Alabama opens at just over a touchdown home favorite against Tennessee

Tennessee Football is an 8.5-point road underdog at Alabama, according to odds released by BetMGM. Kickoff between the Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) and Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-0) Saturday night is set 7:30 Eastern Time on ABC at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Tennessee beat Arkansas 34-31 Saturday at Neyland Stadium while Alabama won 27-24 at Missouri. The Vols moved up one spot to No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Poll while the Crimson Tide moved up two spots to No. 6 in both polls.

Tennessee is 3-3 against the spread this season, covering a 13.5-point spread against Syracuse, a 39.5-point spread against ETSU and as a 3.5-point underdog against Georgia. The Vols failed to cover a 38.5-point spread against UAB, a 7.5-point spread at Mississippi State and a 10.5-point spread against Arkansas.

Tennessee beat Syracuse 45-26 in Week 1 in Atlanta, beat ETSU 72-17 in Week 2, lost 44-41 in overtime against Georgia in Week 3 and beat UAB 56-24 in Week 4 before the 41-34 overtime win at Mississippi State two weeks ago.

The over has hit in four of five Tennessee games this season: 51.5 vs. Syracuse, 58.5 vs. ETSU, 50.5 vs. Georgia, 69.5 vs. UAB and 63.5 at Mississippi State. The total for the Arkansas game was 69.5.

Alabama has won five straight after loss at Florida State

Alabama has won five straight, including three straight SEC wins over ranked opponents, after the 31-17 loss at Florida State to start the season on August 30 in Tallahassee. 

The Crimson Tide won 27-24 at No. 14 Missouri on Saturday, after the 30-14 win over then-No. 16 Vanderbilt last week and the 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia two weeks ago.

They beat UL Monroe 73-0 in Week 2 and Wisconsin 38-14 in Week 2.

The Third Saturday in October

Alabama leads the Third Saturday In October rivalry 59-40-1, a streaky series that dates back to 1901.

Tennessee has won two of its last three against the Crimson Tide, dating back to the 52-49 win at Neyland Stadium in 2022. That win snapped what was a 15-game winning streak for Alabama in the rivalry. 

The Vols won seven straight between 1995 and 2001 and 10 of 12 between 1995 and 2006. 

Tennessee’s 41-14 win in 1995 was the first for the Vols over Alabama since 1985. It was a four-game winning streak for Tennessee between 1982 and 1985 and 1967 and 1970 and 11 straight for Alabama between 1971 and 1981.

Alabama went 5-0-1 against Tennessee between 1961 and 1966 and Tennessee went 5-0-1 between 1955 and 1960.