The national media have been riding high on Alabama with the Crimson Tide’s ongoing five-game win streak. Unlike Tennessee, Alabama’s opponent this weekend with the same 5-1 overall record, the Crimson Tide has a trio of ranked wins under its belt. Alabama has defeated No. 5 Georgia, No. 16 Vanderbilt, and No. 14 Missouri in the last three weeks alone.
The Vols will be looking for their own Top 25-ranked win this weekend in Tuscaloosa. Unlike Alabama, though, Tennessee hasn’t had as many opportunities. The Vols’ only ranked opponent so far was Georgia, which Tennessee took to overtime and had a chance to beat with a missed field goal in regulation.
Heading into the game this weekend, Tennessee is a point underdog to Alabama. The Crimson Tide is being given a 72.8% chance to win the game, according to ESPN Analytics.
With the major game components such as the game being in Tuscaloosa and Alabama’s proven success over the last three weeks, it’s not much of a surprise to see the majority of national analysts pick the Crimson Tide to win this weekend. The spread is a bit more varied, but the overall notion seems to be that most are picking Alabama to win on Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
But make no mistake, Tennessee is plenty talented enough to win this game. The Vols’ gunslinging quarterback Joey Aguilar stepped up in a big way in the Vols’ only other ranked matchup against Georgia, and Tennessee does possess one of, if not the best, pass rushes in the country. If Tennessee is going to win, it’ll need to rely on those two factors to show up in a big way to slow down the Tide’s offense and pick up a victory.
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Here’s a look at how some members of the national media are picking Tennessee-Alabama before the game this weekend:
Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon
Alabama 35, Tennessee 27
“We know both offenses can score. However, a lingering issue for the Vols is their defense, which has surrendered 31-plus points in all three SEC contests. It’s not a positive sign heading into a clash with Alabama’s soaring offense,” Kenyon writes.
“There is, I think, going to be a dam-breaking spot in the second half of this game where it really goes against Tennessee. Early on, I don’t think that’s going to be the case, but there are too many big plays to be made. And I know good and well there’s an emphasis in that building down there in Tuscaloosa this week about what the strength of that offense is, how underutilized some of the elements of that passing game have been, and you just drool all over your play sheet looking at what you’ve got coming in in terms of Tennessee’s secondary… So, I’m going to take Alabama to win, I will actually lay the (-8.5 point) number here. I do think Alabama’s going to win the game by double-digits,” Pate said on Josh Pate’s College Football Show on YouTube
*Straight-up picks
Matt Hayes: Alabama
Jordan Mendoza: Tennessee
Paul Meyerberg: Alabama
Erick Smith: Alabama
Eddie Timanus: Alabama
Blake Toppmeyer: Alabama
*Based on an -8.5 point spread for Alabama
Tom Fornelli: Alabama wins, Tennessee covers
Chip Patterson: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
Brandon Marcello: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
John Talty: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
Richard Johnson: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
Shehan Jeyarajah: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
David Cobb: Alabama wins, Tennessee covers
Brad Crawford: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
Chris Hummer: Alabama wins, Alabama covers
“I’m assuming you’re going to see (Alabama’s) defense be opportunistic enough. I like the over here, the total is 59 and a half. I would not touch this spread, but if I were, I would take Tennessee to cover. With that being said, I will take Alabama to win. Final score in Tuscaloosa: Bama 34, Tennessee 27. Alabama wins, Tennessee covers, and us college football fans get an awesome, awesome game,” PicKell said on On3’s YouTube channel.
