Alabama’s trip to Tennessee comes with the kind of opening line that tells you oddsmakers see a real gap, even if the latest rankings say both teams still belong in the mix. FanDuel opened the Crimson Tide as a 6.5-point favorite over the Volunteers, with the total set at 55.5.
That number makes sense when you line up what each team has shown so far. Alabama is coming off a close loss to Georgia that did not knock it out of the Coaches Poll, where it stayed at No.
- The Tide’s résumé still looks strong: a win over Kentucky, which has suddenly looked excellent, and a defeat to No.
1 Georgia that could have gone either way.
Tennessee, meanwhile, sits at 5-1 and No. 15, but the path there has been bumpier than the record suggests. The Volunteers have had to sweat out narrow wins against Arkansas and Auburn, two teams near the bottom of the SEC, and the offense has been the biggest issue. Faizon Brandon had been leading a passing game that has struggled badly before getting injured, and backup George MacIntyre hasn’t provided a boost.
The numbers back that up. Tennessee is averaging just 22 points per game on offense in SEC play and 17 points per game on defense.
For the season, the Vols are producing only 187 passing yards per game, and that includes the first three tune-up games. DeSean Bishop has basically been asked to carry everything, and he’s done it with 678 rushing yards.
Alabama’s scoring profile is much louder. The Tide rolled through their first five opponents by putting up 45 points or more in every game, with only one cupcake on the schedule in that stretch. East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina and Mississippi State all got hit hard before Georgia finally slowed things down in a 17-20 Tide loss.
That Georgia game looked nothing like Alabama’s earlier blowouts. It turned into a tight, low-possession fight between elite teams, with only 7 combined drives in the entire second half.
Alabama’s defense has been uneven this season, flashing playmaking ability while also giving up downfield completions in nearly every game. Georgia also found some success on the ground.
Even so, the Tide held the Bulldogs to less than half of their usual offensive output.
From a matchup standpoint, Alabama clearly brings the stronger offense, while the defenses look similar enough to keep this from becoming a runaway. The wrinkle is Neyland Stadium, and that’s part of why the 6.5-point line and 55.5 total feel fairly aggressive for a game with this much uncertainty.
The projection points toward Alabama winning something like 31-25, but there’s also a real case for a lower-scoring game. If the Tide come in flat after the Georgia loss, this one could land closer to 21-14 and stay under the number.
In Other News...
Georgias Win Was Just Overshadowed By An Ugly Alabama Tunnel Incident
Georgias 20-17 win over Alabama had already packed enough drama into the night, with the Bulldogs leaning on a strong rushing effort from Dwight Phillips Jr. and Bo Walker while Gunner Stockton managed the offense with 249 passing yards and a touchdown. But the postgame mood near the stadium tunnel turned ugly in a hurry, shifting attention away from the field and toward a scene that had nothing to do with football.
Near the tunnel, an Alabama fan physically confronted Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson, slapping and shoving his helmet in an incident captured by reporter Reggie Chatman Jr. Witnesses said the fan also used a racially degrading term during the encounter, turning an already tense exit from the stadium into an incident that stood out even in a rivalry game that had plenty of edge before the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Finebaum Defends Kalen DeBoer After Alabamas Painful Georgia Finish
Georgias 20-17 win over Alabama left plenty for Tide fans to argue about, but Paul Finebaum zeroed in on the officiating more than the final score. The SEC pundit took aim at a late fourth-quarter pass interference no call, calling it a terrible decision and saying the conference office ought to explain it.
Kalen DeBoer, meanwhile, drew praise for the way he handled the situation as the calls piled up during the game. For Alabama, the frustration lingers because the finish was so tight, and because a night that could have turned on one judgment call instead ended with more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Crossed A Line After Georgia Loss
Georgias win at Bryant-Denny Stadium came with an unsavory postgame scene, as some Alabama fans hurled trash onto the field while the Bulldogs were making their way out. The videos that circulated afterward showed debris scattered in the end zone, and Georgia staffers responded by telling players to put their helmets back on for protection as they exited.
It was the kind of moment that cast a shadow over an already tense game and added another layer to the disappointment in Tuscaloosa. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer had already drawn attention for his comments about a controversial non-call during the game, and he also acknowledged his teams responsibility as the aftermath of the loss became part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]