College Football Game of the Week: No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers

The last time these two teams met in Knoxville, it was also a top 10 matchup, and it was an instant classic with one of the best games and atmospheres college football has ever seen. No. 7 Alabama takes on No. 8 Tennessee in another big week for the SEC.

Both teams have been struggling recently as both lost to an unranked team two weeks ago. Alabama was the top-ranked team in the country after a huge win over Georgia, but they followed it up with a loss on the road to Vanderbilt. Tennessee had a big win at Oklahoma in their last game before falling on the road to Arkansas.

Neither team responded with a great performance last week. Alabama squeezed out a 27-25 win over South Carolina. Tennessee needed a second-half comeback to win in overtime over a Florida team with a head coach fighting for his job. What is the problem, and what could ignite a spark in these two teams?

The answer for both teams is on offense. Both teams were lethargic on offense the last two weeks. Their offensive problems are opposites, however. Alabama has struggled to run the ball, while Tennessee has struggled in the passing game.

Alabama was outgained by South Carolina in the rushing and passing game. Tennessee was also outgained by Florida, and it needed Florida to score only two touchdowns and a field goal in six red-zone trips to win the game.

Alabama is the team more likely to get their offense going again. They are led by senior Jalen Milroe who is still a Heisman candidate and true freshman Ryan Williams who is one of the best wide receivers in the country, as well as multiple other playmakers. They give Alabama the ability to break the slump by making big, explosive plays.

Tennessee on the other hand had high expectations for redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava at quarterback, but he hasn’t shown an ability to throw downfield. Dylan Sampson has been one of the best running backs in the country this season, but they’ve been one-dimensional on offense.

Defensively is where Tennessee has the advantage. Alabama hasn’t been bad on defense this year, but Tennessee has been smothering, led by one of the country’s top players, James Pearce Jr. They are second in the country in yards per game and fourth in points per game.

Alabama enters the game as a three-point favorite. If Tennessee can shut the Tide’s offense down though and keep it low scoring, it might leave room for them to make just enough big plays on offense to win the game. The offense that makes one more big play might just be the deciding factor in the game.

Jacob Rudy is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.