Third Saturday in October Alabama Football thoughts and SEC post-season predictions

Some misguided college football pundits, especially the ones who don't really 'get' Alabama Football, claim the sizzle has been lost for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Tennessee. They could not be more wrong. Don't tell an over-35-year-old Alabama fan that the Third Saturday in October is not big. In that age group of Alabama fans, there are strong and painful memories of a span that began in 1995 and continued through 2006. During that period, Alabama won just two of the 12 games, including a string of seven consecutive losses.

Those of us in an over-45 group of Bama fans also remember four consecutive losses to the Vols in 1982-1985. Some even remember the Crimson Tide losing another four straight in 1967-1970. Nick Saban once said he hated losing more than he loved winning. For many Alabama fans; that perspective explains the Alabama vs. Tennessee rivalry perfectly.

In addition to the long history, this season's 'Third Saturday' comes close to being a playoff elimination game. On Monday, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports predicted that no 9-3 team would make this season's Playoffs. Perhaps the SEC Championship Game loser could get in with a third loss, but if Palm is correct, neither Alabama nor Tennessee can afford a second loss in Week 8. A Tennessee loss would be the most damaging to Playoff hopes, given the Vols must go to Athens in Week 12.

Alabama Football Playoff Prediction

Palm's latest prediction is that Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M will make the Playoffs. He adds that LSU and Tennessee have the best chances to displace one of the four he selected as Playoff participants.

The SEC's other 10 teams seek strong enough finishes to claim 2024 as a successful 'trending up' season. If Palm is correct, the Ole Miss, Missouri and Oklahoma programs will need some skillful spinning to explain being Playoff pretenders.

That leaves seven SEC football programs hoping to qualify for a respectable bowl game. Jerry Palm predicts four of them will come up short. He predicts no post-season play for Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, and Mississippi State. Palm's SEC football bowl game predictions are Tennessee to the Gator Bowl; LSU to the Texas Bowl; Missouri to the Citrus; Ole Miss to the ReliaQuest; Kentucky to the Music City; Oklahoma to the Las Vegas Bowl; Arkansas to the Liberty and Vanderbilt to the Birmingham Bowl. Arkansas and Vanderbilt fans will celebrate their success in bowl eligibility. The other fanbases will be none too pleased.

Note: Alabama vs. Tennessee series history provided by mcubed.net.