Tennessee Volunteers at No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, 10/22/11, 7:15 PM EST, TV: ESPN2
Opening Point Spread: Alabama -27.5
Current Betting Line: Alabama -29.5
Opening Total: 45.5
Current Total: 46
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Tennessee has dropped three of its last four games with all three defeats coming against Southeastern Conference competition. The Volunteers will be attempting to score 17 or more points for the first time in seven meetings with the Crimson Tide, while they’ve allowed an average of 30.7 points in the last four games in this series. “It’s his best team,” commented Volunteers coach Derek Dooley about Nick Saban’s Alabama squad this year. “Probably as physically a dominating defense as I’ve seen in the modern era of football.” Tennessee is 15-15 ATS over the last two plus seasons and the ‘over’ is 19-10 in those contests.
The Volunteers will be trying to snap a five-game road losing streak to SEC West opponents since the 2007 campaign. Tennessee has normally enjoyed great success in October, posting a 48-25 record during the month since 1990. The program is 37-31 ATS during the month. The team played the No. 1 team in the country last week, dropping a 38-7 contest as 16.5-point home underdogs. Saturday will be the first time in school history that the Volunteers have played the top-ranked and No. 2 team in consecutive weeks.
Alabama returns home after a 52-7 win over the Mississippi Rebels as 27.5-point road favorites, winning the statistical battle by an incredible 474 yards. The Crimson Tide came out a big flat in allowing 72 yards on the Rebels’ first possession, but gave up just 69 the rest of the way. The team has outscored opponents by an average of 32.7 points thus far. Running back Trent Richardson continues to be a dominating force, ranking second nationally with 912 rushing yards, while also finding the end zone 15 times. Alabama is 6-1 ATS on the season and the ‘over’ is 4-3 in those contests.
The Crimson Tide will enjoy a bye week before hosting the LSU Tigers in a contest that will likely determine one representative to play in the BCS Championship Game. Alabama leads the series, 45-24.5, but dropped a 24-21 contest in last year’s meeting in Baton Rouge. The defense is allowing just seven points per game, ranking first nationally in allowing just 184.1 yards per game, limiting opponents to just 38 yards per game on the ground. Over the last eight games, Alabama’s defense is allowing just 27.4 rushing yards per game.
Bettors will likely back the Volunteers due to being 9-1 ATS as a road underdog of 10.5 or more points, while the home team is 2-13-1 ATS in the series.
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