Tennessee’s matchup with Alabama carries plenty of weight, and the Vols on SI crew wasn’t shy about leaning into the spotlight with a batch of bold calls for the game.
Ty Redmond was the first player singled out for a big swing. The prediction centered on the Tennessee defensive back ending a quiet start to the year by picking off a pass against Alabama.
"Being quiet is typically a good thing for DBs, and Ty Redmond has been quiet since the start of the season. Last season he led the team in interceptions with three, and this season he has yet to get an interception through the first six games of the season.
With that being said, this seems like a great opportunity to get an interception while playing against a younger quarterback. I believe that Redmond will get an interception in this game, snapping his dry streak of no turnovers," Sisk said.
The pass rush also drew attention, with one prediction calling for Tennessee’s defense to pile up five sacks. The thinking was simple: when the Vols’ front is rolling, it ranks among the nation’s best, and that kind of pressure could be the difference in keeping Tennessee in the fight.
"The Tennessee defense will record 5 sacks on the day. The defensive front for the Volunteers is among the best in the nation when firing on all cylinders. That will be vital to keep the home team in the game and perhaps give them a shot at winning the game," Dowden said.
On offense, DeSean Bishop was projected to stay hot after back-to-back strong performances. He rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn, then followed that up with 138 yards and a score against Arkansas. The forecast is that Tennessee can keep feeding him against an Alabama defense coming off a 20-17 loss to Georgia in which it gave up more than 200 rushing yards.
"Bishop has been almost unstoppable over the past two games, rushing for 220 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn before following that performance with 138 yards and a touchdown against Arkansas. Bishop’s latest performances, in addition to the fact that the Crimson Tide are coming off a 20-17 loss to Georgia in which they surrendered more than 200 rushing yards, lead me to believe that the Vols should be able to exploit that apparent weakness and establish their impressive run game early," Elrod said.
The passing game got a prediction of its own, and it came with a big number attached. George MacIntyre’s second week as the starter was cited as a chance for more rhythm, more chemistry, and a breakout showing from Mike Matthews.
"The passing offense has been lacking since SEC play started, but they did look much improved against Arkansas with George MacIntyre starting. With another week as the starter and chemistry being developed, I think that Mike Matthews and MacIntyre will be a great pairing. Look for Matthews to have a massive day and get over 100 yards," Passons said.
The final forecast wrapped it together with another big day from Bishop and a Tennessee defense expected to create havoc late.
"DeSean Bishop rushes for 125+ yards and two touchdowns, while Tennessee's defense forces a couple of turnovers, including a fourth-quarter interception that helps seal the victory," Greer said.
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