It’s the 3^rd Saturday in October which means it is time for the 2023 edition of Tennessee vs Alabama and will be played at 3:30 PM ET with the game airing nationally on CBS when the 17^th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to face the 11^th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in week 8 of the college football season.

The Tennessee Volunteers enter this game ranked 17^th in the AP Poll and 15^th in the AP Poll with a record of 5-1 following a 20-13 win at home against the Texas A&M Aggies while covering the 3-point spread as a home favorite in week 7 of the college football season. Tennessee scored 20 points while compiling a total of 332 yards offensively which included 100 passing yards and 232 rushing yards while allowing 13 points and 277 total yards defensively which included 223 passing yards and 54 rushing yards. 

Joe Milton III led the team in passing, completing 11 of 22 attempts for 100 yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 34 yards on eight attempts. Jaylen Wright led the team in rushing with 19 carries for 136 yards. Chas Nimrod led the team in receiving, catching four of six targets for 31 yards.

Alabama enters this game ranked 11^th in the AP Poll and tied for 8^th in the Coaches Poll with a record of 6-1 following a 24-21 win at home against the Arkansas Razorbacks while failing to cover the 19-point spread as a home favorite in week 7 of the college football season. The Crimson Tide scored 24 points while compiling a total of 414 yards offensively which included 238 passing yards and 176 rushing yards while allowing 21 points and 250 total yards defensively which included 150 passing yards and 100 rushing yards. Jalen Milroe led the team in passing, completing 10 of 21 attempts for 238 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown. Jase McClellan led the team in rushing with 16 carries for 83 yards while adding a reception for five yards. Kobe Prentice led the team in receiving, catching two of three targets for 93 yards and a touchdown.

BookMaker has the Alabama Crimson Tide listed as 8-point favorites at home against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday afternoon in week 8 of the college football season. Alabama has won nine of the last ten and two of the last three meetings while going 6-4 ATS in the last ten and 2-1 ATS in the last three games in the series. Tennessee is 4-2 ATS overall, 0-1 ATS on the road, and 2-1 ATS in conference games this season while the Alabama Crimson Tide are 4-3 ATS overall, 2-2 ATS at home, 4-3 ATS as a favorite, and 3-1 ATS in conference games on the year.

Tennessee had a phenomenal season last year and finally ended their losing streak against Alabama, however, that game was at home and Alabama will be out for revenge in this matchup after losing last season. I look for that to happen, however, 8 points is a lot to give up, especially against a team that has been one of the better teams in the conference at covering the spread this season going 4-2 ATS overall. Alabama will get the win but Tennessee will get the cover with the 8 points in this rivalry on Saturday afternoon.