Alabama Football: Three game predictions for the Tide vs. the Vols

Check out the Bama Hammer staff game predictions for the 102nd meeting between Alabama football and their SEC rival, Tennessee Volunteers.

Alabama football fans are excited to finally get a night game in Tuscaloosa. Given the opponent is one of the oldest and most-hated rivals of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Bryant-Denny will be rocking.

The outcome is not in doubt. The only question is the margin. Actionnetwork.com has the Crimson Tide as a 34.5 point favorite. The line has shown little movement since opening with a 35-point spread.

The pickers at al.com have the Crimson Tide covering the spread. Nick Saban has less than zero interest in whether or not his Alabama football team covers a spread. Nick also does not like to run up scores. He especially tries to not run up a score against a former assistant, turned head coach.

Even with Saban’s strong inclinations, this game could take a different turn. One of the al.com pickers cited above suggested some “big boosters” want the Vols “begging for mercy.” Quite a few Alabama football fans share that sentiment. Even with a deserved, residual appreciation for Jeremy Pruitt, as long as Phil Fulmer is around, many Tide fans will always root for ‘pedal to the metal’ for 60 minutes.

We all know Nick Saban will not coach to satisfy fans or cater to boosters. Saban has a boss in Tuscaloosa but no one tells him anything about how to run his Alabama football team.

What will happen?

Bama Hammer contributor, Ronald Moody sees the game ending 49-10. That outcome beats the spread but it also might result from Saban clearing the bench in the fourth quarter.

Bama Hammer contributor, Zachary Mangum predicts a more one-sided outcome. Alabama Crimson Tide 59 – Tennessee Vols 10. Zach had this to say,

"Tennessee is not good and beating Mississippi State only serves as a band-aid on a season that has been, in a word, disappointing. The Tide are more talented at almost every position. This one could get ugly early."

There are reasons Zach’s 59-10 pick sounds good to me. If healthy, Jeremy Pruitt may give freshman quarterback, Brian Maurer the start. Either Maurer or Jarrett Guarantano will be facing nearly, fully healthy and hungry, outside linebackers, Terrell Lewis and Anfernee Jennings. The tackles trying to block the Tide pair are freshmen.

Another reason is a sense some components of this Alabama football team, not just Tua and the sensational wideouts, could explode Saturday night. The newly settled offensive line is likely to play its best game of the season. With a consistent pass rush, the Tide secondary will be even more dangerous ball-hawks. And the Vols’ QBs have a propensity to throw interceptions.

My take is Zach’s pick is a good one, unless Saban takes his foot off the gas. If that happens, Ronald’s pick looks good.