Tennessee Football: 3 quick takeaways from big win over Mississippi State

Tennessee football shocked quite a few people on Saturday with a home win over Mississippi State. What did we learn from this one?

I am going to start by saying this, I didn’t give the Volunteers a chance in this game. I thought that their season was already over. However, they proved me and quite a few other people wrong by taking down the Mississippi State Bulldogs at home. Does it help that they played at home? Sure, Rocky Top is a loud place to play, but that hasn’t meant anything so far this season — until today.

What did we learn about the Bulldogs and about the Volunteers?

3. Garrett Shrader is the better option at QB for MSU

The statistics are about the same for Tommy Stevens and Garrett Shrader in this one, so they don’t tell the story. However, after two interceptions and not a single touchdown in the first half for the Bulldogs, the coaching staff made a change and let Shrader take the reins. They at least put a touchdown up with Shrader at the reigns as well as 62 rushing yards, so maybe he is the better choice at quarterback for Mississippi State — though I am not sure either are a great choice at this point.

2. Could Tennessee have a QB battle on its hands?

Assuming Brian Maurer is okay after a scary collision caused him to go airborne and flip completely over, possibly injuring his head or neck, Tennessee may have another quarterback battle on their hands. Jarrett Guarantano was benched in favor of Maurer, who started this game today. The biggest difference between the two in this one was the rushing yards that Maurer was able to put up that Guarantano wasn’t. However, Maurer threw two interceptions. Guarantano didn’t throw one. Things could get interesting in Knoxville.

1. Tennessee’s defense showed up and showed out

Mind you, this is the same Tennessee team that lost to Georgia State to open the season and has given up at least 29 points all season. Now, they handed Mississippi State a big-time loss in which they only allowed 10 points and kept the Bulldog offense off-balance from the start. Three interceptions and holding running back Kylin Hill to 13 yards and no touchdowns? Very nice boys.