Alabama Crimson Tide

College Football Game Preview: No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Third Saturday in October, a storied rivalry that’s finally returned to the prominence it once held. This year No. 1 Alabama (6-0) will travel to Knoxville to take on the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) fresh off their overtime loss against Texas A&M.

This game will feature dual threat quarterbacks, fast defenses, and potential first round picks. The Vols will be shorthanded without outside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cam Sutton, but Alabama may also be down two stars too in linebacker Reuben Foster and Alphonse Taylor.

Alabama has won the last nine meeting between the two teams, and holds a 52–38–7 lead in the series. They come in to Knoxville looking to avoid a close game like last year’s 19-14 affair on the road. Knoxville’s hostile territory, but Alabama’s fared well there recently outscoring them by an average of 37-13 in the last four games in Neyland Stadium.

Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley (3) runs a reverse during the first quarter of the game against Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Ridley, WR: Alabama knows Tennessee will be without All-SEC cornerback Cam Sutton, and this will give star receiver, Calvin Ridley, a chance to run wild. Ridley’s a game breaker, and can torch defenses unless he’s blanketed. Without Sutton, it will be very difficult for the Vols to contain Ridley all game, expect a big day from the sophomore.

Rashaan Evans, ILB: Reuben Foster is one of the best inside linebackers in America, and the Tide may be without him on Saturday due to a concussion he sustained at Arkansas. He played last week in place of Foster and totaled seven tackles and assisted on a sack. Evans is an athletic linebacker who will have a huge role in neutralizing the running threat of Josh Dobbs and Jalen Hurd.

Jalen Hurts, QB: The true freshman has been sensational so far for Alabama, and always looks calm out there. He even came back down 21 at Ole Miss in his first start on the road. Hurts looked phenomenal again last week, and looks for his success to roll over into his toughest task yet. Hurts will need to be able to throw the ball effectively downfield, as well as make the defense respect his legs to loosen up the edge. If Hurts can effectively throw, and run, the ball it could be a long day for Tennessee.

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) reacts with team mates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Alvin Kamara, RB: Even though Jalen Hurd (407 yards, two touchdowns) is expected to be back this week there’s no telling how big his workload will be. Kamara is fresh off a record-setting day where he racked up 312 total yards (127 rushing, 161 receiving) and three touchdowns. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him have more touches at the end of the day against his former team, and run a lot of routes out of the backfield.

Derek Barnett, DE: Derek Barnett is a beast at defensive end, and will probably not line up across from Cam Robinson, but instead true freshman right tackle Jonah Williams. So far he has 29 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble and has gotten hot recently. Expect to hear a lot of Derek Barnett on Saturday.

Josh Malone, WR: Alabama’s secondary just gave up 400 yards passing to Arkansas, granted that Arkansas threw the ball 48 times since they were behind all game, but still. Josh Malone has caught 17 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns this year, an average of 20.1 yards per catch. His combination of size, speed, and ball skills could create a matchup problem for Alabama’s secondary, especially in the red zone.

Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) goes over the top for an apparent touchdown during the first quarter of the game against Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The play was overturned after a review by officials. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Run the ball: Alabama’s running game this year may be their best in a while, and that’s saying something. They have so many capable runners, and are getting solid production from all of them. Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, Joshua Jacobs, BJ Emmons, and Jalen Hurts are five very capable of gashing defenses, and will need to run effectively to set up the rest of Alabama’s offense.

Contain the run: Josh Dobbs is a good runner for a quarterback, 324 yards and five touchdowns, and can throw well on the run. Alabama needs Shaun Dion Hamilton and Rashaan Evans on high alert Saturday to contain him and prevent big plays from Dobbs on the ground. It will also be difficult to contain Dobbs/Hurd/Kamara on the read option, it’s crucial that they limit their success there and force Dobbs to throw the ball. Dobbs this year is completing 58.3% of his passes for 1,433 yards, 14 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Win time of possession: Alabama is capable of pushing the tempo and running the hurry up when they need to, and they’re also capable of sustaining long time-consuming drives. Keeping the ball away from Tennessee’s offense will be a key, mainly considering their ability to come back in big games, and especially at home. If Alabama can manage some long scoring drives they’ll be in a good position to win this one.

Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) waits for the snap during the second quarter against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Pressure Jalen Hurts: True freshman QB, Jalen Hurts, has yet to have a freshman moment yet. He’s been so composed all year-long, even when down by three scores at Ole Miss, and nobody has seemed to figure out how to rattle him. If Tennessee can figure out how to dial-up the pressure to finally get to him and force mistakes, Alabama could be very limited offensively.

Push the pace: If Tennessee can push the pace on a thinner Alabama defense, and force a relatively thin Alabama secondary to break down they can create those big plays that have killed Alabama for years. Josh Dobbs will need to show he has finally taken the step forward, and the offense avoid the costly turnovers (seven last week in a 45-38 loss). If they can wear down Alabama’s defense early and land some big plays then they’ll be in good position to spring the upset.

Hit the deep ball: Josh Dobbs has been hyped up since his first year, but hasn’t been able to live up to that hype. He was labeled the guy who could finally get Tennessee over the hump, but he hasn’t. Dobbs has never been able to consistently hit the deep ball, minus the hail mary at Georgia, he hasn’t been able to hit them when they count. He’ll need to be able to connect on deep balls against a susceptible secondary if they want to win this one.

Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) intercepts the ball intended for Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Jared Cornelius (1) during the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee is a team that’s been very disappointing, they had championship dreams, and reality hit them like a train when they had to go to overtime week one against Appalachian State, and has continued up to this point. Now the Vols sit with two of their best defenders out and everyone else is banged up.

Alabama on the other hand, seems to be getting better every week and despite injuries they have four and five stars on the bench ready to step in. The Tide will be ready for this one, especially after last years 19-14 escape at home. The Tide seem to play Tennessee better at Neyland winning by an average of 24 points in the last for contests.

Josh Dobbs will be harassed by the Tide’s elite pass rush, and it will be hard to get the run going, but the Vols will make a push late. Ultimately Alabama’s very balanced offensive attack, suffocating defense, and their ability to constantly rotate rested players in will give them the edge.

FINAL: No.1  Alabama 37 – No. 9 Tennessee 20

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