Tennessee begins a critical final stretch of the season against Missouri on Saturday.
The No. 13 Vols (7-2, 3-2 SEC) play against the No. 14 Tigers (7-2, 3-2) at Memorial Stadium in Columbia at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS with its SEC Eastern Division goals still within reach, though they will need some help in game elsewhere in the conference.
Beating Missouri will require Tennessee to continue the balance it has shown offensively over the last three weeks while its defense will look to slow down a Tigers offense that has been one of the best in the league through nine games.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel talked about that and more on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday.
Here is everything he said.
Missouri) is a really good football team that we’re getting getting ready to play this week in Columbia, Missouri. I know it’s going to be a really good atmosphere there. (We’ve) been really pointed with our players, understanding the challenge that we have this week. You look at what they’re doing in all three phases of the football game, they play complimentary football. They’ve won a lot of different ways. Their special teams have made a difference in football games. Offensively, they’ve got dynamic play-makers out on the perimeter. The quarterback (Brady Cook) is playing as well as anybody. He’s doing that in the pass game and he’s used quite a bit in the run game. He’s dynamic with his feet as well and their offensive line does a tremendous job of one, creating seems for them but opening up run game as well. So, defensively, you look at them statistically, they’ve played extremely well against the run. They’re forcing people into a lot of third-and-long situations. They’ve been able to get home and effect the quarterback, sack the quarterback in those types of situations. It will be a huge test for us this week. We’ve had really good practice and preparation up until this point. It will be critical that we continue to prepare the right way, understanding the quality of opponent that we have this week.”
