Tennessee enters Saturday’s game trying to get back to .500. Not just in the win column, but for the month of October, too.

It’s a pretty crucial game from a bowl standpoint as well. If the Vols can move back to 4-4 overall, that means they need just two more wins with four games remaining (Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Kentucky) to get bowl eligible.

But South Carolina enters Saturday’s game ranked No. 21 in the country, and it’s caused headaches for opposing offenses all season. If history is worth anything, this should be a pretty close game.

Tossing out last year’s 27-6 game, Tennessee and South Carolina have played within eight points or fewer in eight of the last nine meetings.

Strengths
The Gamecocks have leaned on their defense for most of the year. Considering some injuries to key players, that’s a big compliment to Ellis Johnson.

Carolina ranks third in the nation in pass defense (141.3 yards per game), and a lot of that has to do with a solid pass rush.

Oh, and the Gamecocks' defense has allowed just two touchdowns in the past 10 quarters of play.

On offense, Stephen Garcia has been more than serviceable at quarterback, and much improved over last season. Receiver Alshon Jeffery has really emerged in the last few weeks, although Tennessee’s defense is used to playing against big, physical receivers after facing A. J. Green and Julio Jones.

Weaknesses
The Gamecocks haven’t been very consistent in the running game. As a team, they’re averaging just 137.3 yards per game, which is 70th in the country and ninth in the SEC.

And against the run, as Mark Ingram hammered home two weeks ago, they can be had as well. So far, opponents have averaged 147.6 yards on the ground. All that said, though, Carolina is still 6-2, with its only losses coming against Alabama and Georgia.

Carolina has struggled at time limiting returns on special teams, something the Vols can certainly relate to.