Might be over by halftime, but underestimating anybody at any time is a huge mistake. I'll take the words from the Staff on this one to prove what I'm saying. Didn't say Tennessee will lose, I said don't take Memphis lightly due to their conference or their record this year.
"Linebackers coach Lance Thompson loudly told his players earlier this week to disregard Memphis's record and statistics.
"I don't care what their record is! This is a good football team!" Thompson yelled. "And the sooner y'all realize that, the better!"
Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said he was "shocked" at the Tigers' offensive skill on tape.
"I don't think people know that," Monte said. "I didn't know who these guys were until I watched them on film, and then I go and look at the last three games' stats, and ... wow. I couldn't believe their quarterback was that good. I really couldn't. I know everybody thinks I'm exaggerating, but I'm not. And their receivers are unbelievable.
"I don't care who we were playing, I would never tell our players, 'These guys aren't any good,' because I don't care who you're playing, you can get beat. But it's a fact that these guys are good."
Lane Kiffin made similar remarks earlier in the week, and he backed up his promise by putting the Vols through a particularly physical set of practices.
"Well this is a big game for us this week, an intrastate rivalry," Lane said. "We know they're going to come to play. I'd imagine this is the biggest game of the season for them, with a bunch of Tennessee kids on their roster. We don't have to look any further than the last time they came in here. They almost beat Tennessee. Go all the way back to a Peyton Manning-led team that Memphis was able to beat -- a really good Tennessee team.
"Our guys will be well aware of that. We'll make sure guys understand we need to continue to improve and get ready for a tough game."