It's the Third Saturday in October, and also a mythical "Tennessee hate week" as some like to celebrate. Around these parts, if you're not hating Tennessee every single day of the year, you're doing something wrong.
Alabama and Tennessee enter this iteration of the longstanding rivalry with equal 5-1 records, both right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race.
The Crimson Tide is winners of five consecutive games, shaking off the season-opening loss to Florida State. But Alabama has faced a gauntlet of games. Tennessee will represent the fourth straight ranked conference opponent, and the Vols are the first team on Alabama's schedule this year that has had a number in the loss column coming in.
Tennessee has won three in a row since an overtime loss at home against Georgia, but the two conference wins in that stretch have not been super comfortable against below-average SEC foes. The Vols escaped in overtime at Mississippi State before surviving for a three-point home win last week against Arkansas.
Tennessee will bring one of the nation's best and most explosive offenses to Tuscaloosa with them, but also a defense that has been mighty susceptible. Alabama is likely to be the best offense Josh Heupel's team has faced this season, and if the Tide can protect Ty Simpson, they should be able to put quite a few points on the board.
How to watch No. 6 Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee in Week 8
- Date: Saturday, October 18th
- Time: 6:30 pm C.T.
- Venue: Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): ABC
- Streaming: fubo TV
- Alabama record: 5-1
- Tennessee record: 5-1
What are the betting odds for Alabama vs. Tennessee?
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread: Alabama -9.5
Over/Under: 58.5
Moneyline: Alabama -315/Tennessee +250
Injury reports for Alabama and Tennessee
Alabama:
- LB Qua Russaw: OUT
- LB Jah-Marien Latham: OUT
- DL Jeremiah Beaman: OUT
- LB Cayden Jones: OUT
- WR Jaylen Mbakwe: Questionable
- WR Derek Meadows: Questionable
- RB Jam Miller: Questionable
Tennessee:
TBD - will be updated when availability reports are released on Wednesday night.
Who are the announcers for Alabama vs. Tennessee?
Alabama and Tennessee will get ESPN/ABC's No. 2 studio crew with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), former Alabama QB Greg McElroy (analyst), and Molly McGrath (sideline reporter). This will be the second time this season that Alabama has had this broadcast crew. They were also on the call for Alabama's Week 6 win over Vanderbilt.
What will the weather be like for Alabama football on Saturday?
It's looking like another unseasonably warm fall Saturday, something folks in Alabama are growing accustomed to this year. The high in Tuscaloosa is currently projected to be 88 with a low of 67 in the evening time. There's a chance for some scattered thunderstorms later in the evening, but that's not currently expected to impact the game.
Alabama vs. Tennessee Third Saturday in October series history
Alabama leads the all-time series against Tennessee 60-39-8. The series was much closer until the dominance of the Nick Saban era. Alabama beat Tennessee 15 consecutive times from 2007-2021 before Heupel led the Vols to a win in Neyland in 2022. Alabama rebounded with a win in 2023 at home, but Tennessee answered with last season's win in Knoxville, meaning the Vols have now won two of the last three meetings after losing the previous 15 times.
Alabama currently sports a 10-game home winning streak over Tennessee, last losing in Bryant-Denny to the Vols back in 2003 in five overtimes. Alabama has won those 10 games by an average margin of 20.2 points, with only three of them being decided by one score.