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Kirk Herbstreit picks Tennessee over Alabama: 'I think we're all kind of flipping a coin'

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10/19/24BarkleyTruax
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© Calvin Mattheis

No. 11 Tennessee hosts No. 7 Alabama during Week 8 in a blockbuster matchup with major implications rangings from the College Football Playoff to the SEC standings.

While Vegas has the Crimson Tide as three-point favorites on the road, ESPN’s College GameDay crew had trouble making their initial picks for the game. GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit had to ask Rece Davis, Nick Saban and the rest of the crew’s opinion before making his final pick.

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“I think we’re all kind of flipping a coin,” Herbstreit said during SportsCenter ahead of College GameDay. “You just don’t know what to expect with Tennessee. Playing at home is always such an advantage for them, but Nico [Iamaleava] has not been able to push the ball downfield, and that’s really what Josh Heupel’s offense is based upon. Dylan Sampson‘s physicality, which you know you’re going to get, but teams don’t have to load up against him. You can play a two-high safety look, which prevents those vertical shots and make Tennessee have to be consistent and go 12 plays, 13 plays.

“That’s what you want to see. If you’re a Tennessee fan, that’s what you need to see. And I’m sure they’re going to try to create matchups with some movement, but that’s what’s been missing. And then with Alabama, they’re so hard to figure out after the last three games that they played. So I give Tennessee the edge, mainly because the game is being played in Knoxville, and that’s in such a tough environment.”

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Since putting up 69, 51 and 71 points repsectively during their first three games this season, Tennessee hasn’t been able to surpass the 25-point threshold in the three weeks since SEC play began. Able to edge past Oklahoma by two scores, the Vols dropped their next matchup to Arkansas on the road. They beat Florida in overtime, but neither victories made Tennessee look like the national title contender they appeared to be to start the season.

For Alabama, the last time the Crimson Tide entered Neyland Stadium, the game finished with the goal posts floating in the Tennessee River. Herbstreit may not be the most confident in his pick to choose Tennessee — but if the Vols beat Alabama for the second-straight time in Knoxville — those goal posts might take another plunge on Saturday evening.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air live on ABC and ESPN+.