Texas A&M Aggies vs. Tennessee Volunteers Week 7: Keys To The Game

The Texas A&M Aggies travel to Knoxville to play a well-rested Tennessee Volunteers team just coming off its bye week.

The Tennessee Volunteers host the Texas A&M Aggies in Knoxville on Oct. 14, a week after a much-anticipated matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Aggies suffered a crucial 26-20 loss to the Tide, and with all the hype that will be associated with that game, it'll be easy for coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff to overlook the Vols. Tennessee is well-rested after their bye week that came a week after a big win at South Carolina.

Tennessee won double-digit games last year for the first time since 2007, and the program feels like it's finally getting solid again under coach Josh Heupel. It was going to be hard for the Vols to replace former quarterback Hendon Hooker, who's off to the NFL, and Joe Milton has been up to the task this season. Milton has 101 completions on 160 attempts this year for 1,164 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Vols defense made a leap last season, but more improvement will be needed if Tennessee hopes to compete with Georgia in the SEC East.

The Volunteers lead the nation in total offense last season with 525.5 yards per game, absolutely destroying opposing defenses on a weekly basis. One of the keys to keeping the offense as powerful as last year will be the offensive line. Gone are Darnell Wright and Jerome Carvin, but Tennessee brought in big names from the transfer portal in Miami's John Campbell Jr. and Texas' Andrej Karic.

The Volunteers will win the game if...

Gone are receivers Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt, but Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White have stepped up, and the Tennessee offense hasn't missed a beat. Milton and his receivers corps are clicking, and this offense has all the signs of giving the Aggies defense fits in Knoxville. If there was ever a home-field advantage in college football, it exists in Knoxville.

The Aggies will win the game if... 

There's no question that the Aggies are a better team, but this game has every opportunity to be another head-scratching Jimbo loss. It's Week 7, and we know exactly what the Aggies are -inconsistent. It will take consistent play on both sides of the ball and some creative playcalling by Bobby Petrino to walk out of Neyland Stadium with a win.