The Third Saturday in October arrives with both teams carrying considerable motivation.
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Alabama suffered a heartbreaking 20–17 home loss to Georgia last weekend, while Tennessee escaped Fayetteville with a 24–17 victory over Arkansas.
The Crimson Tide cannot afford another conference defeat if they intend to remain in the thick of the SEC championship race. Tennessee, meanwhile, has an opportunity to deliver a devastating blow to one of its fiercest rivals.
The atmosphere at Neyland Stadium should be electric. Tennessee fans understand what an Alabama victory means, and they’ll be determined to make life miserable for the visiting offense.
For Alabama, the biggest concern is offensive consistency. The Tide cannot depend entirely on explosive plays against a Tennessee defense that will undoubtedly be aggressive.
Tennessee needs to establish its running game and keep Alabama’s defense guessing. If the Volunteers become one-dimensional, the Crimson Tide should have opportunities to create turnovers.
I expect both teams to move the football, but Alabama’s ability to respond following a disappointing loss could be the difference.
This one feels like a game that won’t be decided until the final minutes.
Prediction: Alabama 30, Tennessee 27
