In a development that may surprise some Alabama fans, the Crimson Tide has opened as a narrow road favorite for their upcoming clash against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Alabama heads into this “Third Saturday in October” rivalry after a challenging stretch—losing to Vanderbilt and managing a less-than-convincing win over South Carolina at home. Many Tide fans had this game marked as one of the toughest of the season, especially after Tennessee’s strong start to 2024.
However, after looking nearly unbeatable in their first four games, the Volunteers have revealed some weaknesses. On the same day Alabama stumbled in Nashville, Tennessee also suffered an upset, falling to the Arkansas Razorbacks on the road. Vols fans hoping for a bounceback win against Florida were also left uneasy, as Tennessee needed overtime to secure a victory in Knoxville.
Both teams’ recent struggles have made this a tough game for oddsmakers to predict, but the early betting lines lean toward Alabama.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Alabama enters the matchup as a 2.5-point road favorite. The total points (over/under) for the game is set at 55.5.
Both Alabama and Tennessee have shown potential through their first six games, but they’ve also revealed vulnerabilities. Tennessee’s once-explosive offense has slowed down significantly since their 71-point performance against Kent State in Week 3. In the three games since, they’ve only managed a combined 62 points—or 56 if you exclude the overtime touchdown against Florida.
For Alabama, a stronger showing than what they’ve delivered in their last 10 quarters will be needed to secure a road victory in this hostile rivalry environment. But Tennessee has also not been the powerhouse many expected them to be.
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