Alabama Football: How Tennessee can beat Alabama on Saturday

The Governor of Tennessee named the Friday before the third Saturday in October “Big Orange Day” across Tennessee.

Phil Fulmer started the chant with the players, post-beating Auburn, “We don’t give a [expletive] about the whole state of Alabama”.

To say the least…Tennessee is motivated to end the 11 game losing streak against Alabama Football and here’s how they can do it.

Beating Alabama is not an easy task. In fact, for unranked opponents, you have to travel all the way back to Nick Saban’s first year with Alabama football against Louisiana-Monroe to find a team capable of beating Alabama.

For the Volunteers to end an 11-year losing streak versus the Crimson Tide the Vols will need to win three battles on the field: Turnovers, Line of Scrimmage, Big Plays

Turnovers

Winning the turnover battle is non-negotiable versus Alabama if you want to win. Not turning the ball over and capitalizing with points if Alabama turns the ball over is critical to success.

Tennessee cannot turn the ball over itself. You not only take away potential points for yourself but in more cases than not, give points to Alabama. By starving Alabama’s defense of turnovers, you eliminate the swing of momentum and keep its defense on the field while keeping Tua Tagovailoa off the field.

Tennessee must also create turnovers on defense against a Tagovailoa led offense that has not thrown an interception all year. Tennessee must find a way to not only create turnovers but then turn them into points. It is the only way to keep up with Alabama’s offense up to this point.

Line of Scrimmage

Jeremy Pruitt is the only head coach in the SEC that had to game plan against Tua Tagovailoa each and every day in practice. I guarantee that Pruitt understands if he gives Tagovailoa time, the Volunteers will lose. I expect Pruitt to consistently bring pressure time and time again on Saturday. If Tennessee can get to Tagovailoa consistently then it may slow an offense that seems unstoppable up to this point.

On offense for the Volunteers, they must control the line of scrimmage. Alabama was able to contain Missouri’s Drew Lock because they were able to put pressure on him, time and time again. If the Volunteers can hold off the Alabama defensive line, they will have the opportunity to exploit a thin secondary. If the Volunteers are unable to provide Jarrett Guarantano time, then it will be a long day in Knoxville.

Big Plays

To beat this year’s Alabama football team you have to limit big plays and create your own. Alabama has scored every opening drive this season. In fact, the last two games for Alabama the Tide has scored on the first and second play to start the game. Tennessee has to make Alabama earn each and every point through extended multi-play drives.

Tennessee has to take this game into the second half. No team has been able to do that to the Tide so far this season.

On offense, Tennessee will need big plays not in the sense of yardage, but in the sense of keeping drives going. Tennessee has to keep its defense off the field. They must run the football and not put themselves into third and long. The more opportunities you give Alabama’s defense to blitz only hurts yourself. The Volunteers must capitalize on each and every drive to maintain pace with Alabama.

Conclusion

I believe the only team capable of beating Alabama is Alabama. If Alabama comes out playing its ‘A’ game, then no one in the country will keep up. However, if Alabama plays has turnovers, cannot win the line of scrimmage and is incapable of big plays, the door will open for the Vols.

Tennessee must play its ‘A’ game in every facet or it will be over quickly in Knoxville. If the Volunteers are looking at Tua on the bench during the 4th quarter, it will be because they could not win the battles above.

Please comment on what you think Tennessee must do to have a chance against Alabama football on the third Saturday in October. Also, provide a score prediction for the game!