Tennessee football: SEC and top 25 picks and gambling bets for Week 1 of 2021
![Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida won 47 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida won 47 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5a261fa7727037f13de031490b0ed03c8e97d9cc15da121c9ce200edb9eb46e0.jpg)
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 14 Miami Hurricanes (ABC)
Saturday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET; Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Ga.
Line: Alabama -19.5; Over/Under: 61
Moneyline: Alabama -1050; Miami +690
Did the Alabama Crimson Tide finally take a step back under Nick Saban after losing Mac Jones? Well, even if they did, it was not a far enough step back for them to not be in the national championship picture or for Tennessee football to be able to compete with them. They deserve to be No. 1 again for a reason.
Bama gets what should be a decent challenge in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game Saturday against the Miami Hurricanes. After going 6-7 as Mark Richt’s successor in 2019, Manny Diaz took a huge leap forward and went 8-3 in ACC play last year.
The only problem with what happened last year is The U did lose 42-17 to the Clemson Tigers, and they lost 62-26 to the North Carolina Tar Heels, so they still have a lot to prove. However, with quarterback D’Eriq King, they have a chance to do something special.
Prediction
Saban has notably adapted to the offensive explosion of college football and sacrificed defense in the process. He also has notoriously struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks his first time facing them. This year is different, though.
Alabama is No. 1 because of its returning talent on defense and loaded at linebacker. As a result, the over/under is set too high. This will be more of a defensive shutdown by Bama. However, they will still cover and win easily. It may be a shutout.
Alabama: 34 Miami: 3 (Alabama -19.5; Under 61)