One of the three ranked matchups in the SEC this week is #6 Alabama (5-1) visiting Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN to take on #14 Tennessee (5-1). Tennessee won its last meeting with Alabama at home in 2024, but the Tide won last year 37-20 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is 17-2 against Tennessee over the last 19 meetings, but 2-2 in the past four.
Alabama is coming off their first loss of the season, a 20-17 thriller versus Georgia. The Tide allowed over 200 rushing yards for the second time this year, failed to get pressure with one sack, and had the second-fewest yards on the season (346) and lowest point total (17) on the year. It's an all-around bounce back spot for Kalen DeBoer and Bama on the road. DeBoer is 6-0 after a loss in his Alabama career and 5-1 ATS. Oddsmakers think Alabama will bounce back as they are pegged -7.5 point favorites even without their star WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (head) and C Racin Delgatty. Up until the Georgia loss, Alabama had the second-highest scoring offense and posted at least 45 points in every game. The Tide will attempt to get back to that style of boat racing opponents, but it's going to be a struggle on the road against this Vols defense.
Tennessee has permitted 24 or fewer points in every game and 14 points to Auburn and 17 to Arkansas in the past two games. The Vols have forced six turnovers in SEC play so far versus four committed, plus have far fewer penalties than their opponents so far (29 vs 17). Offensively, Tennessee is in flux right now. Faizon Brandon will miss his second game and that gives George MacIntyre his second-straight start. MacIntyre went 18-of-29 versus Arkansas for 247 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
The trick for Tennessee will be avoiding obvious pass situations, because we know the run is coming more than likely on first and second downs. DeSean Bishop has been on fire the past two games with 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Auburn, then 138 rushing yards and a score versus Arkansas. In the two years versus DeBoer's Bama defenses, Tennessee has ran for 142 and 214 yards. We can expect. healthy workload from Bishop yet again after 53 carries in the last two weeks.
Let’s dive into the schools on both sides of the ball, look at a few key players, and see where the numbers take us.
Game Details and How to Watch Alabama vs Tennessee
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM Eastern
- Site: Neyland Stadium
- City: Knoxville, TN
- TV/Streaming: ABC
Game Odds for Alabama vs Tennessee
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Alabama Crimson Tide (-340), Tennessee Vols (+270)
- Spread: Alabama -7.5 (-112)
- Total: 50.5 points
#6 Alabama Crimson Tide
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer
2026 Record: 5-1 (3-1)
Offensive Points Per Game: 44.2 (3rd)
Defensive Points Per Game: 20.6 (T-45th)
2026 Strength of Schedule: 7th
2026 Remaining Strength of Schedule: 31st
The Alabama Crimson Tide Offense:
Alabama will be down two starters on offense and they're both impact players. WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (head) and center Racin Delgatty (leg) are out after suffering injuries against Georgia. The Tide are coming off their second-fewest yardage outputs of the season (346) and fewest points (17). Keelon Russell was sacked a season-high four times and he lost a fumble for the only Alabama turnover. Alabama will want to flip the switch back to 45-plus points a game, but Tennessee's defense hasn't given up more than 24 this season.
Alabama Player to Watch on Offense: QB Keelon Russell
Keelon Russell is coming off season-lows of 185 passing yards, one touchdown, and 16 completions. Surely this is a better matchup for the Tide's quarterback, but it won't be a walk in the park. Alabama scored 45 or more points in every game up until Georgia and Tennessee's yet to allow more than 24 points in a game. Russell will try to get Alabama's high-flying offense back on track without WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (head) and starting center Racin Delgatty (leg), which won't be easy.
The Alabama Crimson Tide Defense:
The Tide managed to grab one sack against Georgia and gave up 206 rushing yards, the second-most on the season. Alabama will face another stellar ground game at Tennessee led by DeSean Bishop. Last year, Bishop had 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries versus Alabama and Dylan Sampson had 139 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in 2024 against Kalen DeBoer's defenses. Alabama had a few defenders pop up on the injury report ahead of Saturday, so I'd expect Alabama's rush defense be the difference-maker in whether the Tide win convincingly or Tennessee keeps it close and/or wins.
Alabama Player to Watch on Defense: LB Caleb Woodson
Caleb Woodson is second on Alabama with 42 tackles and fourth in sacks (2.0). He's one seven players with an interception for the Tide and is coming off leading Alabama in tackles versus Georgia with nine. He's led Alabama in tackles three times this year with 12 stops at Kentucky and 12 against Mississippi State. Given the state of Tennessee's offense, I'd expect another double-digit tackling performance from Woodson in order to stop the Vols rushing attack.
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#14 Tennessee Vols
Head Coach: Josh Heupel
2026 Record: 5-1 (2-1)
Offensive Points Per Game: 34.7 (T-44th)
Defensive Points Per Game: 15.5 (19th)
2026 Strength of Schedule: 44th
2026 Remaining Strength of Schedule: 8th
The Tennessee Vols Offense:
Since the loss to Texas, running back DeSean Bishop has been on fire. In the last two games, he's run for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries versus Auburn and 138 yards and a score on 19 carries against Arkansas. Alabama's rush defense ranks 20th in PFF's grades, so they will present the toughest challenge for Tennessee as the highest ranked rush defense they'll face all year. The passing game is a big question mark right now with Faizon Brandon missing his second-straight game and George MacIntyre getting the nod once again.
Tennessee Player to Watch on Offense: QB George MacIntyre
George MacIntyre will make his second-straight start amid Faizon Brandon's injury. MacIntyre threw for one touchdowns and 247 yards on Arkansas in his first start a week after going 8-of-10 for 86 yards in relief work against Auburn. MacIntyre did throw two interceptions against Arkansas, which is a concern against Alabama. You don't want to give the Tide any extra possessions coming off a loss. Alabama will likely sell out to stop star running back DeSean Bishop in the running game and make MacIntyre try to beat them.
The Tennessee Vols Defense:
Tennessee's allowed 24 or fewer points in every game this season and held their last two opponents to 31 total points and 633 total yards. The Vols defense had been the bread and butter this season. Tennessee also has a top 50 third down defense (33.3%) and held Auburn and Arkansas to 7-of-25 (28%). Per PFF, Tennessee's defense ranks seventh in pressure grades, 13th in coverage grades, but comes in a dismal 95th in rush defense and 71st in tackling. The Vols defense will be put to the test against a top-five offense. Alabama scored 37 last year on Tennessee, but lost their past two trips to Knoxville (24-17, 52-49).
Tennessee Player to Watch on Defense: DL Tyree Wethersby
One of the Vols' goals this weekend will be getting Tyree Wethersby in the backfield as much as possible. Wethersby is coming off a sack versus Arkansas and had a season-high 2.5 sacks against Texas three weeks ago. Wethersby is second on the team in sacks at 4.5 and top five in TFL with 5.5. The junior is in the midst of a breakout year in his third season with Tennessee.
Tennessee and Alabama Stats, Betting Trends
- Tennessee is 2-2 versus Alabama over the last four meetings
- Alabama is 17-2 over the last 19 meetings versus Tennessee
- Alabama won 15-straight meetings versus Tennessee from 2007-2021
- Alabama is 4-2 ATS and 5-1 to the Over this season
- Tennessee is 3-3 ATS and 5-1 to the Under this season
- Alabama is 7-4 on the ML as a road favorite with DeBoer
- The Tide are 5-5 ATS and 7-4 to the Over as a road favorite with DeBoer
- Tennessee is 9-8 to the Over as an underdog in the Heupel era
- Tennessee is 4-4 to the Over as a home underdog in theHeupel era
- Tennessee is 11-6 to the Under as a underdog and 4-4 as a home underdog in the Heupel era
- The Vols are 4-13 on the ML as a underdog and 2-6 as a home underdog in the Heupel era
Rotoworld Best Bets
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Tennessee to go Under 21.5 points:
"One thing has been certain about Tennessee this season, the Vols are struggling offensively and keeping themselves in games with defense. The Vols are 5-1 to the Under this season and scored 24, 24, and 17 points in three conference games. Alabama may be on the road, but they're still in a bounce back spot following a 20-17 loss to #2 Georgia. With the current quarterback situation at Tennessee, I'd have to keep going Under on the Vols. I lean Tennessee's Team Total Under 21.5 down to 20.5."
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