Alabama @ Tennessee preview
Neyland Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Tennessee 10, Alabama 12
Looking for an edge to upset No. 7 Alabama, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley dissected South Carolina’s surprising win over the Crimson Tide two weeks ago. He might want to take a long, hard look at the Volunteers' last meeting with the Tide.
Last season, Tennessee gave Alabama their toughest game of the year and was one kick away from beating the eventual undefeated national champions.
With a block of a last-second field goal, Alabama escaped with a 12-10 win, its lowest point total since November 2007. The two-point margin was one of only two games in which the Tide won by less than a touchdown.
Dooley, who spent two years under coach Nick Saban at LSU, is going to need any advantage he can get when Tennessee (2-4, 1-3 SEC) hosts Alabama (6-1, 3-1) on Saturday night.
In his first year at Tennessee, Dooley lacks the overall talent, experience and depth of the top teams in the country like No. 7 Alabama. The Vols, who are coming off of a bye, have lost four of their last five games, including a 41-14 defeat to Georgia in their last game.
In the losses, opponents have outscored Tennessee 136-58. The Tide last week rebounded from the 35-21 loss to South Carolina with a solid 23-10 win over Mississippi, their 19th win in 20 games.
Alabama is not without its concerns. The running game hasn’t been as dominant or as explosive in recent weeks. After running for more than 300 yards in limited action in his first two games this season, Mark Ingram has a combined 148 yards in his last three games. The Heisman Trophy winner’s longest run in that stretch: 13 yards.
Also, quarterback Greg McElroy has been sacked 11 times in the last two games and 21 times on the season, one more than his 14-game season totals last season.
Tennessee, however, has only seven sacks and its defense allows 321.8 yards per game, 97th in the country. So, if Alabama is going to regain its stride before its pivotal SEC West matchup with LSU, this might be the game to do it.
Tennessee’s offense has been sporadic at best. The Vols rushed for nine yards against Georgia and they’re ranked 94th nationally with 115 yards per game. Tauren Poole topped 100 yards against LSU’s vaunted defense and piled up 162 versus Oregon, so he is capable.
Quarterback Matt Simms also has been reliable. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards last week and has thrown for 1,136 yards this season. True freshman quarterback Tyler Bray is expected to play too, Dooley said.
Whether it’s Simms or Bray, the Volunteers face a tough task going up against Alabama’s defense, which is allowing 12.9 points per game (No. 5 nationally) and 288 yards per game (12th). McElroy has thrown for 1,517 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions and is completing better than 71 percent of his passes.
Alabama receiver Julio Jones (hand), who didn't finish last week's game, is probable.
For Tennessee, defensive tackle Montori Hughes, who was injured against Georgia, is not expected to play (foot). Guard JerQuari Schofield (ankle) is probable.