Joel Klatt gives his pick for massive Week 8 game between Alabama, Tennessee
By Luke Greco
Published:
No. 11 Tennessee will travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday to face off against No. 6 Alabama underneath the lights.
During his show earlier this week, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt broke down the matchup between 2 of the highest-powered offenses in the country. Tennessee currently has the No. 1 scoring offense in the country, averaging 48.2 points per game. However, Alabama’s offense is no slouch. Quarterback Ty Simpson is a Heisman Trophy candidate, according to Klatt.
“I think Bama wins it 34-28,” Klatt said. “So, I think it’s a bit of a high-scoring affair. Bama wins this one at home 34-28, but I’m going to take the +7.5 for Tennessee for the pick.”
Klatt mentioned how big a game this is for Tennessee. The Vols have not won in Bryant-Denny Stadium since 2003 — they have lost 10 straight. And with another loss on their résumé, the chances of the Vols making the College Football Playoff become much slimmer.
What the game comes down to for Klatt is Tennessee’s ability to get pressure on Simpson.
“If they can, they can control the passing game. If they don’t, he [Ty Simpson] will eat them alive,” Klatt said. “That’s the entire key. Can Bama give Ty Simpson time to throw?”
Kickoff between Tennessee and Alabama is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Crimson Tide are an 8.5-point favorite, per BetMGM.
