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Tennessee memorably snapped a long losing streak to Alabama in thrilling fashion. ESPN’s Football Power Index likes the Crimson Tide to get revenge on Saturday.
The FPI is giving Alabama a 76.4% chance to take down Tennessee on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
It has not been the season that Alabama fans are accustomed to, as this 2023 Crimson Tide team has struggled at times. Following the 34-24 upset loss to Texas in Week 2, Bama’s offense stumbled to a 17-3 win over South Florida.
But, the Tide has managed to find their groove in recent weeks, having taken down Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Arkansas amidst a 4-game winning streak. Jalen Milroe has settled in at quarterback while Dallas Turner (team-high 7 sacks) leads a ferocious defense that is beginning to resemble the vaunted Alabama defenses of the early 2010s.
Tennessee has experienced similar ups and downs, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. Josh Heupel’s team was embarrassed by Florida to a tune of 29-16 in Week 3, but it has rebounded to pick up solid wins over South Carolina and Texas A&M.
The Vol pass rush and defense as a whole is much improved this year, and UT runs for 231.3 yards per game (6th in the nation) behind a trio of high-quality backs. The main concern still lies at the quarterback spot, as Joe Milton has been streaky this season and will need to make some big plays if the Vols are to hang with the Crimson Tide and Georgia down the line.
Alabama will be hell-bent on exacting revenge for last season’s 52-49 defeat at the hands of Tennessee, their first loss to UT since 2006. The Volunteers hit a game-winning field goal as time expired, and their fans proceeded to rush the field and tear down goalposts as a result of the program’s biggest win in decades.
The Third Saturday in October can be seen at 3:30 ET on CBS on Saturday.
Current Missouri student entering my third year of covering Tiger football and basketball. Contributor to The Transfer Portal CFB and overall college athletics enthusiast.
