KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two 5-1 teams meet at Neyland Stadium on Saturday when No. 14 Tennessee welcomes No. 6 Alabama for the latest Third Saturday in October, with a 3:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff on ABC.
Each side carries a single loss into the rivalry. The Volunteers dropped a tight home game to Texas when the Longhorns were ranked first. Alabama is regrouping after falling 20-17 to Georgia, now the top-ranked team in the country, in a game where the Bulldogs held the Tide to 6-of-13 on third down.
History favors the visitors bouncing back. Kalen DeBoer has a 6-0 record at Alabama in games that follow a loss, and oddsmakers list the Crimson Tide as an 8.5-point favorite.
Tennessee’s best weapon may be its pass rush. The Vols lead the Football Bowl Subdivision with 25 sacks, and Xavier Gilliam accounts for five of them along with 22 quarterback pressures.
Alabama will be shorthanded. Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, the team’s leading pass catcher, is out with head and knee injuries and is considered week-to-week, and defensive back Terrance Green is out with an ankle injury after both left the Georgia game. Center Racin Delgatty is questionable with a knee injury; if he cannot play, Mal Waldrep is expected to start in the middle of the line. Outside linebacker Justin Hill, who has missed three straight games with a foot injury, is listed as probable.
The quarterback matchup hinges on a health question in Knoxville. Tennessee freshman Faizon Brandon is questionable after a shoulder injury limited him over the last two games, and the Vols are expected to turn to George MacIntyre. MacIntyre came off the bench to rally Tennessee past Auburn, then made his first career start at Arkansas, leading a 24-17 victory while completing 18 of 29 throws for 247 yards, one scoring pass and two picks. Brandon, who has 697 passing yards and seven touchdowns this season, went back to throwing at practice Tuesday, so both could play. Alabama counters with sophomore Keelon Russell.
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