Tennessee vs. Alabama Prediction
Is the point spread in today’s Tennessee and Alabama game inflated? Can the struggling Vols actually cover?
ODDSMAKERS LIKE: Alabama. BIG. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Crimson Tide is a 36.5-point home favorite after opening as a 33-point favorite. As for the total, the number hit the board at 51 but has been bet down slightly to 51 at the majority of sports books.
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THE PUBLIC LIKES: Alabama. Public bettors apparently aren’t scared off by the big number because over 70% are backing the Crimson Tide and laying the 34.5 points. Alabama is a big public team but Tennessee is also 1-5 against the spread this year so it makes sense why the majority of tickets are on the Tide.
HISTORICAL TRENDS LIKE: The road team. In the last 22 meetings between these two teams, the road team is 16-5-1 at the betting window. That said, the favorite is also 5-2 against the spread in the last seven meetings so those two trends conflict each other for Saturday’s matchup. Want to more confused? Tennessee is 7-3-1 against the spread in its last 11 trips to Tuscaloosa, but is just 3-9-1 against the number in its last 13 games versus Alabama overall.
WHO WE LIKE: Alabama. I know the line is inflated, just as it was a week ago when Arkansas barely covered as a massive underdog in Tuscaloosa. But I just can’t bring myself to back a Tennessee team that has been dreadful this season and has shown zero improvements under Butch Jones (who is on the hot seat). Tennessee will start a freshman quarterback in Tuscaloosa today. Good luck with that. I just hope Jalen Hurts and Damien Harris are on their game from start to finish this week, unlike last Saturday, when the Tide’s offense fell asleep at times and allowed Arkansas to cover.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE -36.5