VolReport Staff Pick: No. 11 Tennessee Football vs. No. 7 Alabama

Tennessee and Alabama are scheduled to play this Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Before the game, VolReport staff will give you advice on how things will play out on the field.

Talk about it on the Rocky Top Forum

Ryan: 21-17 Alabama

I absolutely believe Tennessee will win this game. But until we see the Vols offense break out of its current funk, it’s really hard to have confidence behind that turn of events.

Expect another sluggish night for both offenses, as Tennessee’s defense does a solid job of containing Alabama’s offense. The Vols need to get into position down the stretch with another nail biter to close out the game. However, you have to see a game-winning drive from this offense to believe it at this point.

Noah: Volumes 24-17

What a difference it makes after two years! Tennessee famously ended a 15-game losing streak against Alabama, but the Vols suffered an offensive display that neither team could manage to stop, including a final drive that ended with Chase McGrath’s go-ahead field goal. beat the Crimson Tide.

Expect a low-scoring game where points will be at a premium and defensive stops will make the difference. Tennessee has the edge defensively and will need its offense to play well to beat Alabama for the first time in three years.

Dale: Volumes 24-21

Both Alabama and Tennessee have struggled offensively, but both teams continue to find ways to win despite one loss. The Vols collapsed on the road to Arkansas as Alabama lost to Vanderbilt in Nashville, but bounced back a week later with narrow wins for both teams. Tennessee has a slightly better defense and the game will be in Neyland, so I give the edge to the Vols.

Ryan: Tennessee forces multiple turnovers.

The Vols’ defense is solid and I don’t see that changing. This may be the team’s biggest test yet this season, but I think they’ll rise to the challenge. Some of his successful nights defensively will come down to forcing turnovers. Whether it’s going after Jalen Milroe or forcing a fumble, I think Tennessee will have at least two successes on Saturday.

Noah: Tennessee won’t give up rushing touchdowns

On the surface, given the fact that both Tennessee’s red zone defense and rushing defense rank in the top six in the nation, and the fact that Florida State was unable to score a touchdown despite being on the verge of It may not seem like such a bold prediction. But stopping 6-foot-2, 225-pound Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is an entirely different challenge if the Crimson Tide approaches the end zone.

I think the Vols’ defensive line can do that, especially with Omar Norman-Lott playing off the edge and inside James Pierce Jr. Alabama’s biggest offensive threat is wide receiver Ryan Williams, but he’s too good to attack. He can even make plays against Tennessee’s strong secondary. So the Crimson Tide gets a few touchdowns, but none on the ground.

Dale: Nico Iamareaba throws for over 250 yards.

Looking back at last week’s game against Florida, Nico Iamareaba had a big night with just a few pitches left. I think Imareaba can put it all together and reach the 250-yard mark this week against a struggling Tide secondary.

Ryan: Lance Hurd

He’s been beaten up, but in the games he played, former five-star tackle Lance Hurd didn’t do a good job of protecting Nico Iamareaba’s blindside. His tackling was inconsistent, which negatively affected the play of the attacking team. If the entire offensive line, especially Hurd, can put together a solid game without being overly penalized, I think it could do wonders for the offense and lead to wins.

Noah: Dylan Sampson

The Tennessee running back will continue to be an X-factor for the Vols offense until he isn’t. Defense has been key this season, but there’s no denying that one of the biggest reasons Tennessee hasn’t lost two games is Dylan Sampson. He gave Arkansas a chance to win on the road a few weeks ago and led the offense against Florida. I expect him to do the same thing against Alabama. The Crimson Tide ranks 54th in the nation in stops, allowing nearly 130 yards per game.

Dale: Tennessee offensive line

The offensive line must be physical and show dominance early. If the Vols can keep Nico Iamareaba off the ground while paving running lanes for the likes of Dylan Sampson, the Vols will have a chance to win at home.