Alabama is in Knoxville today looking to bounce back from a disappointing - and controversial - loss to Georgia last weekend in Tuscaloosa. There's more than just rivalry bragging rights on the line for a pair of 5-1 teams.
Both the Crimson Tide and the Volunteers are looking for major wins to boost their College Football Playoff hopes. The winner will have the inside track toward reaching the 12-team playoff, while the loser will have exhausted their entire margin for error by the middle of October.
Alabama heads into this matchup pretty banged up. Three starters went down last week against Georgia, and all three will miss this week's game in Knoxville.
Star WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, DT Terrance Green, and perhaps most consequentially, starting center Racin Delgatty, are all out.
That's life in the SEC, though. It's next man up for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama, who have to find a way to win this game on the road even without several key players. No excuses. Get it done.
More pressure will be on Lotzeir Brooks and Rico Scott with Coleman-Williams out, and Alabama will need at least one of Noah Rogers, Derek Meadows, or Cederian Morgan to step up.
On the defensive line, Alabama will be a little more versatile this week with the return of Wolf LB Justin Hill, which should allow Devan Thompkins to see more snaps inside. London Simmons and Kedrick Bingley-Jones will see increased roles.
The biggest concern is without Delgatty, however. Sophomore Mal Waldrep will fill in, but he'll be making his first start at center in a raucous environment and going against one of the top defensive players in the country, Xavier Gilliam.
Betting odds for Alabama vs. Tennessee
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 5am ET on Saturday.
Spread: Alabama -7.5
Over/Under: 50.5
Moneyline: Alabama -315/Tennessee +250
Alabama vs. Tennessee game predictions
This will be another 60-minute game for Alabama. Tennessee will look to follow the same script that Georgia did by shortening the game and throwing a multitude of confusing coverages at Keelon Russell.
The difference is that this is easily the best offense Tennessee has faced, and Alabama learned a lot from last week against Georgia. On the flip side, Tennessee's struggling offense should offer up some opportunities for Kane Wommack's opportunistic defense to make a big play or two.
We're rolling with the Tide.
Picks:
John Mitchell: Alabama 28, Tennessee 13
Ron Evans: Alabama 31, Tennessee 21
Trevion Ware: Alabama 41, Tennessee 24
Dominic Giacobazzi: Alabama 38, Tennessee 30
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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