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

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 17, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel coaching during the second half against the Akron Zips at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel coaching during the second half against the Akron Zips at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are lots of moving parts into what will be important between Tennessee football and the Alabama Crimson Tide this week. Injuries have somewhat thrown this game for a loop, but more importantly, the exact style of play the Vols rely on to win is exactly what Alabama has been pretty good about stopping.

Such a situation begs a huge question about what will happen when these two face off Saturday for the highest combined ranking in the history of the series. Are the Vols’ strengths good enough to pull off the upset and end Alabama’s 15-game winning streak in what used to be a rivalry?

Most notable, though, is that UT has some underrated strengths that could affect what happens, especially if certain personnels are out there Saturday. Let’s break all of these factors down now. Here are the 10 keys to the game for the Vols and Crimson Tide when Tennessee football hosts Alabama on Saturday.

These factors will decide the outcome between the Tennessee football Volunteers and the Crimson Tide.

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

10. Managing expectations vs. disrespect

Nick Saban has always loved the phrase rat poison, and he usually refers to it when discussing the way media disrespect of Alabama’s opponents affects his team’s players. Well, this weekend, the rat poison could be going the other way. There is no level of disrespect for the Vols, as many are actually picking them to pull off the upset.

Alabama struggling to put away the Texas A&M Aggies and the Texas Longhorns has led to this. On the other hand, Rocky Top is fresh off of a blowout over the LSU Tigers. You can bet that the Vols won’t be overconfident facing a team they haven’t beaten the last 15 games in a row.

However, can they manage the hype and remain even confident? After all, Alabama is a far different beast from who they have been playing. Tennessee football could be feeling itself a bit too much, or the Vols could still not think they have a chance to win this game. How they strike that balance and if Alabama can use rat poison as motivation are huge factors.

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