5 Big Things: To beat Ole Miss

1. Groove at The Grove: Though Tennessee and Ole Miss are charter members of the SEC, this is only the Vols' fourth visit to Oxford and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. They have a perfect record, with wins in 1951, 1988 and 2004. If you go, suck up to somebody who has a tailgate spot in The Grove and get your Hotty Toddy on.

2. Not No. 1: Tennessee's only two road games this season offered the Vols the motivational advantage of playing the No. 1-ranked team in the country. Ole Miss was once as high as No. 4 but the Rebels have long since plummeted out of the polls. Tennessee will have to find another reason to get jacked up today.

3. Find the End Zone: Tennessee has averaged 12.5 points in its two road games, scoring just one touchdown in each. That won't get the Vols in the "W" column today. Ole Miss allows only 15.8 points a game so Lane Kiffin and his offense have their work cut out for them.

4. Close Ranks and Focus: The Vols are dealing with their biggest distraction of the season and it's very fresh. On the field, Nu'Keese Richardson and Mike Edwards will barely be missed, if at all. Janzen Jackson, on the other hand, will be. But all three will be weighing on their teammates' minds if Kiffin and the team leaders don't intervene and send the right message.

5. Turn 'Em Over: Turnovers matter more to Tennessee than any team in the league. The Vols have scored 116 points after getting take-aways, 38 more than anyone else. That accounts for 40.1 percent of UT's scoring, a figure no one other SEC team approaches. Tennessee's 19 take-aways have led to 15 touchdowns and three field goals.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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