This 12 months’s version of the Third Saturday in October rivalry seems like a School Soccer Playoff eliminator. No. 7 Alabama (5-1) and No. 11 Tennessee (5-1) are each coming off anxious wins preceded abruptly losses.
Tennessee wanted additional time to beat Florida, 23-17, every week after a street loss to Arkansas. In the meantime, Alabama barely held off South Carolina, 27-25, following its gorgeous upset at Vanderbilt. Every fanbase is nervous about how wobbly Alabama and Tennessee have appeared in latest weeks.
Each groups have the expertise to be actual SEC and nationwide championship contenders, however the path will get significantly more durable with a loss on Saturday. Particularly whenever you keep in mind Alabama nonetheless has No. 19 Missouri and No. 8 LSU on the schedule, and Tennessee has a street journey to No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 16. A loss Saturday will demand perfection the remainder of the way in which whereas a win will go a great distance come choice day.
Observe together with LIVE updates from Alabama vs. Tennessee on Saturday
Find out how to watch Alabama vs. Tennessee dwell
Date: Saturday, Oct. 19 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, Tennessee
TV: ABC | Reside stream: fubo (Attempt without cost)
Alabama vs. Tennessee: Have to know
QB play must be higher: Jalen Milroe shot up the Heisman Trophy betting odds after Alabama’s win over Georgia however has fallen again to earth in his final two video games. He’s presently at +1200 to take house faculty soccer’s most prestigious award, in accordance with DraftKings. There’s nonetheless a bent to attempt to do an excessive amount of, resulting in unhealthy choices and unhealthy situational consciousness at occasions. Throwing two interceptions and taking a security in opposition to the Gamecocks has to get cleaned as much as win in opposition to Tennessee. The Volunteers’ beginning QB Nico Iamaleava might have the alternative drawback, focusing a lot on not making a significant mistake that Tennessee is lacking explosive play alternatives. Iamaleava hasn’t damaged the 200-yard mark since Recreation 2 and has thrown for just one whole landing in three SEC convention video games. Tennessee can depend on a powerful floor sport, however it nonetheless wants much more from its ballyhooed beginning quarterback.
Tennessee’s protection is legit: Below Josh Heupel, the Vols have made probably the most noise with what they do offensively, however this 12 months the protection has carried them. Led by defensive coordinator Tim Banks, Tennessee’s protection has been very good in 2024. As our Brandon Marcello identified in his nice Banks profile, Tennessee ranks second nationally in whole protection (249.8 yards per sport), yards per play (4), yards per rush (2.2) and third-down conversions allowed (23.8 p.c). Tennessee faces its hardest check but in opposition to Milroe, Ryan Williams and the remainder of that Alabama offense, however its defensive position ought to trigger some issues in opposition to a median Alabama offensive line.
Count on a rollicking sport: Final season Tennessee raced out to a 20-7 halftime lead in Tuscaloosa just for Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide to dominate the second half and win 34-20. Two years in the past, Tennessee additionally received out to a scorching begin (21-7 first quarter lead). Alabama stormed again however the Volunteers held the Tide off for a wild 52-49 end that ended with the goalposts paraded round Knoxville that evening. It will be rocking inside Neyland Stadium and regardless of which workforce will get off to an early lead, buckle up for what ought to be a vigorous back-and-forth affair between two groups with loads of expertise in high-stakes rivalry video games.
Alabama vs. Tennessee prediction, picks
Each groups have been inconsistent this season with highs like Alabama’s win over Georgia and Tennessee’s over Oklahoma paired with stunning lows of street losses. Alabama is the extra explosive workforce and has proven it may possibly win in a monitor meet-type sport, however its protection has left so much to be desired thus far this season. Vanderbilt straight up outplayed Alabama’s protection and received what it wanted over and over on third down. Tennessee ought to have success operating the ball in opposition to the Tide, however there stay questions whether or not Nico Iamaleava could make sufficient large performs to win a sport like this. Thus far this season, he hasn’t been in a position to although it largely hasn’t caught as much as Tennessee exterior of the Arkansas loss. With what ought to be a raucous setting, you might be greatest off betting Tennessee to cowl in a good one. Decide: Tennessee +3
All sports activities betting odds by way of DraftKings Sportsbook. Try the newest DraftKings promo code to get within the sport.
SportsLine’s confirmed laptop mannequin is looking for 5 outright upsets in Week 8 of faculty soccer. Go to SportsLine now to see all of them, plus get unfold picks for each sport from the mannequin that simulates every sport 10,000 occasions.