Cincinnati @ Tennessee preview

THE STORY: Derek Dooley and Butch Jones have their work cut out for them in trying to rebuild programs at Tennessee and Cincinnati, respectively. The second-year coaches will match wits when Dooley’s Volunteers go for a sixth straight regular-season win against Jones’ Bearcats in Knoxville. Dooley’s first year ended with the Volunteers finishing strong but still losing six games for a third straight season, a first for the prestigious program. Cincinnati, meanwhile, went 4-8 in 2010 after winning a school-record 12 games the previous season. Tennessee is looking to snap a five-game skid against non-conference foes from BCS conferences. It leads the all-time series 4-1. This is the first meeting since the Volunteers coasted to a 40-0 win in 1992.

TV: ESPN 2 LINE: Tennessee - 6

ABOUT TENNESSEE (1-0): Tennessee is young, with about 70 percent of the roster consisting of freshmen and sophomores. Tyler Bray picked up where he left off last season as a freshman, throwing for 293 yards and three touchdowns in the 42-16 win over Montana. Senior Tauren Poole ran for 97 yards and a touchdown. Poole tied for the SEC lead with six 100-yard games in 2010.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (1-0): The Bearcats’ spread attack features the terrific tandem of QB Zach Collaros and RB Isaiah Pead. Pead scored twice and Collaros threw four touchdowns in the first half of a 72-10 win over Austin Peay. Cincinnati also has a pair of solid wide receivers in D.J. Woods and junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins, a former Vols recruit.

EXTRA POINTS

1) Cincinnati finished second-to-last in the nation in turnover margin (-15) in 2010.

2) Bray has seven consecutive games with two or more TDs, tying a school record set by Peyton Manning during his senior season in 1997.

3) Tennessee hasn’t won six straight regular-season games since 2003-04.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 37, Cincinnati 31 - The Volunteers have the firepower to match the Bearcats’ explosive offense, along with a slightly better defense.