Tennessee at No. 1 Alabama: Bold Predictions for The ‘Third Saturday in October’
It’s been quite some time since Tennessee came out victorious over Alabama, 12 years to be exact.
It will be looking to put an end to that streak on Saturday.
Continuing the storied tradition that is the “Third Saturday in October,” the Vols find themselves in a peculiar position as they seek their second conference win of the season.
Only this time, they’ll be without the added boost they receive at home.
Facing off against the country’s second-ranked scoring offense, UT will have its hands full attempting to slow down junior quarterback Tua Tagavailoa and his array of weapons.
With Brian Maurer still listed as a game time decision, the Vols head in with quite a bit of uncertainty on the offensive end.
Here are some bold predictions for this year’s installment of one of college football’s historic rivalries:
Tagavailoa tops 400 yards passing
Alabama’s signal-caller is no slouch when it comes to slinging the ball through the air and he continues to prove why this season.
Completing 74 percent of his passes, Tagavailoa has thrown for 2011 yards and 27 touchdowns through six games with just one interception.
He should find no trouble in replicating that success on Saturday.
Tennessee surrenders just 199 yards through the air on average but have yet to face an offense with the type of weapons that the Crimson Tide boast.
Given that reality, Tagavailoa will boost his Heisman case by having a field day against the Vols’ secondary.
Tennessee will intercept Tagavailoa...twice
Contradicting the above point? Not quite.
Yes, Tagavailoa and the Crimson Tide will move the ball with ease, but that won’t stop Tennessee from continuing to create turnovers.
One of Jeremy Pruitt’s primary talking points since the season began, the Vols have come around in recent weeks in terms of creating “negative plays.”
Notching three interceptions against Mississippi State last week, UT now has a swagger and confidence about itself on that side of the ball that had been missing all year.
Despite losing Trevon Flowers for the season, Tennessee still has veteran safety Nigel Warrior and cornerback Bryce Thompson to lean on.
While those interceptions may not turn into points, fans will receive additional signs of encouragement when Tagavailoa’s count increases to three for the season.
Jennings goes for over 100 yards receiving
Jauan Jennings has been one of the lone bright spots for Tennessee’s offense this season and although he didn’t play his best game against the Bulldogs, Saturday will be business as usual.
The redshirt senior has logged 412 yards and five total touchdowns through six games with only 29 catches to show for it.
Primarily a run-first team on offense, Most of the Vols’ offensive success has been predicted on Jennings’ ability to make something out of nothing.
When it appeared that the Mississippi State defense had him trapped in the backfield, he scampered up the field for 22 yards.
There’s no need to go back and look at some of the plays he made during the 2016 season, his resume speaks for itself.
Tennessee’s active leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Jennings must have another big game in order for the Vols to remain within striking distance.
Luckily for them, he will.
Alabama does not cover the spread
Coming in as 34.5-point favorites in a primetime night game in which Alabama will unveil its new strobe light show at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Nick Sagan’s team will not cover the lucrative spread.
Sorry, Las Vegas oddsmakers.
Does that mean that Tennessee is the most formidable opponent the Crimson Tide have faced? Absolutely not.
It mostly speaks volumes to the improvements that the Vols have made in recent weeks.
Massive underdogs against then third-ranked Georgia at home, UT was ahead not once, but twice during the first half of that contest.
Nobody saw that coming, not in the slightest. In fact, fans in Knoxville were so stunned that the final score didn’t appear to sting quite as much.
They’ll again be encouraged with some of the plays Tennessee makes this week, albeit only briefly.
The Vols very well may jump out to an early lead, but it won’t last much further than that.
Either way, UT fans will see enough positive signs that a 13-year losing streak to Alabama likely won’t be the first thing on their minds come Sunday morning.
