Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Commodores: Preview, prediction, TV info

Tennessee (4-6, 0-6 SEC) at Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3 SEC)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Spread: Vanderbilt by 4

Watchability: This normally isn't a matchup to circle on the calendar, but in a weak overall lineup of SEC games this weekend, this is actually one of the better ones. Tennessee needs to beat the Commodores and Kentucky to become bowl eligible. Vanderbilt has already reached six wins. Now Vandy is looking to make some history. If the Commodores win out, including the bowl game, it will be the first time they have reached nine wins since 1915.

Shining stars: Tennessee -- QB Tyler Bray. He can sling it as well as anybody in the country. His numbers in the last three games are especially impressive: 1,302 passing yards, 13 TDs and just one INT. Bray leads one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC -- it's the defense that has let the Vols down this season. Vanderbilt -- RB Zac Stacy. He's the star for the Commodores, but how much will he be able to play? Coach James Franklin doesn't discuss injuries with the media, but Stacy is listed as the starter despite leaving last week's game with a leg injury. Reserve Wesley Tate is a capable replacement if Stacy is limited, but the Commodores would miss Stacy's production (144 carries, 769 yards, 6 TDs).

Who could steal the show: Tennessee -- WR Cordarrelle Patterson. He has 39 receptions for 638 yards, but he's much more than just a wide receiver. He returns kicks, lines up at RB and even completed a pass last week against Missouri. Teammates and coaches compare him to a player in a video game due to his ability to juke and make defenders miss. Vanderbilt -- DE Walker May. May, a redshirt junior, is another one of Vanderbilt's veteran defenders. He's coming off perhaps the best game of his career at Ole Miss (6 tackles, 3 TFLs, sack). He was awarded the SEC defensive lineman of the week honors for his performance against the Rebels.

You going? Ranking the road trip: Normally, a lot of orange invades Nashville for this game. It will be interesting to see if Vanderbilt has a better home-field advantage due to the success the Dores are having this season.

Magic number for Tennessee: 7. The Vols rank seventh nationally with 334 yards of passing per game. That will be tested against a Vanderbilt pass defense ranked 13th nationally (177 yards given up per game).

Magic number for Vanderbilt: 28. The Commodores have lost 28 of their last 29 to the Vols, including six straight. Think they might be hungry for a win over their in-state rivals?

The game comes down to: Tennessee has been a tough team to predict this season. You look at its talent on offense, and it seems the Vols should've been able to knock off a couple of the opponents they lost to this year. That's where the defense comes in. They are ranked 111th nationally in total defense, giving up an average of 480 yards per game. Despite the talent on offense and the streak of six straight wins against Vanderbilt, this Tennessee team just doesn't seem to know how to win an SEC game. Maybe the Vols rally around embattled coach Derek Dooley and pull out the win, but that's not a safe bet based on what they've done the rest of the season.

Prediction: Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 27

For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.