Alabama is looking for a bounce-back game this week after a three-point loss to Georgia at home in Week 6. It won't come easy, as the Crimson Tide travels to Knoxville, a place it has lost the last two times it has played, to face No. 14-ranked Tennessee.
Both teams are 5-1 and looking for a pivotal win for their College Football Playoff hopes. Last week's loss to Georgia was pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of the season, but allowing that loss to tumble into two would change that in a hurry.
Every week we make some bold predictions on the Wednesday before each game. Some weeks are better than others. After getting three of four correct for the Mississippi State game, we slipped to just 1-of-4 last week against Georgia.
We correctly predicted Marshall Pritchett would score his first career touchdown, but missed on the others.
Like Alabama, we're looking to bounce back this week.
1. EJ Crowell leads Alabama in rushing
What can I say? I love the pain.
We made this same prediction last week, and it fell way short. The other freshman back, Trae'shawn Brown, led Alabama with 90 rushing yards on the strength of a 58-yard explosive in the second quarter.
But it continues to feel like Crowell is getting more comfortable in the offense, and that's all that is standing in the way of him and a major role. Ryan Grubb commented on Monday that the goal is to get him at least 10 touches per game, something they fell short of against Georgia.
Against a Tennessee run defense that has struggled, and with a raucous environment in Neyland Stadium making life more difficult for Keelon Russell, especially without his No. 1 WR in Ryan Coleman-Williams, I expect the Crimson Tide to want to run the ball early and often.
I think Crowell gets his 10 touches this week and produces at least one explosive play that helps him finish as the rushing leader.
2. Derek Meadows scores his first career touchdown
With Coleman-Williams out, opportunities will increase for Derek Meadows, Noah Rogers, and Cederian Morgan. While I think this could be the breakout week for Rogers, who is getting closer to 100%, I think Alabama could utilize Meadows and Morgan more in the redzone with their size and mismatch capability.
Meadows was first off the bench for Alabama last week when Coleman-Williams went out, and he made a nice play on a scramble drill by Russell, finding some open space and being friendly to the QB. Those two have some clear chemistry, and I think that culminates this week into Meadows' first collegiate touchdown.
3. Alabama's defense produces multiple takeaways
Regardless of whether it's George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon behind center for Tennessee on Saturday afternoon, Alabama's defense should have some opportunities for takeaways. Neither QB has a ton of experience, and both will put the ball in harm's way. MacIntyre was picked off twice last week against Arkansas in his first career start.
Alabama took the ball off Georgia just once last week, despite having multiple other opportunities. There was the controversial QB Reese interception overturn, along with four times when the Bulldogs put the ball on the turf, and they recovered every single one of them.
I think Alabama's defense will produce multiple takeaways this week to greatly assist in the Crimson Tide earning a win in Knoxville.
4. Alabama holds DeSean Bishop to under 100 rushing yards
Star RB DeSean Bishop will be at the top of Alabama's defensive scouting report this week. Stopping him - or at least slowing him down - will be paramount to the Crimson Tide's defensive success.
I expect Wommack to load the box with heavier fronts to slow down Bishop, daring the Tennessee QBs to beat him. Bishop will still find some creases and produce some yards, but I think Alabama will ultimately hold him under 100 overall, which is no small task. He has rushed for 358 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games alone. He put up 123 yards on just 14 carries against Alabama last season.
After struggling in the second half with run fits against Georgia, I think the Crimson Tide will bounce back this week and keep Bishop contained.
Add us as a preferred source on Google