No. 11 Alabama is out for revenge on Saturday because the Crimson Tide battles No. 17 Tennessee. The newest installment of the “Third Saturday in October” is a rematch of ultimate season’s exciting showdown between those fierce competitors. The Volunteers snapped a 15-game shedding streak within the collection with a 52-49 win, prompting the offered out Neyland Stadium crowd to vacate their seats and hurricane the sphere.
This time the Crimson Tide have home-field benefit on their facet as they search to push their domestic profitable streak within the collection to ten video games and shore up Bryant-Denny Stadium’s recognition 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 immediately victories since then to emerge because the ultimate SEC West group nonetheless unbeaten in league play.
Tennessee employs a far other philosophy than it did ultimate season. The Volunteers have traded some of the country’s highest passing assaults for some of the country’s highest 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 grasp
Quarterback downgrade: These groups mixed for 1,136 yards and 61 first downs ultimate 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 throughout the air. Barring one thing totally surprising, their replacements may not sniff the ones statistics on Saturday. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe has proven the facility to create large performs throughout the air, however the Crimson Tide’s down-to-down passing game stays a sadness, as evidenced via Milroe’s 10 of 21 passing efficiency in a decent win over Arkansas ultimate week. Tennessee’s Joe Milton may be coming off an unsightly day trip, finishing simply 11 of twenty-two passes with a pricey 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 highest at sacking opposing quarterbacks. The Volunteers rank 0.33 nationally with 4 sacks in keeping with game whilst the Crimson Tide rank fourth posting a mean of three.7 in keeping with contest. Junior linebacker Dallas Turner leads Alabama with seven sacks, which helped earn a place at the 2023 CBS Sports Midseason All-America group. 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 all the way down to a distinct groups play when Chase McGrath’s 40-yard area objective slightly fluttered over the go bar as time expired to boost Tennessee to victory. Both groups have proven glimpses of particular groups brilliance in 2023. Alabama has specifically shined within the kicking game. With a 13 for 13 mark on area objectives, Alabama’s Will Reichard earned a place at the CBS Sports Midseason All-America group. Crimson Tide punter James Burnip additionally ranks 0.33 nationally in yards in keeping with punt at 48.9. Tennessee counters with unhealthy returner Dee Williams. He gave the Volunteers their first lead of the game ultimate week towards 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 ultimate season with a mean of 18.7 yards in keeping with punt go back.
How to watch Alabama vs. Tennessee live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21 | 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 the use of SportsLine consensus
These groups each battle throwing the soccer, and each defenses are very good at racking up sacks and residing within the backfield. That way existence can be even more difficult than commonplace on a couple of quarterbacks who don’t seem to be nice within the first position. Alabama will have to be amped up for revenge after Tennessee gained a vintage at Neyland Stadium ultimate season. With home-field benefit on their facet, search for the Crimson Tide to squeak out an in depth win with out protecting the unfold. Pick: Tennessee +8.5
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