TENNESSEE (2-4, 1-2 SEC) AT NO. 1 ALABAMA (6-0, 3-0)
9 p.m. EDT › Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ESPN & 106.5/97.3/99.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
Tennessee’s defense is coming off its best performance of the season, with the Volunteers limiting Mississippi State to 10 points and 267 yards — both season lows for the Bulldogs — while being credited with seven sacks and three takeaways last Saturday. This week’s challenge is trying to stop (or at least limit) one of the most prolific passing offenses in the country, with Alabama led by junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a stable of speedy receivers. Against Mississippi State, the Vols were able to collapse the pocket and create quarterback pressure that led to some bad decisions by the Bulldogs; now Tennessee has to figure out a way to affect Tagovailoa.
ONE TO WATCH
Midway through the season, Tagovailoa is again part of the Heisman Trophy conversation after finishing second last December to Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, who was picked No. 1 overall in this year’s NFL draft. The Crimson Tide lefthander has 27 touchdowns with just one interception this season, and with receivers including Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle able to turn short passes into long touchdown runs, this could be the most potent passing attack Tennessee faces this season.
IN THE END
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt joked this week that against the Tide he may choose to “not punt and onside kick everything.” That likely won’t happen, but how his Vols play will be much more important to Tennessee than anything Alabama does. Tennessee could play well and still lose by a lot, but with the Vols currently four wins short of bowl eligibility and their five remaining regular-season games after Alabama against more evenly matched opponents, “playing the right way” may be more important to them than what happens on the scoreboard in Tuscaloosa.