Alabama Crimson Tide Faces Tennessee Volunteers: Since losing at home to Texas, Alabama has rattled off five straight wins but they havent all come easy for Nick Saban and company. The Crimson Tide held off Arkansas last week, weathering a late Razorbacks rally to win 24-21. Quarterback Jalen Milroe was responsible for all three touchdowns and he now has a total of 16 (11 passing, five rushing) in six games.
Alabamas offense still isnt clicking on all cylinders. The Tide are averaging under 150 rushing yards per game and they find themselves 58th nationally in scoring (30.1 points per game). Fortunately, the defense has rounded into form. Since surrendering 34 points in the Week 2 loss to the Longhorns, Alabama has yielded a total of 68 in four SEC games.
Tennessee also had to work hard last weekend for its win against Texas A&M. Down 10-7 at the half, the Volunteers took their first lead on a punt returned for a touchdown and then clamped down defensively to earn a 20-13 victory at home over the Aggies.
Josh Heupels team hasnt been as explosive on offense this season compared to last, especially when it comes to throwing the football. Joe Milton III has a big arm but hes struggled with his accuracy (61.5 percent completion rate) and is averaging only 6.9 yards per pass attempt.
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The flip side is that Tennessee has one of the best running games in the nation. The Vols are averaging more than 230 rushing yards per game, ranking them sixth overall. But this offense hasnt shown much big-play ability. Tennessee is second to last in the SEC in scrimmage plays of 20-plus yards with 23 in six games. Last season, the offense generated 80 such plays in 13 games, including six in the Vols thrilling 52-49 win over the Tide.
Big plays may be hard to come by on Saturday considering both defenses are ranked in the top 20 in the country in points and yards allowed per game. This also is why the over/under is below 50. But it doesnt change the fact that Alabama is seeking payback for last season while Tennessee wants to put an end to another streak in this series after snapping its 15-game skid. The Volunteers have lost nine in a row in Tuscaloosa, a drought that goes back to 2005.
Our Reader’s Queries
How many penalties did Tennessee have against Alabama 2023?
Tennessee Vols received eight penalties in total, evenly split between offense and defense, with six occurring in the later quarters. Meanwhile, Alabama only got one penalty. The officiating by the SEC referees in Knoxville may raise some doubt, but the number of infractions significantly impacted the 2023 Third Saturday in October matchup.
Why do they say roll tide?
The exact origins of ‘Roll Tide’ are shrouded in mystery. Back in the late 1800s to early 1900s, sportscasters started calling the university team the ‘Thin Red Line’, which was eventually swapped out for ‘Crimson Tide’. The university’s fight song originally had the lyrics “Roll to vic-try”, but those were later changed to the now-famous “Roll Tide”.
How many rushing yards did Tennessee have against Alabama?
Team StatsGame StatsTENALATotal Yards: 404-358Pass Yards: 271-220Rushing Yards: 133-138Penalty Yards: 8-5, 1-4.
Who has won the most games between Alabama and Tennessee?
Tennessee and Alabama first clashed in November 1901, resulting in a 6-6 tie. They’ve gone head-to-head 105 times since then, and Alabama has emerged victorious in 59 of those matchups, with Tennessee trailing behind at 39 wins.