Alabama vs. Tennessee: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch
Tennessee already has broken one streak this year as it snapped an 11-year run of futility against Florida. Now, the Volunteers will have a little tougher test to end the second one.
The No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Neyland Stadium to take on a battered and beaten Vols team coming off its first loss of the season in double overtime at Texas A&M. If the first part of the season is any indication, it won't be an easy road test for the Tide, either.
Ninth-ranked UT already has beaten the Gators and Georgia Bulldogs, and they have a propensity to come back no matter the deficit or what quarter it is.
Still, Alabama is a different animal altogether. That's why the Tide surged from an eight-point favorite to 13 in the short time Vegas had the line posted.
The Vols must play their best game of the Butch Jones era to win, and if they do, the SEC championship and national championship are back on the table.
This battle is back on the national map where it belongs and back on the Third Saturday in October where it belongs. Let's take a look at what you need to know about the rivalry showdown.
Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Place: Neyland Stadium
TV: CBS
Spread: Crimson Tide by 13, according to Odds Shark
Tennessee Keys to Victory
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Secure the ball
Turnovers have a way of evening out.
After a run of luck through the season's first four games despite a bad case of the butter fingers, the Vols haven't been so fortunate jumping on balls on the ground during the last two weekends.
They turned it over three times against Georgia, and a school-record seven turnovers at Kyle Field cost them the game against Texas A&M. Jones told reporters after the game he was "dumbfounded" by the blunders.
"It's just been kind of weird," said running back Alvin Kamara, who noted this wasn't an issue that happens in practice. "It's just kinda something that's popped up in games."
If it pops up in this one, the Vols will get boat-raced.
Hit some downfield shots
Last year, Tennessee had success running the football against the Tide, gaining 132 yards. With Jalen Hurd expected back, the Vols will have three able runners to throw at Bama.
But you can't be one-dimensional and beat the Tide.
UA will have the best secondary quarterback Joshua Dobbs has faced, and he has to move the ball downfield vertically without making any mistakes. The Vols need for Josh Malone to return to the form he displayed during the season's first four games, and they need a big showing from Jauan Jennings, too.
The Vols need big plays in the passing game.
Quick start
It's well-documented how poor Tennessee's starts have been. They trailed Appalachian State 13-0, Florida 21-0, Georgia 17-0 and Texas A&M 28-7.
Finally against the Aggies, they couldn't come all the way back and win even though they did tie the game at 35.
The Vols can't do that against Alabama. If they get down by a couple of touchdowns, a crimson avalanche will ensue. The Tide are too good, too deep, too disciplined. So, UT must play its most complete game of the year. Or else.
Alabama Keys to Victory
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Defensive intensity
When they're playing at their highest level, the Crimson Tide are the best defensive team in the country.
They're relentless, they get after the passer, they force turnovers. They've got talent and depth and speed and strength. They're a product of a recruiting factory, and Tennessee has to hit some big downfield plays to keep them honest.
If not, Dobbs will be pressured all day. The Vols have to stop that and design plays to exploit it. But the Tide can't let up on the pressure. They've got stars on all levels.
"I think this is the best Alabama team we've faced since we've been here," Jones said, according to the Associated Press' John Zenor. "It's the best secondary of any Alabama team we've faced since we've been here."
UT is too turnover-prone for head coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to tap the brakes.
Neutralize Barnett
Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett is arguably the best defender in the nation at any level. He's up there with Michigan's Jabrill Peppers, at least.
After winning a superb unofficial showdown with A&M's Myles Garrett last weekend, even though Garrett played great even while hobbled and the Aggies won the game, he'll again be going against two star pass-rushers.
Tim Williams is technically a linebacker, but Jonathan Allen is another star defensive end. But Barnett may be better than any of them. The Tide must account for him on every play, double-teams be darned.
Commit to run
Sensational Tide freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts is a thrill to watch, but that doesn't stop Bama fans from clamoring for offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to run the ball.
Why wouldn't they want to? Damien Harris and freshman Joshua Jacobs are each averaging more than eight yards per carry. Tennessee's run defense is struggling, currently 10th in the SEC allowing 183 yards per game.
Bama should pound it early and often.
Tennessee Players to Watch
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Alvin Kamara
Just how good was Kamara against Texas A&M?
He became the first Power Five running back in 20 years to run for 125 or more yards and amass 150 or more receiving yards in the same game. He had an astounding 312 all-purpose yards, which is a UT school record.
With Hurd out, Kamara shone. It proves the Vols need to find more ways to get him more touches, especially against his former Alabama teammates. He's the kind of player who can be a difference-maker.
"When the ball is in his hands, we expect him to make a play, and he expects to make a play," Dobbs said after the A&M game, per Grant Ramey of the Knoxville News Sentinel. "He did a great job of that all night in the run game and then the throw game."
Hurd should get plenty of carries, but if the Vols don't get AK 20 touches, it'll be a mistake.
Darrin Kirkland Jr.
Nobody likely will know if UT sophomore starting middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. will be available for the Alabama game until near kickoff.
If he is, it'll be a major boost to the Vols defense.
That's taking nothing away from his replacement, Colton Jumper. He should be on the field, too, especially if Cortez McDowell can't return from his injury suffered against A&M.
Kirkland has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain in the win over Virginia Tech in the Battle at Bristol in the season's second game. Jumper has emerged as a leader and a defensive star since then, but Kirkland is potentially elite.
With all the injuries, UT needs him available.
Derek Barnett
Vols fans need to enjoy Barnett while they can. He's already got 29 tackles, five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss this season. He also proved against A&M he could cover receivers downfield.
He's UT's best defensive lineman since Reggie White, and his junior year will likely be his final one in Knoxville.
Barnett took over the Florida and Georgia games as well as the first half against A&M. He needs the best game of his career to help UT topple the Tide.
Alabama Players to Watch
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Calvin Ridley
That sick feeling in the pits of Tennessee fans' stomachs is probably because they're thinking about having to face Calvin Ridley this weekend without All-SEC cornerback Cameron Sutton, who's out for an extended period of time.
The sophomore from Florida is one of the nation's top three or four receivers, and he has the ability to take over games. UT has had more than its share of issues in coverage with Emmanuel Moseley, Malik Foreman, Justin Martin and Baylen Buchanan trying to pick up Sutton's reps.
UT needs more safety help than it got in the A&M game in order to slow down Ridley. Sutton could have done it, but he'll be watching from the sideline. It may be a banner day for Ridley because of that.
Hurts loves to get him the ball; don't look for that to stop this weekend.
Tim Williams
Against Arkansas, Williams picked up a fumble and rumbled for a touchdown. The week before against Kentucky, he had four tackles, three stops for a loss, a sack, two additional quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Every week, he proves why he's one of the most disruptive players in the country.
There's a reason why he's expected to be a high draft pick—perhaps one of the top three or four players taken overall.
UT's offensive line has improved each week, especially since right tackle Chance Hall returned. While Myles Garrett had some big plays last week, the Vols did an OK job overall. This will be a new challenge on Saturday. Williams may be the best defender they've faced.
Ryan Anderson
Allen gets more headlines, but Anderson actually has half a sack more (4.5) than his teammate so far.
The Vols know all about Anderson, too. Last year, he beat Hall around the edge, sacked Dobbs and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Tide to end any hope of a Vols' last-drive comeback win in what wound up a 19-14 Alabama victory.
With all of Alabama's pass-rushing talent, it's easy to overlook Anderson. But the Vols need to make sure they know where he is at all times. Williams and Allen, too. Yes, that's a tall order.
What They're Saying
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Vols junior tight end Ethan Wolf respects Alabama, but that doesn't mean the Crimson Tide keep him awake at night. He told SEC Country's Mike Griffith:
"Since the day I came in here, nobody is really scared of Alabama or thought that we weren't as good. We've got a lot of pride in ourselves and last year (a 19-14 loss) was just proving that. We were leading until the last series, so it's frustrating we couldn't pull that one out. But I think that all the work we've put in since that game, there's definitely no fear or feeling of not being good enough to beat Alabama, by any means.
"
A couple of weeks ago, Saban paid Tennessee some big respect when he said this of the rivalry on his radio show:
"I think you get very quickly a feel for what your own players on your own team, even that were here before you came here, what's important to them. And it was very obvious to me that the Tennessee game was always the biggest game. It was always the biggest game for us. That's no disrespect to Auburn or the great Iron Bowl rivalries. But to our players and a lot of our fans, the Tennessee game, because of the tradition of the game, [is important], so it didn't take long to figure that out.
"
AL.com's Kevin Scarbinsky said Saban's comments were "balderdash" and "poppycock"—until the Vols can beat Alabama, it wasn't as big of a game as Auburn or LSU:
"Memo to everyone up to and including Nick Saban trying to romanticize the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry as we get closer to a rare Third Saturday in October that means something big for both teams: Gen. Robert Neyland is still dead. Phillip Fulmer is a spook story Alabama dads tell their kids. Put that in your victory cigar and smoke it.
"
On Saturday night, the SEC held its breath and prayed for Danny O'Brien after he was carted off the field on a stretcher. After word came out the UT senior defensive tackle was OK, O'Brien's name was in the news for altogether different reasons Monday.
He was booted from UT for a violation of team rules. The disappointing turn of events was addressed by O'Brien via Twitter: "I take full responsibility. I'm grateful for my teammates, coaches and Vol Nation. It has been and [sic] honor to help bring this program back."
Prediction
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Can Tennessee beat Alabama? Absolutely.
Will the Vols? Well, that's something completely different, isn't it? There are just so many defensive injuries, and with O'Brien off the team, that's another lost starter the Vols must account for now.
If Sutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin were playing and if Kirkland and McDowell were healthier, they could change the outlook of the game, but Alabama is playing at a high level on offense right now with Hurts, Harris, Jacobs, Ridley and the rest.
There are just tons of playmakers on that side of the ball.
While the Vols will score some points against Alabama's dynamic defense, they've also proved they'll turn the ball over. They also haven't yet shown they can play a complete game. Until they do, it's hard to see Tennessee coming out on top.
The Neyland Stadium crowd will be rowdy, and if the Vols can ride that momentum, they can pull a huge upset. It should be a four-quarter game because, heck, when has a UT game not been?
But in the end, it's hard to pick the Vols until they prove it in this one.
Prediction: Alabama 33, Tennessee 23
Quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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