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It's been decade since Tennessee topped Alabama in the rivalry known as the "Third Saturday In October." If the Volunteers are going to put an end to that streak, they're going to have put pull off some sort of football magic trick. The Vols are fresh off a 15-9 home loss to South Carolina and haven't scored a touchdown in 10 quarters. Meanwhile, the top-ranked Crimson Tide are high atop the SEC West standings and coming off of a 41-9 shellacking of Arkansas.
The Crimson Tide opened as 34.5-point road favorites over the Volunteers in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week.
Viewing information
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium -- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App
Storylines
Tennessee: The Volunteers enter the game with an 0-3 SEC record, with a redshirt freshman quarterback in Jarrett Guarantano making his first road start, and with a coach in Butch Jones who's on the hottest seat in the country. So what has gone right for the Volunteers this year? Running back John Kelly is a monster who averages 92 yards per game and has a stiff arm that can knock defenders through the turf. Despite that, Jones flat out refuses to use him when it matters most. Tennessee, as a team, hasn't scored a touchdown from inside the 5-yard line since the first quarter of Game 2. If the Vols stand a chance of springing one of the biggest upsets of the year, Kelly will have to have a great day and Guarantano will have to play out of his mind.
Alabama: Damien Harris has emerged as not only the top back in a crowded backfield in Tuscaloosa, but one of the top running backs in the country. He leads the SEC among qualifying running backs with a 9.19 yards per carry average, took it to the house from 75 yards out on the Tide's first play from scrimmage against Arkansas, went another 75 yards in the first quarter against Texas A&M and is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Quarterback Jalen Hurts provides a nice complement in the running game (558 yards) and has only tossed one pick. Isaiah Buggs has emerged as not only a capable substitute for an injured Da'Shawn Hand, but a legitimate star alongside lineman Da'Ron Payne with team high 13 quarterback pressures.
Prediction
Oh, it's going to hurt, Tennessee. The only question is how badly. Based on what Alabama needs to accomplish in the passing game this week, it's going to be painful. The Tide defense will shut down a Vol offense that lacks an identity, the running game will build a lead, and the Tide will keep their foot on the gas by unleashing more of the passing game than they have all season to see how much success Hurts can have with it. Against a demoralized Vol team, he'll have a ton of success -- even enough to cover a spread that makes Tennessee feel more like Tennessee-Martin. Pick: Alabama -34.5