College football rivalries are often the most physical games of the season, and Saturday’s Tennessee-Vanderbilt matchup has proven to be a good example of that.
The No. 8 Volunteers (9-2) need a win against their in-state rivals to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race. With the SEC championship out of reach, a loss could mean the end of those hopes for Tennessee if the Commodores prevail in Nashville.
Vanderbilt (6-5) entered the game listed as 9.5-point underdogs ( ESPN BET ). Led by star quarterback Diego Pavia and head coach Clark Lea, the Commodores have pulled the upset several times this season with wins over then No. 1 Alabama, Kentucky and Auburn.
On the other side, freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is tasked with leading Josh Heupel’s offense for the Vols. And Iamaleava faced a tough situation early in the game after Vanderbilt took a 17-7 lead in the first quarter.
After throwing an interception, the former five-star engineered two straight scoring drives to tie the game. The Vols got the ball back quickly and, with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, began a go-ahead drive.