This week has been the most hectic, dramatic week of Tennessee's football history, which didn't include a coaching change.

Prized running back Jalen Hurd is transferring. The ultimate he said, she said, he said back and forth leaves no one knowing, for sure, exactly what happened on the sidelines at Georgia that seem to have ramped this story up.

Regardless, the Vols (5-3) have four games left on the schedule, and the game against Tennessee Tech (3-5) is the second most important for UT this weekend. Tennessee still has a shot to win the SEC East, with hopeful help from Arkansas & LSU for beating Florida. The Gators travel to Arkansas Saturday, and the near simultaneous 3:30pm ET kickoff will have Vol fans checking in, often.

GAME INFO:

At Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, TN) at 4 p.m. ET on   (Alternate Channel)

SPREAD: N/A OVER/UNDER: N/A (Vegas doesn't provide for FCS opponents)

PREVIOUS WEEK:

(5-3) 24-21 loss at South Carolina

(3-5) Bye Week 

IMPACT PLAYERS:

QB Josh Dobbs, Sr. – 133/233 passing, 1,686 yards, 15 TDs, 320 yards rushing, 5 TDs

RB John Kelly, So. – 33 rushes, 209 yards (6.3 yd/car) – making first career start

DE Derek Barnet, Jr. – 9 sacks (tied for 1st in NCAA), 14.5 tackles for loss, 36 total tackles 

QB Michael Birdsong, Sr. – 167/264 passing, 1,967 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs, 3 rushing TDs

WR Deontez Byrd, Jr. – 42 catches for 502 yards, 4 TDs, 1 kick return TD

LB Josh Poplar, So. – 84 tackles (team high), 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries

HOW  

 WINS:

Dominate the line of scrimmage and stay clean…

In reality, all Tennessee needs to do is show up. Tennessee Tech is an FCS team, and not a very good FCS team. This isn't Jacksonville State, North Dakota State, TSU or Chattanooga. Tech is in the first year of a rebuild under coach Marcus Satterfield.

Also reality: Tennessee needs to blow somebody out. Frustration around the program is at a season high with three straight SEC losses and the Hurd soap opera during the week. Sophomore John Kelly makes his first career start at running back with Hurd gone and Alvin Kamara still recovering from a knee injury. Look for Kelly to run for well over 100 yards and teammates have said he runs with a "violent" approach. The offensive line needs a confidence building game. The Vols are averaging under four yards per carry in a rushing offense that was expected to be one of the best in the SEC.

If anyone needs a confidence booster and a "get right" game it's QB Josh Dobbs. He was awful against South Carolina, and he knows it. Dobbs short hopped throws to open targets throughout last week's game. Tech's defense won't be a match for any Vol WR, so Dobbs needs to be able to hit his open guys.

On the defensive side of the ball, Derek Barnett is three sacks away from tying Reggie White's school career sacks record. This could be a good game to get it with Tech's passing offense. Barnett had three last week against the Gamecocks, and his nine, on the season, are tied for first in all of college football.

Last thing, don't get hurt. Quinton Dormady and the back up offense should be in the game midway through the third quarter. And, the back ups should continue the blow out. The Vols cannot afford another injury on the defensive line, or anywhere, really.

HOW

 WINS:

 Empty the entire bag of tricks…

Coach Satterfield will tell his team that they travelled to Knoxville to get a win, but that isn't realistic with the difference in talent.

The only way the Golden Eagles leave town with the win is if everything completely implodes for the Vols. Turnovers, more injuries, fluke plays, trick plays, defensive and special teams touchdowns would all have to happen for an upset. Even if Tennessee comes out with the same type of poor attitude they showed against South Carolina, it'll be a three touchdown UT win.

Tech does have a playmaker in Deontez Byrd. The junior wide receiver averages 12 yards a catch and has four receiving touchdowns. He's also a threat on special teams averaging 27 yards per kickoff return with one 100-yard score.