The Tennessee Volunteers and top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide are set to square off on the grass at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Interested parties are able to catch the action live on ESPN and the game is scheduled to get underway at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Tennessee Volunteers at Alabama Crimson Tide
Tennessee is the noticeable underdog here and is currently getting 35 points by bookmakers. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 62 points. Multiple good live betting opportunities may present themselves during this game.
The opening line was -35. The game’s over/under has not moved after it was set initially at 62.
The Volunteers are down 0.9 units so far and 2-4 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 3-3.
The Crimson Tide are up 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-3 ATS and the over has hit in four of their games.
The flawless Volunteers have gone just 2-4 straight up (SU), including 1-2 SU against SEC opponents. The Crimson Tide are 6-0 SU overall and 3-0 SU in conference play.
The Volunteers just pulled off a 20-10 win over Mississippi State last week. The passing attack was on point as the Volunteers completed 10-of-14 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jarrett Guarantano went six-for-7 for 106 yards and one touchdown while Brian Maurer completed four-of-seven for 61 yards and two interceptions. Tim Jordan (only 59 rushing yards on 19 attempts, one TD) and Ty Chandler (63 yards on 16 carries) spearheaded the running attack in the win while Tyler Byrd (three receptions, 56 yards, one TD) and Jauan Jennings (three catches, 17 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Alabama just earned a 47-28 win over Texas A&M. The team’s defensive unit let the Aggies run for 125 yards on 28 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Kellen Mond was a bright spot in the defeat for Texas A&M, accounting for 90 rushing yards and a score on 16 attempts. For Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa completed 21-of-34 passes for 293 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Najee Harris (114 rushing yards on 20 attempts) and Brian Robinson Jr. (51 yards on 10 carries, one TD) mounted the ground game in the win as Devonta Smith (seven receptions, 99 yards, one TD) and Jerry Jeudy (four catches, 50 yards) led the receiving attack.
Tennessee’s run the ball on 57.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Alabama has an overall rush percentage of 48.9 percent. The Volunteers have run for 146.3 yards/game (including 116 per game versus Southeastern opponents) and have four touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Tide are putting up 170.8 rush yards per game (128.7 in conference) and have 11 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then it appears the Tide could own the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has produced 5.3 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents. The Volunteers have ran for 4.0 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.0 to opponents.
The Vols offense has averaged 207.2 yards in the air overall (197 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Tide have produced a ridiculous 366 pass yards per outing (402 against SEC foes) and have 28 total pass scores.
Defensively, Tennessee has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 159.7 yards and pass for 199 yards per game. The Alabama defense has given up 202.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 133.2 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Vols have given up an ANY/A of 4.87 to opposing QBs, while the Tide are allowing an ANY/A of 4.55.
Offensively, Maurer has amassed 105 passing yards this season, and has completed 40 percent of his 20 attempts with zero passing scores and three interceptions. He has a -1.59 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 5.34 over the past two games.
For the home team, Tua Tagovailoa has managed to complete 108-of-146 passes for 1,593 yards, 21 TDs and one INT. Tagovailoa’s ANY/A sits at 12.81 for the year and 11.63 over his last two outings.
These two teams met last year with the final outcome being a 58-21 victory for Alabama.
Tennessee Volunteers at Alabama Crimson Tide NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Alabama, ATS Winner: Tennessee, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Tennessee’s last game going into it was 53. The under cashed in the team’s 20-10 victory over Mississippi State.
- As a team, Tennessee has rushed for 3.5 yards per attempt over its past three games and 3.6 over its last two.
- Alabama has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.1 over its last two.
- Alabama has lost two fumbles this season while Tennessee has lost four.
- Over its last three matches, Tennessee is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Alabama’s last match was 60.5. The over cashed in the team’s 47-28 win over Texas A&M.
- In its last three matchups, Alabama is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Volunteers offense has recorded four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Crimson Tide have accounted for eight such plays.
- The Tennessee defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Alabama has given up one such play.
- Both defenses have produced five rushing plays of 20 yards or more. The Tennessee offense has recorded 21 running plays of 10+ yards while Alabama has accounted for 31 such plays.
- The Volunteers defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Crimson Tide have given up 10 such runs.
- Each team defense has produced 15 sacks this year.
