No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 14 Tennessee Predictions for Third Saturday in October

The Third Saturday in October is here, with Alabama heading to Neyland Stadium to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and Neyland Stadium is going to be absolutely rocking this weekend.

Both teams are coming off physical football games. Granted, it’s Arkansas versus Georgia, so it’s a little bit different caliber of competition, but nonetheless, they were slobberknockers in both football games.

One quarterback is coming off his first loss, and the other is coming off his first start.

I think Tennessee is trying to make Alabama prepare for both quarterbacks, but if I’m Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff, I’m preparing for George MacIntyre.

I think it’s so clear to me, as someone who’s watched the tape of the game and a half that George has played, that he is a significantly better answer at the quarterback position right now for this Tennessee offense.

He opens up a little bit more. He requires a little bit more discipline on the defensive side of the football. You can’t just sell out to stop the run game of this Tennessee offense. I think he’ll get you if you’re not careful, or certainly these weapons will.

Alabama vs. Tennessee Prediction

I’ve got Alabama winning 27-20 on the road this weekend.

I just think their explosive nature on the offensive side of the football is a little bit too much for most football teams.

I do think the Tennessee defense is real, but that offensive line is just too much of a problem right now.

Alabama Must Limit Tennessee’s Running Game

I think for Alabama, it’s simple. And for anybody facing Tennessee, it’s simple. It’s simpler in concept than it is in execution.

You have to be able to limit this Tennessee run game and get as many automatic passing snaps as you possibly can. Get them into situations where they’re definitely throwing the football, because then you can pin your ears back and rush this quarterback.

I think it’s more about the Tennessee offensive line than the way George MacIntyre is playing right now.

I think this offensive line is a major problem. I don’t think they can protect at a very high rate. And I think if you can get them behind the sticks, you’re going to get the quarterback down.

If I’m George, I’m eating a lot more than I did against Arkansas. There were a lot of times in that football game where I felt like he either bailed out of pockets or put the ball at risk because we’re trying to do a little bit too much.

You have to be willing to eat some things and protect your defense with some punts on Saturday.

You’re probably not going to get 10 sacks like Texas did, but you’ll rattle the cage of the quarterback on a consistent basis if you can hold that run game.

Tennessee Must Find Ways to Get the Ball Out Quickly

I also think Tennessee’s offensive staff needs to continue to do a really, really good job of getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly.

A lot of free-access throws. Get that screen game really, really working.

That’s something they’ve had to develop in this offense, and they’ve morphed this offense in a variety of ways.

When they first got into the league, it was wide choice, throw bombs, throw comebacks, run the ball, do all that good stuff. But that makes it really hard to manufacture a screen game.

Now I feel like they’ve done a much better job, particularly with these young quarterbacks. They’ve almost had their hand forced in this area.

Get these weapons the ball now, and I think they have a good opportunity to make some explosive plays because those guys can roll. All of them.

Mike Matthews, DaSaahn Brame and Braylon Staley. I also love Daune Morris with the ball in his hands out in space.

They’ve got guys that can do this.

What I don’t think they have is an offensive line that can stand in and keep their quarterback upright.

Alabama Cannot Let Xavier Gilliam Wreck the Game

On the other side of the ball, when Alabama’s on offense, you cannot let Xavier Gilliam wreck this football game.

He’s going to get his. There’s no doubt about that. But he needs all of your attention on Saturday.

I’m not saying the rest of Tennessee’s defense isn’t very good. They are. They’ve been great this year.

But if you let this guy wreck it, he’ll wreck it, and then you’re in trouble.

We’ve learned this about football over the last five or six years: A dominant defensive tackle can flip a game on its head, all on his lone performance.

Keelon Russell Faces a Major Test at Neyland Stadium

One of my major question marks coming out of the Georgia game was whether that first half was just a blip on Keelon Russell‘s radar.

The first half against Kentucky didn’t look great, either.

The RPO pick-six is not on him. That’s just football. It happens in RPO ball.

But he did make some questionable decisions. He missed some opportunities against Georgia in that first half.

Is that just Georgia doing that to him, or are there other defenses that can create those problems?

Certainly, this defense from Tennessee has the ability to do so, or at least has shown the ability to do so.

They did it to Arch in the second half. He did not look the same. After those first couple of drives, I didn’t feel like Texas’ offense looked the same.

They’ve faced some firepower before, and they’ve held in there and thrown their punches.