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Alabama takes aim at struggling Tennessee defense

This weekend, we’re blessed with multiple matchups that are primed to be captivating shootouts. Alabama vs. Tennessee could be the most exhilarating.

Since their opening week loss, Alabama has completely transformed into a new team. There’s been a deliberate attention to detail and new intensity this program desperately needed to find in year 2 of Kalen DeBoer. All credit should go to quarterback Ty Simpson, who has played at a Heisman level and rejuvenated their impressive passing attack.

On the other side, Tennessee’s offense has been equally explosive with Joey Aguilar leading the way. Josh Heupel has his squad’s offense rolling since their loss to Georgia, and the Volunteers will challenge an inconsistent Alabama defense. However, the Volunteers’ secondary has been atrocious without its star cornerback Jermod McCoy.

The fantastic A to Z college football crew shared their predictions for how this game could unfold. Here were the highlights from their analysis:

“I honestly don’t know what to expect in this game. I think we will learn a lot about both teams. Ultimately, I think Tennessee’s feast or famine approach on defense (they give up a ton of yards, but they get plenty of sacks and tackles for loss, too) will work in Alabama’s favor (due to QB Ty Simpson’s ability to take care of the football). Tennessee will hit some big plays, but they won’t be able to stop Simpson and the Bama offense.” —Zach Ragan

“The fireworks will be there early for both passing attacks. Ty Simpson and the Tide won’t be punting much today, but Joey Aguilar and the Vols will have a big first half. The Crimson Tide defense settles in a bit and stalls out the Tennessee offense in the third quarter, and Alabama gets some separation it needs to pull away. Simpson and the Tide enjoy the victory cigars late Saturday night.” —Craig Smith

“We’ll see two high-flying offenses that have been quite hot in recent games in this matchup. The Alabama Crimson Tide are rolling with Ty Simpson continuing to show off NFL-level accuracy and decision-making .. If Tennessee can force a fumble and an interception, Alabama’s advantage in size and ability to create quarterback pressure will be mitigated. But I suspect this game will feel familiar, where the Tide have just a little too much where it matters in terms of girth and toughness, and Tennessee falls short.” —Ian Valentino

I have little faith in this Tennessee defense with the way they’ve performed over the last few weeks. Against UAB, Mississippi State, and Arkansas, they gave up more than 24 points. Mississippi State and Arkansas should have been games they won handily, but their defense was continuously gashed. Additionally, they’re 91st in EPA/dropback allowed and 87th in EPA/rush allowed. The Crimson Tide offense should be licking its chops.

Simpson is making so many big plays with the command of an NFL quarterback. Even in his less impressive statistical performances this year, he’s ripped the ball down the field with confidence. This Tennessee secondary, without McCoy, will not be able to slow him down. For that reason, I believe that Alabama will win this game and win by 10-plus points at home.

Georgia can silence the doubters against Ole Miss

This season hasn’t been smooth for Georgia, and they desperately need to win this game confidently.

Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs have looked shockingly human this year due to, of all things, their unproductive defensive line. Despite their defensive woes, quarterback Gunner Stockon has rallied this squad through its recent victories. Ole Miss comes into town, presenting them with a real chance to recapture momentum.

However, no one should overlook the Rebels. Having a quarterback as elusive as Rebel’s star Trinidad Chambliss presents Georgia with a tough challenge. If this is another game that they can’t produce sacks and pressures, they’ll be in for a long and frustrating afternoon of watching Chambliss pick them apart.

Our college football staff projected who will win this game. Here were the most important takeaways:

“This is not your typical Georgia versus Ole Miss game. Georgia might be 5-1, but they have looked beatable almost every single week of SEC play … Gunner Stockton has made huge leaps forward and the ground game continues to thrive, but the Bulldogs boast one of the worst pass rushes in the country … Meanwhile, Ole Miss’ offense has been on fire with Trinidad Chambliss at quarterback. They rank number one among all FBS teams at creating explosive plays of 30+ yards. They’re top 20 in almost every offensive category, including elite marks on third downs, where Georgia can’t get off the field (ranking 86th nationally).” —Travis May

“There has been a shift in the balance of power across the nation, something that Ole Miss is ready to expose. Georgia’s defense isn’t the elite force it once was, but it’s still very good across the board. The key will be what quarterback Trinidad Chambliss does for the Rebels. He’s been a very good player across the board, but is he ready for the upper echelon of the SEC? Last week was a clunker against Washington State, but he’s put up some very impressive performances in his four starts. I believe he is ready to take that next step, but Georgia barely holds them off.” —Tyler Forness

“Georgia’s big matchups have been anything but relaxing for fans, and that likely won’t change this week, especially with College GameDay in town. The good news is that quarterback Gunner Stockton returns home, which should help him play with more comfort and confidence. Still, the Bulldogs’ offense has to get the ground game going against Ole Miss or they’ll be in serious trouble. Defensively, Georgia must turn up the pressure on Trinidad Chambliss and be ready to contain star running back Kewan Lacy.” —Kelsey Kramer

Ultimately, I believe that Ole Miss’s victory over LSU, which legitimized them to many across the country, had more to do with LSU’s offensive struggles than Ole Miss being a legit SEC title threat. I’ve been unimpressed with their defense in other matchups this year. They’re 119th in EPA/rush allowed, which doesn’t bode well for stopping a commanding rushing attack for the Bulldogs.

The most important aspect of this game is that Georgia desperately needs to win to remain in the mix for an SEC championship. Kirby Smart has always been a coach capable of rallying his team in must-win games and winning with an exclamation point. There’s no reason to doubt the Bulldogs at home with so much on the line.

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