Expecting a sequel of Tennessee football vs. Alabama? Don’t. Here’s why.
Tennessee’s upset of Alabama became a defining moment of last season. Rivalries provide the backdrop for college football’s greatest moments, and when the Vols beat the Crimson Tide for the first time since 2006, joyful fans lit cigars, tore down the goal posts, marched them out of the stadium and baptized them in the Tennessee River.
Show us an NFL scene that matches that.
Tennessee beat Alabama 52-49 in a game in which the quarterbacks combined for 840 passing yards.
Don’t expect a repeat of that.
On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the Third Saturday in October rivalry matchup.
Subscribe to SEC Football Unfiltered
iTunes | Google Play | Spotify
The duel of Hendon Hooker vs. Bryce Young became an instant classic.
TOPPMEYER: Texas A&M football married Jimbo Fisher's mediocrity. LSU must be laughing
ADAMS: Tennessee football: Readers weigh in on Joe Milton, lack of offense
And how about Joe Milton vs. Jalen Milroe? That’s an instant recipe for the unpredictable. Each quarterback has experienced yo-yo performance.
Here’s what to watch:
1. Which defensive line wins the day? Alabama’s defensive line played a big part in the Crimson Tide rallying to beat Texas A&M two weeks ago. The same can be said of Tennessee’s defensive line in the Vols’ victory over the Aggies on Saturday. Expect both D-lines to apply pressure on the quarterback.
2. The Vols lean on the run game. Tennessee leads the SEC in rushing. It has eclipsed 225 yards rushing in all but one game. The game it didn’t meet that mark? A loss to Florida. Alabama ranks third in SEC rushing defense.
3. The Crimson Tide will take deep shots. Milroe’s game is to throw it deep, run it a little, and throw it deep some more. The Vols’ secondary is improved compared to last year, but they also benefit from UT’s relentless pass rush. Tennessee will need plenty of pressure to keep Alabama’s offense out of rhythm.
Later in the episode
- Adams busts out his trusty panic-meter and applies it to struggling coaches Jimbo Fisher, Sam Pittman, Shane Beamer, Hugh Freeze and Zach Arnett, as well as on-the-upswing Billy Napier.
Mississippi State at Arkansas (-7)
Toppmeyer: Arkansas; Adams: Arkansas
Tennessee at Alabama (-9.5)
Toppmeyer: Tennessee; Adams: Tennessee
South Carolina at Missouri (-6.5)
Toppmeyer: Missouri; Adams: Missouri
Ole Miss (-6.5) at Auburn
Toppmeyer: Ole Miss; Adams: Ole Miss
Penn State at Ohio State (-4.5)
Toppmeyer: Penn State; Adams: Penn State
Lock of the week
Toppmeyer: Northwestern at Nebraska (-12.5); Adams: Duke at Florida State (-13.5)
Records
Toppmeyer: 17-21-1 (2-4 last week); Adams: 16-21-2 (4-2 last week)
Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. John Adams is the senior columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. You can subscribe to their podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, or check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Expecting a sequel of Tennessee football vs. Alabama? Don’t. Here’s why.
