Tennessee: 39, Southern Miss: 19

A rejuvenating performance by the Vols. Hopefully it was enough to fend off Appalachian State (thank you Ducks!) and keep us in the top 25. Erik Ainge looked like a mini-Manning (only much taller), distributing the ball across and (finally) down the field with fantastic accuracy and making sophomore Austin Rogers look like Steve Largent resurrected. Ainge’s stats would have been better if his young receivers hadn’t dropped some difficult (but not impossible) balls. Arian Foster was a beast, rushing for an efficient 125 yards on 23 carries. LaMarcus Coker was MIA, but true freshman Lennon Creer came in at the end and showed some serious moves and speed, something Tennessee will desperately need next weekend. Xavier Mitchell was (thankfully) back on the field, and it only took the entire first half for the defense to wake-up. Still, the sight of Southern Miss. Quarterback, Jeremy Young, running freely in the first half, coupled with a nearby TV highlighting the manner in which Florida dynamic-duo Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow were galloping over Troy, made me nauseous. With exception of 47-yard FG Special teams were (as usual) atrocious, but it was encouraging to see Jonathan Hefney returning punts. A Vol fan at the bar next to me was wise enough to opine: “I think we may just be bad enough to beat Florida.” Here, here, I say.