Tennessee vs. Alabama
What Steve said:
I don’t expect it to be as large of a blowout as last year, when the spread set a record in the series. Still, the Tide’s defense is designed to stop offenses like the Vols (and has — the Vols have not scored more than 10 points in each of it’s last three tries) and the nation’s best secondary is licking it’s chops at the thought of Bray trying to go deep. The Vols do top 10 points this time (moral victory!). Score: Tide 38-17.
Please, Vols fans. Don’t be too hard on Tyler Bray. He won’t be the best QB on the field. He won’t even be top two. He’ll also be responsible for the turnover that breaks this game open. But that’s more because of the quality of the defenses each of them has to face and not because of his personal lack of talent. DeAndrew White receives the “DJ Hall Memorial Award” with a seven catch, 125 yard day. Trent Richardson will sit out the fourth quarter for the fourth time this season. Score: Tide 38 – 17
What Mike said:
Nothing to see hear folks, move along, move along. Final score Alabama 21-13
Nothing good happens for UT other than the fact that the score is closer than recent games. Alabama 21-13
What actually happened:
According to the Alabama players, they were too arrogant coming into the game and actually thought Tennessee would just lay down. Obviously, that didn’t happen. UT played well for a half and frankly, Alabama didn’t. AJ McCarron was particularly sloppy in the first two frames, missing open receivers egregiously, and getting picked off by a linebacker dropping into coverage. Whatever was said at the half worked, though. Trent Richardson added two more TDs to his season total moving into second place in the country in scoring. McCarron came out crisp, completing his first eight passes of the half, and more importantly, participated in what has become an Alabama quarterback tradition: having a career day against the Vols secondary. He’s now the fourth consecutive starter to set personal bests in passing yards against Tennessee. After getting their act together at halftime, the game was never close. Tennessee would not convert another first down or ever threaten to score again. Alabama would rattle off 31 unanswered points before ceding the reins to the second and third stringers. Lost in the poor play during the first half is also the fact that the Alabama defense never allowed Tennessee inside the 20. Tide rolled to victory – 37-6.
Steve’s reviews, retractions, and/or mea culpas:
So, taunting Tyler Bray just looks cruel right now. Obviously, he wasn’t responsible for any turnovers, and the turnovers the Vols did cough up both occurred after Alabama had the game in hand. Clearly, I was off on the score as well, though I was within a point of what Alabama would score. That’s nullified somewhat by my statement that the score would be closer than the record-setting margin of the year before, since that margin was equaled. On the year (and given Bray’s and Hunter’s status, this is a trend that will likely continue), I’ve overestimated the Vols offense six of seven games. DeAndrew White did not earn the “DJ Hall Memorial Award.” He didn’t have a single catch. Marquis Maze did manage to top 100 yards receiving, but it was built largely on a 69 yard reception rather than a series of back-breaking first down catches which would merit the honor. Richardson also played half of the fourth quarter, and had he sat, it would have been the sixth time this season.
Mike’s reviews, retractions, and/or mea culpas
Well. For a half…it was beautiful. I nearly broke my hand. Pumping my fist in joy Tiger Woods style after the successful fake punt, and nearly hitting my wall. I enjoyed the first half as much as any part of the Derek Dooley era. No Tennessee didn’t get inside the 20. But this version of Tennessee is hard to get a bead on. Is it the same version that played Cincinnati? Nope. I was disappointed in another 31 point loss to the Tide. But, this time last week, I wouldn’t have predicted 21-13 Alabama either. So much for the validity of pre-season predictions.
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