It's been years since there has been this important of a Tennessee-Kentucky game. Both teams are above .500, which is unusual this late in the season, and both realistically have a shot to sneak into the SEC Championship game on December 3rd.

With Kentucky and Tennessee praying for Florida to close out the season with multiple SEC losses, the East is up for grabs with three games remaining.

GAME INFO:

At Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, TN) at 12 p.m. ET on  

SPREAD: Vols -14 OVER/UNDER: 60

PREVIOUS WEEK:

(6-3) win vs Tennessee Tech 55-0

(5-4) loss to Georgia  27-24

IMPACT PLAYERS:

QB Josh Dobbs, Sr. – 145/246 passing, 1,869 yards, 18 TDs, 323 yards rushing, 5 TDs

RB Alvin Kamara, Jr. – 64 rushes, 313 yards (4.9 yd/car) 3 TDs, 22 rec, 216 yards, 3 TDs

DE Derek Barnet, Jr. – 9 sacks (tied for 1st in NCAA), 14.5 tackles for loss, 37 total tackles 

QB Stephen Johnson, Jr. – 93/166 passing, 1,231 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs, 1 rushing TDs

RB Stanley 'Boom' Williams, So, – 123 carries, 898 yards rushing, 4 TDs

RB Benny Snell Jr, Fr. -139 carries, 775 yards rushing, 10 TDs

HOW  

 WINS:

Avoid turning the football over and use their speed…

The Jalen Hurd situation is in the rearview and the Vols may end up being better because of his exit. That's because, Mike DeBord wants his offense to run fast. Josh Dobbs needs to be in position to either force defenders to chase him or put the football in the hands of his playmakers.

Alvin Kamara is that playmaker. Making his return from a knee injury suffered against Texas A&M, his dynamic ability out of the backfield is the key to putting points on the board. This offense got back on track against Tennessee Tech and more than anything, it regained it's confidence with the 55-0 victory.

The main key will be protecting the football, though. Dobbs has to avoid throwing interceptions and giving Kentucky good field position. He's good for about one or two questionable throws per game. That has to be eliminated.

Defensively, Derek Barnett needs just 3 sacks to tie Reggie White's all-time school record. The Vols pass rusher will be coming hard at Kentucky's QB Stephen Johnson. If he can disrupt the flow of the Cats signal caller, Tennessee will be in good shape. 

HOW

 WINS:

Run the football & get the lead early…

Kentucky can really take advantage of Tennessee's inability to start fast. If the Cats can mount an early lead, that will do two things. First, take the Neyland crowd out of the game and second, allow them to do what they do best and that's run the football.

The two headed monster of Stanley 'Boom' Williams and Benny Snell have single handedly kept Kentucky's SEC East hopes alive. Williams set the UK record for yards per carry last season, with 7.1. This year, he's already averaging 7.4. With 10 touchdowns already on the year, Snell is the touchdown back. This running game takes the pressure off of quarterback Stephen Johnson.

Coach Mark Stoops hasn't asked too much of his quarterback this year. Johnson throws the ball around 20 times per game and takes at least one shot down the field per game. Those big plays could be the difference maker for UK.

A must win for both teams, but Kentucky would shock the world if they're sitting in first place in the East at seasons end.