The Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide meet in week 8 college football action from Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide prediction.
Tennessee Volunteers Recap
The Tennessee Volunteers come into this game looking to build on their 34-31 win over Arkansas last time out to improve to 5-1 on the year. After this game, Tennessee will head on the road for a game against Kentucky.
Volunteers Win Three In A Row
Joey Aguilar has thrown for 1,680 yards, 14 touchdowns and 5 interceptions on 64.8% passing while DeSean Bishop has rushed for a team-high 481 yards and 5 TDs and Star Thomas has 328 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Peyton Lewis also has 200 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns as well this season. Chris Brazzell leads Tennessee in receiving with 32 catches for 536 yards and 7 touchdowns while Mike Matthews has 25 grabs for 416 yards and 2 TDs and Braylon Staley has 31 catches for 431 yards and 2 TDs as well. Miles Kitselman also has 19 catches for 204 yards and 2 TDs this season. On defense, Arion Carter has a team-high 57 total tackles while Joshua Josephs and Tyre West each have a team-high 4 sacks. As a unit, Tennessee’s defense has combined for 26 sacks and 4 interceptions so far this season.
Why the Tennessee Volunteers will win
- The underdog has covered the spread in each of Tennessee’s last four games.
- Alabama has failed to cover the spread in each of its last three October games against top-15 AP-ranked teams.
Alabama Crimson Tide Recap
The Alabama Crimson Tide come into this game looking to add on to their 27-24 win over Missouri last time out to sit at 5-1 this season. After this game, Alabama will head on the road for a game against South Carolina.
Crimson Tide Win 5 Straight
Ty Simpson has thrown for 1,678 yards, 16 touchdowns and an interception on 70.9% passing while Jam Miller leads the Crimson Tide in rushing with 267 yards. Germie Bernard has a team-high 28 catches for 412 yards and 5 touchdowns while Ryan Williams has 336 receiving yards with 3 TDs and Isaiah Horton has 270 receiving yards and 4 TDs. Lotzeir Brooks has 216 receiving yards while two more Crimson Tide receivers have 100+ receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Justin Jefferson has a team-high 35 total tackles including 22 solo tackles while Bray Hubbard has a team-high 3 interceptions and LT Overton has 3 sacks as well this season. As a unit, Alabama’s defense has combined for 9 sacks and 6 interceptions so far this season.
Why the Alabama Crimson Tide will win
- Alabama has won each of its last 22 games against conference opponents at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- Tennessee has lost each of its last four games in Alabama.
- Alabama has covered the spread in each of its last six home games.
- Tennessee has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five road games.
Total Points Facts
- Nine of Tennessee’s last 10 games have gone OVER the total points line.
- Seven of Alabama’s last eight games against conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Prediction
I’m on Tennessee and the points here. I think Alabama at home is a tough place to go on the road and compete and Joey Aguilar is going to have his work cut out for him here, but Alabama’s potentially without Jam Miller, their top running back for this game, with a concussion, and it’s just hard to feel good about where Alabama will be if they can’t run the football. Tennessee for me is a capable team that can make this one tight and I think this one could come down to the wire once again. Give me the points with the Vols.