October 19, 2012

Tommy Deas
TideSports.com Editor

The Call: Alabama vs. Tennessee
		Advantage
Offense		Advantage: Alabama You've probably heard all about Tennessee's high-powered offense. Alabama's, however, is more consistent, more balanced and just better. It starts with a line anchored by center Barrett Jones, and that line seems to be coming together. That makes it easy for Eddie Lacy or T.J. Yeldon to gallop and AJ McCarron to find receivers. Don't sell UT quarterback Tyler Bray short - he stands tall in the pocket and can make all the throws. The question here is whether the running game can support him.
Defense		Advantage: Alabama Alabama ranks No. 1 in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, passing defense and probably some some sorts of defense that the NCAA hasn't figured out how to statistically quantify. Adrian Hubbard, UA's leading pass rusher, will get plenty of chances to get after Tyler Bray, and the Crimson Tide's secondary will have to be sharp against UT's passing attack. The Volunteers are givin gup about 430 yards and 31.5 points per game. Tennessee is vulnerable to the pass and the run.
Special Teams		Advantage: Even Tennessee has missed four extra points, but has been good on 9 of 12 field goal attempts. The Vols' biggest weapons are returners Cordarrelle Patterson, who averages 38.2 yards on kickoff returns with one return for a touchdown, and Devrin Young, who handles punt returns. Alabama had some breakdowns at Missouri last weekend, allowing a kickoff return for a score and fumbling a punt snap, but the kickers have been sold. Jeremy Shelley is 7-for-7 on field goals and Cade Foster is 4-for-6 on long kicks.
Coaching		Advantage: Alabama This is one of those teacher-vs.-pupil matchups, but Nick Saban is in a different class than UT's Derek Dooley, who was an assistant under Saban at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Saban is coaching for a fourth national championship, while Dooley is coaching to keep his job. One of Saban's strengths is his ability to find and develop young coaches like Jeremy Pruitt, who handles Alabama's secondary. UA's pass defense is tops in the nation.
Intangibles		Advantage: Alabama Tennessee has a coach fighting for his future, while Alabama has the confidence of having defeated the Volunteers five times in a row. Neyland Stadium isn't the most unfriendly road stop for Alabama in recent seasons, especially since the last couple of years it seems to have emptied of home fans by the middle of the third quarter. Tennessee fans can cheer for former coach Phil Fulmer, who is being honored today, but that will just fire up visiting Alabama supporters even more.
Prediction		Alabama 37, Tennessee 10 Tennessee hasn't won a league game this season, and isn't likely to turn things around here. The Volunteers have been downtrodden in recent seasons while Alabama has been on the rise. Expect UA to pull away as the game goes on and put it away with a physical fourth quarter.