JessN: Tennessee preview: Vols, Tide both have identity crises

[JessN]

Tennessee preview: Vols, Tide both have identity crises
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief

The third Saturday in October has often given the college football world a lot to talk about.

For the past 17 years, it's mostly been about one-sided dominance thanks to Nick Saban and his seemingly innate ability to control the outcome of games in this series either by superior talent and coaching, or just sheer will. For 2024, though, the conversation is about identity – specifically, what are the identities of the two teams playing in this game?

Alabama opened the season clicking on all cylinders offensively, and with the defense pitching a shutout at the same time. As the weeks have gone along, the offense has (mostly) continued to put up good results, but the defense has been coming unwound like a watch spring in the hands of a curious 10-year-old. Tennessee, on the other hand, opened up with three fantastic offensive performances, then watched the door slam shut on its offense while at the same time, the defense has risen to become one of the best in the SEC, if not the best.

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Tennessee preview: Vols, Tide both have identity crises

The third Saturday in October has often given the college football world a lot to talk about. For the past 17 years, it’s mostly been about one-sided dominance thanks to Nick Saban and his se…

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Week 08 Info: #7 Alabama (5-1) @ #11 Tennessee (5-1) (ABC @ 245pm CDT )

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  • Tennessee preview: Vols, Tide both have identity crises
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• JessN's 2024 Season Previews:
  
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[GrayTide]

Gonna be close, but I agree with Jess.

 

[DrollTide]

I recall reading that home field advantage for TN is 6 points.

Although I have hitched my wagon to Milroe, there is no denying that his interceptions have worsened from weird bounces to actual bad throws that give up bad points. If that trend stops here, we stand a pretty good chance - otherwise I am with you, Jess.

 

[Tideflyer]

Tennessee preview: Vols, Tide both have identity crises

The third Saturday in October has often given the college football world a lot to talk about. For the past 17 years, it’s mostly been about one-sided dominance thanks to Nick Saban and his se…

news.tidefans.com

Hate it, but hard for me to disagree based primarily on our D’s relative collapse and how their’s is playing.

 

[ROCKEE]

As always Jess, good analysis from you.
I think BAMA wins though.
RTR!

 

[Cruloc]

This was my score pick in the score pick thread I just couldn't bring myself to say the other team beats Bama.....not that team....not that orange garbage.

But ultimately, the Vols have the better defense and better running game...we've got a more experienced QB and more explosiveness. Its hard not to pick the winner as the team with the better running game and D.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

An accurate assessment IMO. I never thought I'd see the day when Tennessee's defense is better than Bama's but that appears to be where we're at.

 

[RollTide1224]

While you can't argue with their defensive statistics I think even at this point of the year they can be deceiving. They played several of the worst teams in the country to start the year which was great for their defense. The SEC teams they have played are all far from Alabama's offense. Oklahoma switched QBs mid games and was down 5 WR. Florida lost their QB in the game and had numerous chances, but they weren't good enough to capitalize. Arkansas is probably the best of the bunch but again far from Milroe and company.

Ohio State was viewed as the best defense in the country and then they played Oregon and got tore up pretty badly. I think the same could happen in this game. While our offense is hurky jerky at times it has scored points in every game and there's no doubt there's a lot of talent on that side. If Milroe is on he can absolutely cause fits for any defense.

I'm not enough of a defensive expert to have an opinion but some analysts I've listened to believe that our defense may be more suited to face an offense like this than it was to face the Vandy/SC offense. The key for me would be confusing Nico and getting some turnovers out of him which we have shown that we can do.

I'm going to go with 31-24 good guys. Roll tide and looking forward to a great college football Saturday.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

Until the Alabama that played UGA in the first half shows up again, I'm inclined to agree with JessN and expect a TN win, especially since it is in Knoxville. It wouldn't entirely surprise me if Alabama wins - that shows the the lack of identity TN has at the moment. I've heard elsewhere that Alabama matches up better with TN than they did with Vandy or SCar - maybe, who truly knows. Hope for the Tide to win!

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

I don't like this game..

 

[bamacpa]

I want to disagree but cannot.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Really good analysis but can argue one point:

Figuring out where each team stands relative to the other one SHOULD be the determining factor in who wins, because there is no clear favorite otherwise. BUT THE OFFICIALS WILL ULTIMATELY REVEAL THE HOME COOKING BIAS AND ALABAMA WILL HAVE TO HAVE ITS BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR TO PULL OFF A WIN.

 

[VirginiaTide57]

Surprised Bama’s defense is ranked as high as it is after the last 10 quarters. Hard to believe there are about 70 teams with worse statistics!

 

[mikeua69]

Agree with Jess. I worry UT will run the ball and control the game, keeping our D on the field. We really need this to be a game where we can have some sustained drives, but it will be hard against their front seven.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

That is the exact score I picked but I have Bama winning.

For me it comes down to coaching.

We seem to have pretty equal teams but imo CKD is a better HC than Heupel.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

We usually win when Jess picks against us, so I'll take it. This is actually the first piece I've read/heard all week that has us losing. The media has almost exclusively picked Bama.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

The image generated for this article is hilarious.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

The team that runs the football and plays defense better than his opponent usually wins, especially at home.

Dang it.

 

[Windsortide]

I’m prepared to sweat it out! But I believe we will sneak out with the win!

 

[uaintn]

Hate to say it but I fear they will run at will on our defense. Our ILBs seem lost. And I fear that we still don't have a clue how to defend a shovel pass. Hope I am wrong, but this team seems to have peaked about three games ago.

Getting Law back is huge if he is even 90%. But until our defense (players and coaches) show improvement especially on third down every game left but Mercer is a significant challenge. Hope im back tomorrow night for crow dinner.