College Sports

No. 2 Alabama visits Tennessee trying to continue win streak

Posted October 22, 2020 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

No. 2 Alabama (4-0) at Tennessee (2-2), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS).

Line: Alabama by 21.

Series Record: Alabama leads 57-37-8 (56-38-7 after NCAA penalties).

WHAT'S AT STAKE

No. 2 Alabama needs to prove how this team responds after a big win, going from beating a ranked opponent in No. 3 Georgia to a Southeastern Conference team struggling with two straight losses that dropped Tennessee out of the Top 25. Alabama has won 13 straight in this series and is heavily favored to add to that streak. Tennessee hasn't beaten Alabama since 2006, and the Vols are trying to fix a turnover issue over the past two games.

KEY MATCHUP

Nobody has slowed down the Crimson Tide's passing attack yet, but the Volunteers do rank second in the league in pass defense. Quarterback Mac Jones has an array of weapons, including dangerous wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith. Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt took over the defensive line after firing his assistant and sees better line play with helping improve their pass coverage. Vols cornerback Alontae Taylor missed the Kentucky game with an injured hamstring.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alabama: RB Najee Harris is coming off huge games against Mississippi and No. 4 Georgia. He leads the SEC in rushing yards (499), touchdowns (11) and attempts (83).

Tennessee: QB Jarrett Guarantano. The senior has six turnovers in the span of four quarters over the last two games with three of those returned for touchdowns.

Facts & Figures

Alabama has won all 13 meetings with the Vols under coach Nick Saban who is 15-1 all-time against Tennessee. Saban is 22-0 against his former assistants. Pruitt, a former defensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa, is 0-2 against the Tide. ... Saban is 47-2 in October with the two losses on the road. ... Alabama is averaging 8.3 yards per play, compared to 4.9 yards for Tennessee. ... Alabama became the first SEC team in more than 20 years with a 400-yard passer, two 150-plus yard receivers and a 150-yard rusher in the same game. ... The Volunteers haven't beaten a ranked Alabama team since 1999, and they've lost six in a row at Neyland Stadium in this series. ... Tennessee LB Henry To'o To'o is one of five FBS linebackers with an interception returned for a TD this season. ... Tennessee has allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the SEC this season with four.

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) is stopped short of the first down by Georgia linebackers Monty Rice (32) and Jermaine Johnson (11) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) The Associated Press

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