Just some interesting stats I was looking at today.
Tennessee finished the regular season 21st in rushing offense nationally this season with averaging about 223 yards per game and 4.7 ypc. They did this despite playing the #1 (Bama), #7 (Florida), #18 (Arkansas), and #28 (Mizzou) rushing defenses. Overall, Tennessee played against 5 of the top 40 rushing defenses in the nation. If those teams hadn't played Tennessee, they'd all likely be a few spots higher (or further separated from the pack in Bama's case).
Our most likely bowl opponents, Wisconsin and Northwestern, are #5 and #15 respectively in rush defense. Wisconsin has played 3 top 40 rushing offenses, #28 (Bama), #32 (Iowa), and #40 (Northwestern). Against Bama, they gave up 238 yards for 4 tds (6.4 ypc). Bama averages about 206 yards per game and 4.9 ypc on the season. Against Iowa, they gave up 144 yards and no TDs (3.6 ypc). Iowa averages about about 203 yards per game and 4.8 ypc. Against Northwestern, they gave up 149 yards for 1 TD (3.0 ypc). Northwestern averages about 193 yards per game and and 4.12 ypc.
Among top 40 rush offenses, Northwestern has faced the #22 (Stanford) and #32 (Iowa). Against Stanford, they gave up 85 yards and no TD (3.1 ypc). Stanford averages 222 ypg and just over 5 ypc. It's worth noting that this was the first game of the season before Stanford and McCaffrey really caught fire, but this must be one of the most impressive defensive performances of the season as far as rushing defense goes. However, against Iowa, they gave up 298 yards for 5 tds on 5.8 ypc. This could be among the worst defensive performances of the season for rushing defense.
I'm not really sure what the point of any of this was. I'm just excited about our bowl game (fingers crossed for Outback against one of these teams or even Michigan) and impressed by how far our rushing attack has progressedunder Butch and Debord. Go Vols.