Tennessee football: Week 8 Vols, SEC and top 25 picks and bets
![Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee’s home football game against Akron in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Kns Ut Akron Football Bp Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee’s home football game against Akron in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Kns Ut Akron Football Bp](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7ac5ccc38cc86c7d0be693bab3ecea97233df5d49b32dc7e8e18abacf386fb10.jpg)
5-2 (2-2). 893. ESPN. Saturday, Oct. 22. 7 p.m. ET. 6-1 (3-1). 829. Bryant-Denny Stadium; Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Gambling odds according to WynnBET
- Line: Alabama -21
- Over/Under: 61
- Moneyline: Alabama -2231; Mississippi State +1005
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
After weeks of playing with fire, Alabama finally got burned. They suffered a heartbreaking loss to Tennessee football thanks to a slew of penalties, and now they have to turn right back around and face another top 25 team. This is what Nick Saban deals with. He has to navigate a brutal SEC schedule when his program gets every team’s best shot.
Anyway, Alabama comes into this one still in control of its own destiny to win the SEC Championship. They are ranked No. 6 in both polls, and if they were to win out, they would automatically leapfrog at least three teams ahead of them. That’s not a bad situation.
On the other side, the Mississippi State Bulldogs’ magic under Mike Leach ran out last week. For as good as their air raid is, it was naturally going to struggle on the road against a healthy Kentucky Wildcats team that had its quarterback. Still, they are No. 24 in both polls, and they could create history for themselves and the SEC with a win Saturday.
Prediction
Although Alabama just struggled with Tennessee football’s offense, Will Rogers doesn’t have Hendon Hooker’s mobility, and MSU doesn’t have the ground game. As a result, Saban and the defense will have an easier time. Bama is also at home, and they’ll be mad after last week. As a result, they’ll cover in a blowout. MSU won’t score enough for it to hit the over.
Alabama: 41 Mississippi State: 14 (Alabama -21; Under 61)