After thrashing Georgia in the second half, Alabama looks once again like the class of the SEC. Next up on the slate for the Crimson Tide is a trip to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee once had high hopes for the season and even went into the locker room at halftime against Georgia with a lead, only to fall apart in the second half — and to have their season turn upside down after that. Can Tennessee pull off what would, at this point, be a shocking upset? Or will the Crimson Tide simply take care of business?
Don’t miss our college football betting preview of this SEC confrontation.
NCAAF Preview: #2 Alabama at Tennessee
Why should you bet on the Crimson Tide
You might think that losing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs to the NFL would have caused the Alabama offense to lose a step, but Nick Saban recruits so deeply that the next blue-chip players were just waiting in the wings. Mac Jones has been terrific in four starts, leading the nation in quarterback rating (220.10) and has a 12:2 TD:INT ratio, and a 78.3 pass completion percentage. Senior tailback Najee Harris is ready to pound the ball if opposing defenses drop back to counter the pass — and the offensive line can keep pass rushers at bay.
Alabama should be able to get to the quarterback, as the Tennessee O-line has permitted 11 sacks in four games. The running attack is picking up only 3.5 yards per carry. The tailback tandem of Ty Chandler and Eric Gray for Tennessee is solid, but expect Alabama to load the box and dare Tennessee to throw the ball. This is a defense that shut Georgia out in the second half, having learned some lessons after giving up 48 points to Ole Miss.
Why should you put your money on the Volunteers?
It’s hard to argue that you should take the Volunteers here. Last week, they lost to Kentucky, 34-7, after falling to Georgia by 23. Tennessee had started the season with victories over South Carolina and Missouri, but after getting steamrolled in the second half by Georgia, Tennessee has wilted. The team fired defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh this week, so there could be some confusion this week — or there could be new resolve. Tennessee holds teams to 5.3 yards per play, but they are ninth in the SEC in points permitted per game (29.2). They are just eighth in the conference in red zone defense.
On offense, ball security has to be the first area of improvement. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano threw two pick-sixes against Kentucky and has not completed a pass for more than 36 yards. His yards per attempt were 8.4 in the win over South Carolina but dropped to 4.2 against Kentucky. It’s not clear whether Guarantano will get the start against Alabama, as Brian Maurer and J.T. Shrout are waiting in the wings. If you like the Volunteers, you think that Alabama is going to come in overconfident — but Nick Saban-coached teams just don’t seem to do that. Ever.
Final Score and Prediction
Tennessee looked like an improved program in the first two weeks, but since then many of the old problems have re-emerged, and now the Volunteers enter a brutal five-week part of their schedule. I see Alabama coming to town and delivering a rout. I predict a final score of Alabama 48, Tennessee 13.
NCAAF | Game Details
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Saturday, October 24, 2020
3:30 pm ET
Crimson Tide Sports Network / Vol Network
NCAAF | Game Odds
Alabama -21
Total: 66
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