The Tennessee Volunteers (4-3, 2-2 SEC) travel to meet the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1 SEC) Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Tennessee vs. Alabama odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Volunteers were upended at home as short ‘dogs against old buddy Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss last week. Tennessee had scored 107 total points in the previous two outings against South Carolina and Missouri and will need that type of prolific offense if they hope to stun Bama.
The Crimson Tide were angry after a loss at Texas A&M Oct. 9, taking out their frustrations on Mississippi State in Stark Vegas. Bama rolled up a 49-9 win to easily cover a 17.5-point number while producing its best defensive showing of the season.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA Today Sports.
Tennessee at Alabama odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:59 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Tennessee +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300) | Alabama -5000 (bet $5,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Tennessee +25.5 (-112) | Alabama -25.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 68.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Tennessee at Alabama odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Alabama 45, Tennessee 24
Money line
While a lot of the haters enjoyed Alabama (-5000) getting toppled at Texas A&M, future opponents knew it was bad news. It’s like swatting a beehive, as now the Tide are incensed and they won’t be caught napping again.
Still, risking 50 times your potential return, or $2 in winnings for every $100 spent, is just a non-sensical bet.
AVOID.
Against the spread
TENNESSEE +25.5 (-112) is the angrier team in this matchup, coming off of a home loss to Ole Miss. Alabama -25.5 (-108) is going to win this game, don’t be mistaken.
But, the Vols have the offensive weapons to give the Tide a tussle for at least a half before overall talent takes over and Bama pulls away. Tennessee should still be able to keep it within three tutties.
Over/Under
OVER 68.5 (-110) is the lean, ever so slightly. This is worth a small-unit play only. Alabama is rolling up 45.0 PPG to rank fourth in the nation while posting 482.6 total yards per contest.
Tennessee can hang, going for 39.3 PPG, ranking 11th, although it does a lot of work on the ground, and Bama doesn’t allow much of anything in the run game. That’s the rub, and why you need to be cautious.
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