Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 6 weeks ago
Transcript
00:00You got Tennessee and Alabama tonight.
00:01Fantastic rivalry here.
00:03You take a look at the spread, Joe.
00:04Opening number, 8.5.
00:06Actually seeing an increase towards Alabama.
00:07We're getting close to 10s now.
00:099.5 at most outlets right now, depending on where you're shopping at.
00:12How about a total?
00:1352.5 is the look ahead, Joe.
00:1458.5 to 59.5.
00:17We're expecting points tonight, but also, before we get this game started,
00:20any injury concerns that we might be worried about here, Joe?
00:23Well, J.R. Miller got banged up at the end of the Missouri game.
00:26Concussion protocol, potentially.
00:28He's probable today.
00:29So I just tell everybody, just be cautious about the rushing props for J.R. Miller.
00:34He might not be 100%.
00:35They might not utilize him as much in that offense.
00:38Anytime touchdown could always be in jeopardy as well.
00:41But the series perspective, Donnie, is pretty intriguing.
00:45Third Saturday of October, baby, it doesn't get better than this
00:48when Tennessee and Alabama play.
00:50Now, Tennessee has won two of the last three in the series,
00:54both in Knoxville, Hendon Hooker, two years ago,
00:56and obviously last year they stepped up and won 24-17.
01:00From 2007 to 21, it was all Alabama.
01:04They had won 15 straight games against Tennessee by an average margin of victory
01:08of 25.8 points per game.
01:10They're 35-1, the Crimson Tide are.
01:13At home in Brian Denny, dating back to 2020 with Nick Saban.
01:17They've won these games this year against opponents by an average margin of victory
01:22of 37.6 points per game.
01:25The last time Tennessee, Donnie, beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 2003.
01:31Five overtimes.
01:33Casey Clawson and Brody Kroll went to five overtimes.
01:36Rainbow Alabama.
01:3951-43.
01:41The Volunteers won it.
01:42So, not going to be easy.
01:44But I do like the rushing attack of Tennessee.
01:46They're averaging well over 200 rushing yards per game.
01:49How they run tempo I think will be a factor.
01:52We saw Alabama contain Ahmaud Hardy last week.
01:55Different rushing attack with Bishop and Starr Thomas.
01:58I think they could get the ball rolling, momentum, run the football,
02:02work off a play action.
02:03This is not the same Alabama defense front seven-wise that we've seen in years past.
02:08They're giving up $1.56 on the ground.
02:11I like Tennessee to keep it close.
02:13Don't be shocked, in my opinion, if they potentially strike the upset tonight.
02:18Eight-and-a-halves to nine-and-a-halves out there in the marketplace here.
02:20Two really good quarterbacks, Joe.
02:21If we focus on Alabama's quarterback, Ty Simpson, we talk about him each and every week.
02:24Close to 1,700 yards passing on the season.
02:2716 touchdowns and one interception throwing the football.
02:32He's been sensational.
02:33Look at the Heisman odds here.
02:34Mendoza plus 250.
02:35Ty Simpson plus 250.
02:37Big game.
02:38SEC.
02:39Talk to me about Ty Simpson today.
02:41Yeah, Ty Simpson should eat.
02:42You talk about Tennessee's weakness.
02:44It is in the secondary.
02:45They're giving up 257 passing yards per game.
02:49More importantly, allowing 66% completion percentage.
02:52So, the weakness win.
02:54We've seen Syracuse, even in week one, against Tennessee move the football through the air with Steve Vangeli.
03:00So, that's going to be the matchup for Ty Simpson.
03:02What's intriguing is in the win last week against Missouri, Ryan Williams.
03:06No catches.
03:07He didn't have any yards in that win.
03:09In that win, they need to get Bernard and Ryan Williams involved.
03:12They might have a speed advantage on the perimeter.
03:15But, I'll tell you what, as much as I like Tennessee, too, Donnie, I think we could blow through this 58-and-a-half just because of how this game might potentially play out.
03:23I think Alabama's weak in run support.
03:25I think Tennessee's potentially weak in the secondary.
03:28We might have a similar game to what we saw Georgia and Tennessee play out just about four weeks ago.
03:3444-41.
03:35We might get 80 points.
03:37Still like Tennessee with the points.
03:38I like Simpson to potentially go over his number, but I do feel we could blow through this total.
03:43Let me ask you a question about Alabama, too, because, you know, usually, you know, iron sharpens iron, as we like to say.
03:48But, also, you can get worn down in an SEC competition.
03:51You see the opening game against Florida State where they played, talking about Alabama, lost that game.
03:55You came back, you blew out ULM.
03:56It was easy.
03:57Wisconsin, don't worry about it, 38-14.
03:59But, Joe, three straight weeks.
04:01Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri.
04:03But then you take a look at Tennessee, UAB, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.
04:07Sometimes I look at the schedules and say, yeah, I really like what Alabama's done.
04:11But now you're asking them, their fourth legitimate competitor in four weeks here?
04:16That's tough.
04:16Yeah, and a rivalry game.
04:17Yeah.
04:17Right?
04:18So, whenever you see a rivalry game, I'm always inclined to take the points, especially when it's well over a key number of seven points.
04:24Again, it's not going to be easy.
04:25We know Tennessee's been dominated in Bryant-Denny.
04:28But you have an offense that could potentially exploit that weakness of Alabama's defense.
04:33And, again, who can win on third down?
04:35I like Joey Aguilar.
04:36I think the difference this year from what we saw last year with Nico, Aguilar's going to wear it on his sleeve.
04:42He's a lot like Diego Pavia.
04:44He's going to give you 150% to potentially pull out this ballgame.
04:48And sometimes that's all you need when you're playing with house money.
04:51So, I think Tennessee has a legitimate shot tonight.
04:53You take a look at Alabama, the rest of their schedule, Joe, at South Carolina, then LSU, then Oklahoma.
04:59Three tough SEC games right after that.
05:01Eastern Illinois, they always give that little layup game before they take on the Iron Bowl and play Auburn.
05:05If I ask you this question, and, again, it's one team has an SEC loss, one team doesn't.
05:09Who can afford this loss, Joe?
05:11Because there's going to be an SEC team that's going to make the college football playoff with two losses, no doubt about it.
05:16But both of these teams with one, who can afford the loss?
05:18I would say it's Alabama because of brand recognition, right?
05:22Just because Alabama were two losses, they would still be inclined, knowing that they beat Missouri, an undefeated team.
05:28They knocked off Vanderbilt, an undefeated team.
05:31And they knocked off Georgia and snapped a 33-game home winning streak.
05:35The benefit of the doubt, I think, goes to Alabama.
05:37But if you're Tennessee and you lose the game, and margin of defeat is going to matter as well.
05:42We talk about Notre Dame with close losses to Miami and Texas A&M.
05:47If Tennessee loses by margin, let's say within 8.5 points, then they might be getting the benefit of the doubt.
05:54But if they get blown out, Donnie, they could potentially free fall outside maybe the top 20
05:59and all of a sudden be at the bottom of the top 25, and then it's going to be very difficult to get back in.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment

Recommended