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Tennessee football at Alabama Crimson Tide: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 16, 2017; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Colorado State Rams. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2017; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Colorado State Rams. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is seen on the Field during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0582
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is seen on the Field during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0582 /

6. Who starts hotter?

A mark of both teams has been hot first quarters. Tennessee football fell to Ole Miss last week because it didn’t have the hot first quarter it usually does. To be fair, the Vols only trailed 10-9 at the end of the first, and they did go up 9-7 at one point, so it was their best scoring quarter. It just wasn’t the quarter they needed to win.

Outside of Ole Miss and Florida, though, the Vols have dominated the first. They jumped out to a 28-3 lead and a 28-0 lead against the Missouri Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks respectively. Their best quarter was also in the first against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, Bowling Green Falcons and Pittsburgh Panthers.

On the other side, Alabama has been pretty elite in the first too. They have become famous for red-hot starts, and a lot of that is based on their play in the first. UT is No. 1 in first quarter scoring at 16.6 points a game, but Alabama is No. 3 at 13.3 points per game. Both are tied for No. 30 in first quarter defense, allowing just under four points a game.

If the Vols are going to have any chance in this game, they have to return to first quarter form. Getting a lead of any kind could go a long way on that front. Remember, Texas A&M jumped out to a 17-7 first quarter lead, and that made the difference.

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