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The Tennessee Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 SEC) and Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1, 4-0) meet Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Tennessee vs. Alabama odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
This is, essentially, an elimination game for both sides. It’s an elimination game for a potential College Football Playoff spot, and 2 SEC losses will likely end any hopes for a spot in the SEC Championship Game.
Tennessee has won 3 straight games since dropping a 29-16 decision at Florida on Sept. 16. It eased by Texas A&M by a 20-13 score as a 3-point favorite last time out, covering for the 3rd straight game. The Under is 3-1-1 in the past 5 games for the Vols.
Alabama won 24-21 against Arkansas last time out, although the Razorbacks easily covered a 19-point number to snap a 3-0 ATS run for Bama. After some early-season offensive struggles, the Tide has scored 24 or more points in 4 straight contests, and the Over is 2-0-1 in the past 3 tries.
Tennessee is No. 15 and Alabama is No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
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Tennessee at Alabama odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:03 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Tennessee +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Alabama -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Tennessee +8.5 (-110) | Alabama -8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Tennessee at Alabama picks and predictions
Prediction
Alabama 29, Tennessee 24
Moneyline
Alabama (-350) will cost you 3½ times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward in what should be a very close game.
Last season, Tennessee (+260) picked up a wild 52-49 score, its most points in the history of this rivalry. Bama will have revenge on its mind, but this will be a tight game coming down to the very end, just like last season.
PASS.
Against the spread
TENNESSEE +8.5 (-110) is worth the play in this SEC Battle of the Titans, as it will keep this a 1-score game down in T-Town.
I was feeling good about Alabama -8.5 (-110) after impressive showings against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Texas A&M on the road. However, Bama’s sluggish near-miss against Arkansas is a concern.
As a single-digit favorite, Alabama is 2-1 ATS this season, but that lone non-cover was an outright loss to Texas as a 7-point favorite.
Over/Under
OVER 48.5 (-105) is the lean, although we’re unlikely to have a combined 101 points like last season’s wild shootout at Neyland Stadium.
The Over is 2-0-1 in the past 3 games for Alabama, and it has scored 24 or more points in 4 straight contests. The defense hasn’t been as dominant as past years, either, allowing 19.3 PPG in the past 3 outings.
For Tennessee, it has rolled up 40 or points in 4 of 6 games to date, and it allowed 29 points in its lone true road game this season.
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