It's the Third Saturday in October. Fans of both Alabama and Tennessee have cigars prepped and ready for the occasion.
Younger college football fans may not realize just how heated - and historic - this rivalry is. But for many years, it was one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, and plenty of older Crimson Tide fans hate Tennessee with a greater passion than even Auburn.
Nick Saban led Alabama to 15 straight wins in The Third Saturday in October from 2007-2021, so thoroughly dominating the Volunteers that the rivalry didn't feel as impactful for some time. But Josh Heupel's arrival in Knoxville changed the fortunes for Tennessee.
The Vols won the 2022 game, a 52-49 thriller in Knoxville, where I think the flag on pass interference during Kool-Aid McKinstry's would-be game-sealing interception was thrown about five minutes ago. Alabama avenged that loss in Tuscaloosa the next year with a two-touchdown win over the Vols in what proved to be Saban's last game in the rivalry matchup.
Kalen DeBoer lost his first matchup against Tennessee, a disappointing 24-17 result last season at Neyland. Alabama will look to get revenge this year in Tuscaloosa under the Bryant-Denny lights.
Alabama has won the last 10 meetings in Tuscaloosa. The last Tennessee road win over Alabama came in 2003 during a five-overtime marathon.
Both teams enter the game at 5-1 with hotshot QBs. Alabama's Ty Simpson is among the Heisman Trophy favorites. The Tennessee native has been terrific in leading the Tide ot five straight wins after a season-opening road loss to Florida State.
Tennessee's Joey Aguilar transferred from UCLA after the spring and has immediately played at a high level. Tennessee's only loss came in overtime on the road against Georgia in a game they held an early multi-score lead. They've looked shaky in their last two SEC games, however, earning narrow wins over Mississippi State and Arkansas.
Whichever team can better protect their QB - and avoid crucial turnovers - is the one that will likely taste the victory cigars in the winning locker room.
Betting odds for Alabama vs. Tennessee
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 6am ET on Saturday.
Spread: Alabama -8.5
Over/Under: 59.5
Moneyline: Alabama -300/Tennessee +245
Predictions from the Bama Hammer Team
Most seem to expect a shootout between the Crimson Tide and Volunteers. They are two of the most capable offenses in the SEC, and both defenses have proven vulnerable. Neither defense has stopped the run as consistently as they would like, and you can bet that Heupel and Kalen DeBoer will try to pound the rock to set the tone early.
Alabama's defense has proven that it can get stops when it has to. Even holding the opposing offense to a field goal in this game is a win, and I trust the Tide's defense to do it just a little bit more than I do the Vols right now.
This also feels like a perfect spot for Alabama's offense to put it all together and end the struggles in plus-territory.
Picks:
John Mitchell: Alabama 38, Tennessee 24
Josh Yourish: Alabama 30, Tennessee 24
Ron Evans: Alabama 38, Tennessee 27
Greg Bosworth: Alabama 38, Tennessee 34
Dominic Giacobazzi: Alabama 45, Tennessee 38