Tennessee football vs. Alabama: Prediction and odds for Week 7 college football

Over the past 14 years, the question for every Tennessee football matchup with Alabama was whether or not the Crimson Tide would cover the spread. Of course, they have won 15 straight, but despite that 41-17 blowout in 2017, the Vols were actually favored then.

At 5-0 and in the top 10 of both polls, Tennessee football welcomes Alabama to Neyland Stadium for the first matchup in this series with both teams undefeated since 1989. The Vols just beat the LSU Tigers 40-13 on the road and are looking better by the week.

On the other side, Alabama comes into this game with questions about Bryce Young’s health and having survived the Texas A&M Aggies 24-20 last week without him. Alabama is 4-2 against the spread this year while the Vols are 4-1. College GameDay is in town too.

Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee Volunteers Week 7 odds

For the first time in 14 years, this line is within single digits. In fact, it’s within one score. Alabama is a 7.5-point favorite on WynnBet. They are -300 on the moneyline while Tennessee football is +240. The over/under is set at 66. It’s the first time since 2016 that this line is even within three touchdowns, let alone single digits.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee Volunteers prediction

These past two weeks have changed everything about how to pick Alabama. Before visiting the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Tide were a reliable bet to not cover on the road. Until then, they had only won one of five road games since Bryce Young became the starter by more than one score.

Well, Young got hurt, and Arkansas cut it to 28-23. Then they expanded their lead with Jalen Milroe to 49-23 en route to victory. That would suggest that they are just fine with Milroe, as they righted the ship on the road.

However, then came last week, and at home with Milroe, they needed a goal-line defensive stand to hold off a bad Texas A&M team. Given all the Jimbo Fisher Nick Saban beef in the offseason and what A&M did to them last year, that was shocking.

So now, there are tons of questions. Has Alabama flipped the script between at home and on the road? How healthy is Young, and will he or Milroe start on Saturday? What type of focus will be a factor for the Tide? Could the rat poison Saban always talks about work in his favor this week?

Honestly, that last factor is the biggest reason to take Bama. Even with their issues this year, including struggling to put away the Texas Longhorns on the road, only once since the start of 2021 have they failed to win a game by three scores immediately after not winning one by three scores. That’s a good stat.

Alabama will be more motivated than usual for this once-rivalry game because of all that talk, and they’ll take it out on Tennessee football. In fact, it might be a typical Alabama beat down. Take Alabama -7.5 regardless of whether or not Young plays.

With his injury, though, Saban will run it more, and Bama’s defense will stop Heupel’s offense a lot more than it has been stopped all year. As a result, also take the Under 66. The score at the end of the game will look something like this: Alabama 35 Tennessee 21.