Line opens with Alabama -8.5

[utvolpj]

 

[Orangeslide]

That line seems about right considering our level of play against State and Arkansas. Will be a tough battle in Alabama. Someone will say that we will cover. I never understood a vol fan being happy that we cover and still lose the game unless they are gamblers. I like the Al Davis theory, just WIN baby! Go Vols!

 

[dduncan4163]

Won't shock me if it moves to 10 by kickoff.

 

[VolBricks]

Our defense will cost us this game. To win we will have to "Out Score" Bama. The one good thing is that the Bama QB is not mobile and we should be able to get a few sacks.

 

[volfan102455]

ESPNbet has Bama at -7.5 and Georgia at -6.5

 

[jeff1vol]

Bama can name the score against our D. We'll have to score 45+ and hope they have multiple TO's to have a realistic shot. probably a better night to take the Mrs out for a good dinner.

 

[Rocky Top T]

We have to score 40 to be in the game.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

We have to score 40 to be in the game.

My only concern is that Alabama takes the air out of the ball and limits our possessions. We only get to 40 if we score really fast. Their defense is good enough to stop us.

Our only real chance is if we storm out of the gates and get up by two or three scores early. Then we force Bama to play at a faster pace, giving us more offensive possessions either way.

Heupel needs to just throw out the back half of the playbook that says “sit on the ball” and live or die in a shootout.

 

[McDad]

Bama can name the score against our D. We'll have to score 45+ and hope they have multiple TO's to have a realistic shot. probably a better night to take the Mrs out for a good dinner.

Did you know UT is number 1 in scoring offense and Bama is 30?

 

[james_govols]

It will probably be double digits by kickoff.

 

[SubVet676]

Line aside, I cannot trust the UT defense on the road against a balanced Bama team.

Anything can happen, but Bama is the obvious favorite here.

 

[DonDiego]

Bama can name the score against our D. We'll have to score 45+ and hope they have multiple TO's to have a realistic shot. probably a better night to take the Mrs out for a good dinner.

Holy smoke! Between this thread and another one like it, we sound like a bunch of Kentucky fans. I hope Bubba's fan site doesn't have a thread called What Other Message Boards Are Saying. They'll get a kick out of our defeated fan base. A little faith in the team would be good.

 

[KeyVol14]

Line aside, I cannot trust the UT defense on the road against a balanced Bama team.

Anything can happen, but Bama is the obvious favorite here.

Bama is balanced? Must be news to me cuz they’re not running the ball consistently

 

[Nationdom]

I expect it to be bama -1.5 by game time.

 

[SubVet676]

Bama is balanced? Must be news to me cuz they’re not running the ball consistently

Agreed. Passing for 305 YPG, rushing for 127. 34.8 PPG. Giving up 17.8.

You're right. They won't have to run much against this defense. They can just kill it through the air.

Remember, I'm wrong a lot. But the line is not, IMO.

 

[KTrain]

Actually I'd rather go into this game with the players knowing they have to play better and not like 2022 when we were throttling everyone ranked #1 and IMO went into UGA game at Athens overconfident. It will be a tough task to win at Tuscaloosa for a number of reasons, night game etc.. but we have the players if they put it together and knowing that Bama got beat by FSU who have not been dominant, helps to know Bama can have an off game. Got to keep penalties down and turnovers. I thought watching Mizzou vs Bama, Mizzou had Bama looking at 3rd and 27 on 1st drive after a TFL and #9 stood over bama player yapping & got a penalty. Instead of putting Bama on their heels and dictating the start of the game after you're already up 7 to 0, gave Bama a 1st down they settled in and drove for a TD. I thought that was a big difference in setting the tone of that game. We got to stay away from these kind of stupid penalties.

 

[KeyVol14]

Agreed. Passing for 305 YPG, rushing for 127. 34.8 PPG. Giving up 17.8.

You're right. They won't have to run much against this defense. They can just kill it through the air.

Remember, I'm wrong a lot. But the line is not, IMO.

No denying our defense needs some work. I’m puzzled as to how bad they’ve been to this point. Injuries play a factor but Banks needs to be more aggressive. The soft zone concept is a waste of time

 

[CaliVol2009]

I expect it to be bama -1.5 by game time.

Lol

 

[#1fulmerite]

Man, this season and to some extent last year seems like 2012 all over again except we score more than the opposing teams.

Is our D that bad or is college football that prolific on offense now?

 

[JMSqb11]

Man, this season and to some extent last year seems like 2012 all over again except we score more than the opposing teams.

Is our D that bad or is college football that prolific on offense now?

Our defense in 2012 was incapable of getting to the quarterback or forcing turnovers. Two things we are doing constantly this year.

6 guys combined for 12 sacks over that entire season.

We have 26 thru the halfway point this year.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Bring pressure.

 

[OmahaOmaha]

Alabama QB Ty Simpson. From Martin, Tenn. Damn. Could have possibly been UT's first Heisman winner.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

Hate losing to Bama and their QB from Tennessee but that will probaly occur saturday night. We won’t be smoking the cigars this year

 

[OmahaOmaha]

Sounds profound, but in Tennessee's case on Defense, "It's easier to rush the passer than to cover the receivers". Which incidentally is exactly where UT has the advantage.

 

[volfan411]

Sounds profound, but in Tennessee's case on Defense, "It's easier to rush the passer than to cover the receivers". Which incidentally is exactly where UT has the advantage.

It has not been a bad approach though. We are a missed FB away from being 6-0.

I am not sure this approach works Saturday but we shall see.