No. 11 Alabama has plans for revenge Saturday in a sour SEC cross-division competition sport vs. No. 17 Tennessee in Week 8. The newest installment of the “Third Saturday in October” is a rematch of closing season’s exciting showdown between those fierce competitors. The Volunteers snapped a 15-game dropping streak within the collection with a 52-49 win, prompting the offered out Neyland Stadium crowd to vacate their seats and typhoon the sphere.
This time the Crimson Tide have home-field benefit on their aspect as they search to push their domestic profitable streak within the collection to 10 video games and shore up Bryant-Denny Stadium’s popularity as one of the adverse venues in college football. An extraordinary domestic loss to Texas in Week 2 put Alabama on an unsure trajectory, however the Crimson Tide have rattled off 5 directly victories since then to emerge because the closing SEC West crew nonetheless unbeaten in league play.
Tennessee employs a far other philosophy than it did closing season. The Volunteers have traded probably the most country’s perfect passing assaults for probably the most country’s perfect dashing assaults below third-year trainer Josh Heupel, whose squad has rebounded from a Sept. 16 loss at Florida to win consecutive SEC video games over South Carolina and Texas A&M.
Alabama vs. Tennessee Need to know
Quarterback downgrade: These groups blended for 1,136 yards and 61 first downs closing season, thank you largely to the play of 2 elite quarterbacks. Alabama’s Bryce Young and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker accounted for 840 yards and 7 touchdowns during the air. Barring one thing utterly surprising, their replacements would possibly not sniff the ones statistics on Saturday. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe has proven the facility to create giant performs during the air, however the Crimson Tide’s down-to-down passing sport stays a sadness, as evidenced through Milroe’s 10 of 21 passing efficiency in a decent win over Arkansas closing week. Tennessee’s Joe Milton could also be coming off an unpleasant trip, finishing simply 11 of twenty-two passes with a expensive second-half interception in a 20-13 win over Texas A&M.
Pressuring the quarterbacks: Further discouraging those groups from throwing the soccer is the truth that each and every protection is without doubt one of the country’s perfect at sacking opposing quarterbacks. The Volunteers rank 0.33 nationally with 4 sacks according to sport whilst the Crimson Tide rank fourth posting a mean of three.7 according to contest. Junior linebacker Dallas Turner leads Alabama with seven sacks, which helped earn a place at the 2023 CBS Sports Midseason All-America crew. Sophomore defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. leads Tennessee with six sacks whilst senior defensive lineman Tyler Baron has racked up 5.
The little issues: Last season’s assembly got here down to a unique groups play when Chase McGrath’s 40-yard area objective slightly fluttered over the pass bar as time expired to carry Tennessee to victory. Both groups have proven glimpses of particular groups brilliance in 2023. Alabama has specifically shined within the kicking sport. With a 13 for 13 mark on area targets, Alabama’s Will Reichard earned a place at the CBS Sports Midseason All-America crew. Crimson Tide punter James Burnip additionally ranks 0.33 nationally in yards according to punt at 48.9. Tennessee counters with bad returner Dee Williams. He gave the Volunteers their first lead of the sport closing week in opposition to Texas A&M with a 39-yard punt go back for a landing. Just a couple of performs prior he downed a Jackson Ross punt on Texas A&M’s 1-yard line. Williams led the SEC closing season with a mean of 18.7 yards according to punt go back.
How to watch Alabama vs. Tennessee live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21Â |Â Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium — Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: CBS | Live move: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)
Alabama vs. Tennessee prediction, choices
Odds by way of SportsLine consensus
These groups each fight throwing the soccer, and each defenses are very good at racking up sacks and dwelling within the backfield. That approach existence can be even tougher than commonplace on a couple of quarterbacks who don’t seem to be nice within the first position. Alabama must be amped up for revenge after Tennessee gained a vintage at Neyland Stadium closing season. With home-field benefit on their aspect, search for the Crimson Tide to squeak out a detailed win with out masking the unfold. Pick: Tennessee +8.5
Which faculty soccer choices are you able to make with self belief in Week 8, and which underdogs will win outright? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a confirmed laptop type that has returned greater than $2,000 in benefit during the last seven-plus seasons — and to find out.