Alabama football vs. Tennessee final odds and prediction

Alabama football takes on Tennessee in Knoxville in the latest iteration of the Third Saturday in October rivalry coming off of two consecutive uninspiring performances.

Alabama lost on the road to Vanderbilt and then didn't have the bounce back performance that most hoped for in a 27-25 win over South Carolina.

The Volunteers have also struggled in their last two outings, losing to Arkansas on the road before needing overtime to knock off Florida last week in Neyland.

Neither team has looked like the national title contenders we thought we'd seen through the season's first four games. Alabama's one advantage is that it looked the part against another contender by beating Georgia in Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide has struggled for the better part of the last 10 quarters of football.

We will need to see the Alabama we saw in the first half against Georgia if the Crimson Tide is going to go on the road and knock off the Volunteers.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel

Spread: Alabama -3.5

Over/Under: 56.5

A lot of Alabama fans were surprised to see the Crimson Tide open as a slight road favorite in Knoxville, but the oddsmakers have doubled down on it with Alabama moving all the way to a 3.5 point favorite after opening around a point or two.

Final Prediction:

This isn't one of those games that Alabama fans will only be satisfied with a blowout. Escape Knoxville with a win, by any means necessary, and it'll be enough for everyone aside from the most ardent haters.

This game feels like a toss-up. It's only a matter of time before things click for Nico Iamaleava, but here's hoping it takes him at least one more week. For now, I side with the battle tested Jalen Milroe and an explosive Alabama offense that should be close to full strength with the return of both Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice at WR.

I expect a close game, but for the Crimson Tide to make one more play to decide the game.

Pick: Alabama 28, Tennessee 24