Tennessee Volunteers (3-3, 3-3 ATS) at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0, 5-2 ATS) Bryant-Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, A.L. Saturday October 24th, 3:30PM Eastern
By Jay Horne of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Tennessee +16/Alabama -16
Over/Under: TBA
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There is a new number 1 in college football and they are the Alabama Crimson Tide. A day after a convincing win over No. 23 South Carolina, the Crimson Tide earned the nation's top spot in the polls with some help from Florida who narrowly escaped Arkansas. However the pollsters are not mistaken, Alabama is playing better than anyone in the country. The Crimson Tide is absolutely dominating in the trenches and running back Mark Ingram is emerging as a Heisman candidate.
Still a week after their impressive win over South Carolina, Alabama has to reset quickly as the Tennessee Volunteers coming rolling into Tuscaloosa this Saturday. The SEC schedule is never forgiving as they play talented teams every week. As Arkansas indicated last week the threat of the upsets is always looming and the Volunteers will be seeking a big one this weekend.
The Volunteers had the week off with some time to get rejuvenated and they will need all their players to give a 100% effort this weekend. Tennessee scored a huge win in their last outing thumping Georgia 45-19. QB Jonathon Crompton had a career performance in the outing throwing for 310 yards and 4 touchdowns. Crompton has had an up and down career, but when he is throwing the ball well Tennessee is dangerous. Running back Montario Hardesty is becoming the biggest playmakers for the Vols. Hardesty leads the team with 6 individual touchdowns and has produced 672 yards in front of the Tennessee offensive line.
However, Crompton is the guy that is going to have to make plays. Hardesty will be attempting to run the ball against one of the best defensive lines in the country and a unit that is just allowing 65 yards per game. The Crimson Tide defense was spectacular up front against South Carolina and they did not allow any type of bal movement until Gamecocks QB Stephen Garcia started hooking up on short passing routes in the 2nd half. Crompton will have to do the same and make some quick easy completions and then work the ball down field. If that happens, Hardesty perhaps can break open some plays as well.
The difference last week for Alabama was their emerging superstar running back Mark Ingram. The young sophomore has exploded over the last few weeks for the Crimson Tide and he is playing as good as any individual in the country. Ingram carried the ball 24 times for a monstrous 246 yards last week against the Gamecocks. Alabama had 378 total yards meaning Ingram accounted for 65% of the offensive production. Of course it helps to have possibly the best offensive line in America, but Ingram broke countless tackles last week and turned broken plays into big gains. Over the last 3 games, Ingram has racked up 558 of his 905 yards of the season against some talented SEC defenses.
QB Greg McElroy has struggled in recent weeks despite having thrown for 1,325 yards and 9 touchdowns on the year. However, the passing game has struggled against the solid defensive units over the past few weeks, but Ingram has picked up all the slack. The Alabama offense will attack the Volunteers defensive front early and try to wear them down throughout the evening. One thing Alabama does need to do that they have not been able to do recently is get sophomore WR Julio Jones involved. Jones will get touches in the return game, but he is a big time wide out in the passing game. If Ingram has another big day, look for Alabama to mix it up when some down the field shots at Jones to help the offense score some points.
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Jay's Pick - Jonathan Crompton has struggled against some average defenses this season and he is going to be harassed all day Saturday. The Crimson Tide defense stays in the face of opposing quarterbacks regularly and they lead the SEC with 21 sacks. Crompton will be knocked around and he will throw some picks meaning the Tide stays rolling. Take Alabama -16.
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