Can Tennessee snap skid vs. Alabama?
Limit the run: Alabama’s defense has been disappointing this season allowing 458 yards per game, the fourth-worst mark in the conference. The Crimson Tide is allowing 149 yards per game to running backs, which also ranks in the bottom half of the SEC. Tennessee’s offense is far from explosive, but the Vols have a talented duo of running backs in Eric Gray and Ty Chandler, who rank sixth (298) and 11th (238) in the SEC in rushing yards, respectively. With poor quarterback play marring Tennessee so far, it’s likely the Vols will try to establish the run early and often.
Drain the clock: Another way to counteract Tennessee’s run game is to play keep-away. Alabama’s offense, with its offensive line and running back Najee Harris, is more than capable of extending drives.
Dominating time of possession will force the Vols into more passing situations, something that they’d likely want to avoid.
Keys for Tennessee
Figure out the QB situation: Tennessee played three different quarterbacks in last Saturday’s loss to Kentucky, and none of them looked spectacular. Incumbent starter Jarrett Guarantano threw two pick-sixes and was replaced by J.T. Shrout, who promptly threw an interception of his own, drawing Gurantano back out. Freshman Harrison Bailey entered late in the fourth quarter, completing one pass for 24 yards. The Vols can’t afford that level of inconsistency at the most important position if they hope to pull off the upset.
Win the turnover battle: While Tennessee has been adept at giving the ball away with seven turnovers, the defense has not reciprocated. Each of those turnovers have come in the last two games, losses to Georgia and Kentucky, while forcing just three in that span. If Tennessee can get back to its form from the first two games, in which it won the turnover battle 3-0, that would be a huge boon toward Tennessee’s hopes of breaking its 13-game losing streak to the Tide.
Prediction
Alabama 49, Tennessee 10: Nick Saban tends to pull his starters and take his foot off the gas early in blowout wins, or this score might be worse. Simply put, Alabama is one of the best teams in the nation, and Tennessee is struggling to find motivation after two disheartening losses.