FACTS & STATS: Site: Vanderbilt Stadium (41,448) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: Local. Home Record: Tennessee 3-3, Vanderbilt 3-2. Away Record: Tennessee 0-4, Vanderbilt 3-2. Neutral Record: Tennessee 0-0, Vanderbilt 0-0. Conference Record: Tennessee 1-5, Vanderbilt 4-3. Series Record: Tennessee leads, 69-28-5.

GAME NOTES: SEC and state rivals will do battle in Nashville on Saturday, as the surprising Vanderbilt Commodores play host to the disappointing Tennessee Volunteers. It is hard to believe that Vandy is bowl eligible and Tennessee is not, but that is indeed the case. Phil Fulmer recently announced that he will not be back to coach the Vols next season, ending a long and successful era for the program. This 2008 campaign has been one to forget, however, as Tennessee is a woeful 3-7 overall and 1-5 in league play. The squad has lost its last three outings, including a 13-7 Homecoming setback to Wyoming two weeks ago in the most recent contest. As for Vanderbilt, it is eligible for the postseason for the first time since 1982. The Commodores, who won their first five games this season, endured four consecutive losses, including a pair of three-point setbacks. Fortunately, they were able to halt that slide last weekend with a 31-24 decision over Kentucky on the road. Tennessee owns a commanding 69-28-5 series lead over Vanderbilt, including a 25-24 triumph over the Commodores last season.

The fact that Tennessee has been held to fewer than 10 points in three straight outings is simply staggering. The Vols, who are scoring 16.0 ppg this season, are generating a lowly 267.1 total ypg. They are only rushing for 3.4 ypc and have just as many passing touchdowns (seven) as interceptions. The team has made good on only 34 percent of its third down conversion attempts and 25 percent of its fourth down tries. Nick Stephens took over recently as the team's starting quarterback, and the big sophomore completed only 48.5 percent of his passes for 840 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. This weekend, however, Jonathan Crompton is expected to be under center to start the game. Lucas Taylor and Gerald Jones are tied for the team lead with 26 receptions apiece, and Jones has scored four times. Taylor is listed as questionable this weekend with a shoulder injury. As for the ground attack, Arian Foster is tops with 458 yards, but he has been limited with injuries this season and has fallen well short of expectations. The only touchdown scored by Tennessee against Wyoming last time out came in the third quarter on an eight-yard pass from Crompton to Jones. Stephens was intercepted twice in that tilt, including one pick that was returned for a touchdown, and those poor decisions help explain the reason for the quarterback change this weekend. The Vols finished that Homecoming game with 219 total yards.

Opponents are scoring 18.1 ppg against Tennessee, which continues to play solid defense despite the woeful performance of the offense. The Vols are limiting foes to 275.6 total ypg, and the team has been strong against both the run and the pass. To be more specific, opponents are gaining just three yards per rushing attempt and have 15 interceptions with only eight passing touchdowns against Tennessee. Eric Berry, who is one of the nation's elite defenders, has intercepted six passes this season, but even his greatness has not been enough to prevent the losses from piling up. Robert Ayers has been solid as well, racking up 11.5 TFLs for the Vols. Against Wyoming, Tennessee allowed only 266 total yards, and the lone touchdown scored by the Cowboy offense came on a one-play, four-yard drive.

Vanderbilt opened the season with Chris Nickson at quarterback, and Mackenzie Adams eventually took over as the team's starter. Luckily for the Commodores, Nickson has regained his job, and he made the most of his opportunity against Kentucky last weekend. Nickson threw three first-half touchdown passes to lead his team to victory. What was most impressive was that the first two scoring passes were hauled in by DJ Moore, the team's star defender who was asked to contribute on offense. Nickson connected on 15-of-27 passes for 155 yards and did not throw an interceptions. Equally important was the fact that he was able to rush for 118 yards on 20 attempts. Vanderbilt is averaging 21.3 ppg this season and has mastered the art of winning ugly. The team is making good on a modest 36 percent of its third down conversion attempts. Nickson, who has thrown eight touchdowns against three interceptions, has rushed for 469 yards and six scores. As for Jared Hawkins, the team's top tailback, he has 571 yards and four touchdowns to his credit. Hawkins has also scored once as a receiver.

Although Kentucky did score 24 points against Vanderbilt last weekend, the Commodore defense played much better than that figure suggests. The Wildcats scored on a blocked field goal return, and one of their other two touchdowns capped a four-play, 12-yard drive. Vandy limited Kentucky to 1-of-10 success on third down conversion attempts and a time of possession of under 21 minutes. The Commodores yielded just 241 total yards in the clash, including 97 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Moore was sensational on defense as well, intercepting two passes to complement his two receiving touchdowns. Opponents are generating just 19.8 ppg against Vandy, which is yielding fewer than four yards per rushing attempt. The pass defense has given up some big plays, but 16 interceptions have certainly helped the cause. Myron Lewis has registered five sacks and three interceptions, proof of his versatility, and Moore has six interceptions to his credit.

It is hard to pick Tennessee to win any game right now regardless of the opposition, especially after seeing the miserable effort that the club put forth against Wyoming last time out. Give an edge to the Commodores, who will win ugly once again.