Alabama v Tennessee predictions
Posted: October 17th, 2012, 7:07 am
Just for fun.
I think Alabama is prone to let Tennessee hang in games where UT is a substantial underdog. Game is in Knoxville. Team has had adversity, coach is in the press box. But, team is also mad -- maybe in a good way for them. OTOH, Alabama knows it has something to prove yet, and a solid defeat of Tennessee is a real momentum maker heading into the Miss. State and LSU games upcoming. The nature of this rivalry -- unlike Auburn v. Georgia where Auburn fans almost pull up to Sanford Stadium with footwashing buckets -- is intense and full of animosity. In short, anything can happen.
Bottom line: Tennessee has no real ground game, and if Tennessee wins, it has to throw the ball. Bama's pass defense over the course of a full game could frustrate Bray -- who has a tendency to fall apart when he is challenged for a full game. Bama's offense should move the ball sufficiently on the ground, Darrington Sentimore's big mouth notwithstanding (and, thanks Big D for the locker-room motivator for the Tide).
My own prediction: Alabama 34, Tennessee 17, and some of Bama's points come late in the game at that.
I think Alabama is prone to let Tennessee hang in games where UT is a substantial underdog. Game is in Knoxville. Team has had adversity, coach is in the press box. But, team is also mad -- maybe in a good way for them. OTOH, Alabama knows it has something to prove yet, and a solid defeat of Tennessee is a real momentum maker heading into the Miss. State and LSU games upcoming. The nature of this rivalry -- unlike Auburn v. Georgia where Auburn fans almost pull up to Sanford Stadium with footwashing buckets -- is intense and full of animosity. In short, anything can happen.
Bottom line: Tennessee has no real ground game, and if Tennessee wins, it has to throw the ball. Bama's pass defense over the course of a full game could frustrate Bray -- who has a tendency to fall apart when he is challenged for a full game. Bama's offense should move the ball sufficiently on the ground, Darrington Sentimore's big mouth notwithstanding (and, thanks Big D for the locker-room motivator for the Tide).
My own prediction: Alabama 34, Tennessee 17, and some of Bama's points come late in the game at that.