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Tennessee football vs. Alabama: 10 keys for Vols and Crimson Tide

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shake hands after the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shake hands after the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Oct 17, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon (70) forces Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore (13) out of bounds after Moore intercepted a pass during the second half of Alabama’s 41-24 win over Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon (70) forces Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore (13) out of bounds after Moore intercepted a pass during the second half of Alabama’s 41-24 win over Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports /

2. How many interceptions can Alabama get?

Obviously, the story of Tennessee football is the turnovers by the quarterbacks the past two weeks. Jarrett Guarantano, in just two halves, had three fumbles and three interceptions, and the defense scored touchdowns off half of those turnovers. J.T. Shrout made for a fourth interception for his one series in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats. So it has been disastrous all around.

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While the turnovers are a mix, the Alabama Crimson Tide have been clear about their preferred method of forcing turnovers: interceptions. As a result, whether or not the mistake-free Vols from the first two games show up or the mistake-prone Vols from the past two games show up will depend on the ability Alabama’s defensive backs to make plays after Guarantano makes mistakes.

For the year, Alabama has come away with five interceptions. Both Daniel Wright and Malachi Moore have two, but defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe has one, and given the mistakes Guarantano makes and the way he’s forced into making mistakes, he could definitely throw an interception to a defensive lineman. Anybody could come down with one Saturday.

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Alabama dominated Georgia because it intercepted Stetson Bennett three times, and it did so by bringing pressure on Bennett. We already mentioned how prone UT is to allowing lots of pressure with its issues in edge blocking, so the Tide will have some opportunities on Saturday. If they cash in, this will be a blowout of historic proportions. It could be the worst game ever in this series.

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