoming Vols blowout like their last meeting with Memphis in 2006, a 41-7 win by Tennessee. But there are enough games in the past 10 years with a margin of victory of less than 10 points for Kiffin to know better.

To keep the Vols from facing an emotional letdown after a month that included games against Auburn, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, Kiffin opened up a number of positions this week to competition.

Cory Sullins and Vladimir Richard are competing for the left offensive guard spot; Ben Martin and Gerald Williams have been rotating at defensive end and Prentiss Wagner and Darren Miles appear to be in contention for replacing safety Janzen Jackson, who may be suspended against Memphis.

Tennessee also is replacing its second middle linebacker this season after Savion Frazier tore a knee ligament last week against South Carolina, requiring season-ending surgery. Herman Lathers and Nigel Mitchell-Thornton are expected to split time at the position.

"You create so much competition on your field, and you keep that competition open all the time — that's how you become really good in November because you're bringing your guys along, and they understand you can't sit around," Kiffin said.

"If you're not doing things right, someone's there to take your place. I don't think it's very hard," he said