Tennessee @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2016 ) Alabama 49, Tennessee 10

Top-ranked Alabama is rolling toward a spot in the College Football Playoff as it looks to defeat visiting Tennessee for the 11th straight time on Saturday. Alabama is outscoring opponents by an average of 32.6 points per game while dominating the trenches on both sides of the ball.

The Crimson Tide are controlling games with their rushing attack (sixth nationally at 302.6 yards per game) and by halting opponents (national-low 66.7 yards while allowing just two rushing scores), but coach Nick Saban insists his team could be threatened by the Volunteers. "To get a group of people to be special all the time in every situation with all the noise and external factors and all the stuff that's out there, it's a real challenge," Saban told reporters. Tennessee, which was outscored 56-9 in back-to-back losses to Georgia and South Carolina, hasn't scored a touchdown in its last 10 quarters and coach Butch Jones has gone from the "hot seat" to a lava-like level when it comes to his job security. "I don't worry about any of that," Jones told reporters. "All my focus is on our players and our football program and getting them ready for the Alabama game."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -34.5

ABOUT TENNESSEE (3-3, 0-3 SEC): Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano makes his second career start after completing 11-of-18 passes for 133 yards in the loss to South Carolina. "I think I played pretty well," Guarantano told reporters. "I think there's a lot of things that I can learn from and I think that there's certain things that I could have done better. But all around, I think it went pretty well, but not well enough for the win, and that's all that matters." Senior middle linebacker Colton Jumper has been solid with 4.5 sacks, but the Volunteers have recorded just two interceptions at the season's midway point.

ABOUT ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0): Junior running back Damien Harris has topped 100 yards in three of the last four games and has recorded a team-best 625 yards and a terrific 9.2 average. Run-first sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts (558 yards, six touchdowns) has thrown eight touchdown passes against one interception and has been responsible for 50 career scores (31 passing, 19 rushing) - two behind Harry Gilmer (1944-47) for third place on the school's all-time list. Junior safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (32 tackles, one interception) is the star of the unit that ranks fourth nationally in total defense (254.3), while senior cornerback Levi Wallace (team-best three interceptions) and sophomore defensive end Raekwon Davis (team-leading 4.5 sacks) are enjoying solid campaigns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama rolled to a 49-10 victory in last season's meeting.

2. Tennessee senior K Aaron Medley (illness) and sophomore DE Darrell Taylor (suspension) each will miss their second straight game.

3. The Crimson Tide have outscored their opponents 100-9 in the first quarter.

PREDICTION: Alabama 55, Tennessee 10