All for Tennessee
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 10
Next
Oct 16, 2021; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban gives fans a thumbs up after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban gives fans a thumbs up after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Which Alabama team shows up in second quarter?

Now this is where Alabama could pull away. When we talk about hot starts, it’s all in the first quarter for Tennessee football. For Alabama, though, a lot of it has to do with what they do in the second quarter after spending time getting into a rhythm in the first.

Alabama’s 35-0 start over Ole Miss included a 21-0 run in the second quarter. They scored 17 points against Miami and Mercer in the second, and they had 21 points against Southern Miss. This has been the quarter where they pull away and don’t make things a game.

Meanwhile, the Vols have struggled in the second. It has been their worst quarter. They are No. 111 in points allowed in the second at 11.3 per game, and they are No. 62 in points scored per second quarter ay 7.8 points per game. It’s the one quarter they get outscored in.

The question then becomes, which Alabama team shows up in the second? Last week, it was the only quarter they didn’t score 14 points, and against Texas A&M, it was the only quarter they didn’t score a touchdown. Oh, and Florida outscored them 6-0 that quarter. If that second quarter Alabama team shows up, this will be a game.

Home/Vols Football