Alabama @ Tennessee Week 7 Free Picks & Odds

The Alabama Crimson Tide won it all last season behind a powerful defense and an equally powerful rushing attack that was led by 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. However, with Henry and several of his defensive teammates off to the NFL change is underway for Nick Saban’s ballyhooed gridiron program in 2016. The Tennessee Volunteers are brimming with talent and enter the upcoming season as a sexy pick to improve in a big way under head coach Butch Jones after winning nine games a year ago. Now, let’s find out who’s going to bring home the bacon in this intriguing college football odds showdown.

How To Bet the Crimson Tide @ Volunteers NCAA Football Odds, TV & Game Info

When: Saturday, October 15, 2016
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
TV: TBA
TV Stream: TBA
NCAA Football Odds: Alabama -3

Why Bet the Tennessee Volunteers

There are several god reasons to bet on Tennessee (9-4 SU, 8-5 ATS) in this SEC showdown, starting with the fact that the Volunteers are playing at home and looked absolutely phenomenal in blowing out defensive minded Northwestern 45-6 in the Outback Bowl to close out their 2015 campaign. Not only that, but the Vols have an athletically gifted dual-threat signal-caller in Joshua Dobbs that can make plays both on the ground and through the air, not t mention a pair of talented running backs that could likely start for any team in the country in Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.

Tennessee also had a solid defense in 2015 as they ranked a stellar 16thin the nation in points allowed (20.0 ppg), though Jones decided to bring in a new defensive coordinator, in Bob Shoop, this offseason. The Vols need to find two new safeties, but all other starters return from a year ago including hard-nosed linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Darrin Kirkland Jr.

Why Bet the Alabama Crimson Tide

Well, there are plenty of good reasons to back Alabama in this Week 7 showdown, starting with the fact that the Tide will almost assuredly have another powerful defense despite losing a handful of elite players that are all in the NFL now. Even with Saban having to find a replacement for Henry and starting quarterback Jake Coker, Alabama will likely be a defensive juggernaut in 2016, just as they have been for the entirety of Saban’s tenure at the legendary school. Sure, this year marks the first time in Saban’s 10 seasons in Tuscaloosa, he’ll have neither his first or second-leading rusher back, but former top recruit Bo Scarbrough is now being labeled as the next star running back at Alabama.

The quarterback position cold be problematic for the Tide as they figure out their best option between Cooper Bateman, third-year sophomore David Cornwell and young candidates Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts. The Tide will also lose some of the jaw-dropping depth along their front seven from a year ago, but the Tide do have plenty of talent with Reuben Foster taking over at middle linebacker and athletically gifted defensive ends Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson ready to shine.

My Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction

Tennessee has lost a whopping nine straight against Alabama dating back to 2007, but they’ve got a perfect opportunity to snap that streak and get some revenge against Alabama in this contest and I believe that’s exactly what they’re going to do! The Vols have covered the spread in two straight against the Crimson Tide and nearly beat Alabama in its narrow 19-14 road loss as a 14.5-point underdog last season.

With Alabama having to replace Derrick Henry and likely going with an inexperienced starting quarterback, I say the Vols win and cover the college football betting line as a home underdog.

My Pick: Tennessee 21 Alabama 20