Tennessee-Alabama: What To Look For

"The Third Saturday in October"—what a creative nickname for the annual rivalry game between Tennessee and Alabama.

The handle may not be a fancy one, but then again neither are many of the games.

The annual UT-Bama meeting tends to be a hard-nosed affair, a matchup won in the trenches by tough defensive stands and gutsy two-yard runs. 

You know—typical old-school SEC football.

Other rivalries can have their Golden Egg (MSU vs. Ole Miss), Bronze Boot (Colorado State vs. Wyoming), and Jeweled Shillelagh (Notre Dame vs. USC).

Anything "Gold", "Bronze", or "Jeweled" would be too elegant for this one.

Take 2005, for example, when 17th-ranked Tennessee visited Tuscaloosa to play fifth-ranked Alabama.

Alabama won 6-3, on a Jamie Christensen field goal with only 19 seconds remaining in the game.

The biggest play, though, came with five minutes left and the score 3-3.

Tennessee had the ball in the red zone and was looking for the go-ahead score.  On third down, Rick Clausen threw a swing pass to Cory Anderson. 

Anderson had open field ahead of him, but as he was nearing the goal line Alabama's Roman Harper knocked the ball loose—sending it through the back of the end zone for a touchback.

On Alabama's next possession, Christensen nailed the game-winning field goal.

Alabama would finish the 2005 season with a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. The Vols finished 5-6 and were sitting at home by mid-December.

That game was the last time these rivals faced off at Bryant-Denney Stadium in Tuscaloosa—the site of this Saturday's contest.

Alabama (5-2) hopes for a repeat performance, minus the drama, while 21st-ranked Tennessee (4-2) simply hopes for a road victory.

Other than the 2005 game, Tennessee has held a significant edge over their counterparts recently, winning eight out of the last 10 matchups.  On the other hand, Alabama holds the all-time edge with a six-game advantage.

Both Alabama and Tennessee control their own destiny in their respective SEC races—Alabama in the West, Tennessee in the East.

A loss on Saturday would change that for either program.

Tennessee center Josh McNeil put it best.

"This is the Third Saturday in October, and this is Alabama. This rivalry goes way back.  We know how big this rivalry is. It's huge. Everybody knows that we don't like Alabama and they don't like us either, so it is going to be fun."

Here's some info on this year's game; have fun impressing your fellow tailgaters come Saturday:

-Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer is 11-3 against Alabama all-time, while Alabama head coach Nick Saban sports a 2-1 all-time record against Tennessee.

-Alabama is 5-0 this season when scoring first. Tennessee is 4-0 when doing the same.

-Alabama has lost to Georgia and Florida State this season, by a combined 10 points.  In each loss, the Crimson Tide fell behind by two scores at the outset (10 to UGA, 14 to FSU).

-Tennessee, on the other hand, has lost to Cal and Florida by a combined 53 points.

-UA and UT have only one common opponent: Georgia.  Each played the 'Dawgs at their respective home stadiums. Alabama lost by three in overtime; Tennessee won by 21.

-Tennessee WR Lucas Taylor leads the SEC with 103 receiving yards per game.

-Alabama's RB tandem of Glen Coffee and Terry Grant have already combined to rush for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.

As for predictions—obviously, the numbers can argue either way here. Regardless of individual stats and common opponents, though, someone has to score first. 

And based on the results to date, that someone will have a good chance of winning the game.

The Third Saturday in October will be played for the 90th time in history this Saturday, October 20th, at 12:30 PM EST. The game will be televised by ESPN Gameplan as well as Lincoln Financial Sports.

 
Cory Anderson painting by Steve R. Skipper, entitled "The Hit".  Click here to view or purchase more of his work.