At least they KNOW they arent playing up to par.

Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen has a pretty good idea what most people are thinking about the Vols' upcoming game at Miami.

"You look at it on paper, and people will say, 'They have no shot,' '' Clausen said. "But hey, anything can happen on a Saturday. It doesn't matter who you play, or where you play.''

So it is that the Vols are still believing in themselves after their 23-6 victory over Duke on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Linebacker Kevin Simon said that's the only mentality the Vols can afford to have if they're going to have any chance of upsetting the No. 2 Hurricanes.

"You have to go down there with the mindset that we're going to get this thing done,'' Simon said. "Talent-wise, we definitely match up with them. It's not about getting better; it's about playing up to our level.

"The game we played this week isn't going to cut it next week.''

Clausen went one step further: "We can't play the way we played the last three games.''

Clausen was 16 of 27 passing for 208 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, but the senior quarterback had trouble connecting with receivers against Duke's zone defense.

Clausen indicated the entire team is accountable for the ineffective first-half play.

"We as a team have to realize the way we need to play,'' Clausen said. "Today we played down to the competition. Why? Why can't we put up 28 points in the first quarter?

"I don't know what it is, if guys are complacent or just know we can get it done with the game on the line. We're living on the edge.''

UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders merely shook his head.

"The first half was a case of near misses,'' Sanders said. "We came close on our first third down, and we were close on our second third down. James (Banks) had a play over the middle where he couldn't quite hold on.

"If we're able to get those plays made, it helps our defense out and changes the way they play offense.''

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said some of the credit Saturday had to go to Duke.

"They did a good job mixing things up and getting the safeties involved,'' Fulmer said. "On some of our runs we'd have everyone blocked and then the safety would show up. The tailback has got to make them miss.

"We just didn't make the big plays.''

Clausen indicated that could be the essence of the Vols' inconsistencies on offense.

"In college football,'' he said, "it's all about making plays.''

Linebacker Kevin Burnett said Florida's victory over Georgia on Saturday should give UT some momentum heading down to the Orange Bowl next week.

"It gives us an emotional boost, and lets us know we control our own destiny,'' Burnett said. "We have to go for the knockout from the first play of the game on.''