The Tennessee Vols’ defense has been good this year. That’s an understatement, really. It’s been elite.
How elite? In line with a handful of championship teams this century. Since 2000, only four SEC teams have held their first seven opponents under 20 points, according to CBS Sports analyst Todd Fuhrman. It worked out pretty well for all four of those schools.
Each of those national title winners would eventually allow someone to eclipse that mark in a late-season matchup. 2012 Alabama came the closest to avoiding it, winning a 45-21 contest against Georgia Southern and holding the rest of their schedule under 20 points.
Now, the Vols – whose high point total allowed was 19 at Arkansas – will look to ride a defense that’s showed no signs of slowing down as the season has gone on to the school’s first-ever playoff appearance. Despite a favorable schedule, getting to 11-1 won’t be easy, particularly on November 16 at Georgia and even on November 30 at Vanderbilt, given the way the Commodores have played this year with QB Diego Pavia.
If Tennessee can, then they could be the next of (so far) few to cash in on one of the longest mantras in football: defense wins championships.
