The Third Saturday in October has always been a great day for NCAA football betting – even when it’s on the actual third Saturday of the tenth month – though more so recently for Alabama and not so much for Tennessee. The Crimson Tide is has won the last 10 meetings with the Volunteers dating back to 2007, as well as the last six played in Tuscaloosa, where this season’s edition of the rivalry will be held.
- Date: October 21
- Time: 3:35 PM
- Venue: Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Sportsbook college football wagering odds:
Tennessee U +36 (-110) 50½ (-110) +11000
Alabama -36 (-110) 50½ (-110) -3300
Even cars think the Vols should fire Butch Jones
While Peyton Manning was conspicuous by his absence at Neyland Stadium in the Vols’ 9-15 loss to South Carolina on Saturday, this car, which may or may not be sentient, was spotted in Gleason, Tennessee:
@FeelsLike98 @ClayTravis I found this gem in Gleason, Tn. @bustedcoverage pic.twitter.com/y0IOqiKIYU
— ?Fire Butch Jones (@Rubbermaid_HTB) October 8, 2017
It was the Volunteers’ third SU loss in the last four games and third straight ATS loss. Speaking of which, Tennessee is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games versus the Roll Tide and 2-6 ATS in their last eight SEC games. Notwithstanding that, “We’re not going to approach this week any different than we would any other week,” Tennessee wide receiver Brandon Johnson said. “We’re going to approach this like any other SEC or any other opponent and just go out there and play our best.” Yeah, because that has worked out so well lately. That old ‘definition of madness’ chestnut may or may not be the most overused cliché of all time, but it’s still applicable here. Alabama is, in addition, to its Third Saturday in October straight-up winning streak, undefeated in their last 17 home games and 31-1 SU at home since the start of the 2013 season. the Tide has had trouble covering at home, especially after a win; ‘Bama is 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games and 1-5 ATS in its last six at home after winning its most recent home game, but also 8-2 against the NCAA football betting spread in their last 10 SEC games.
Jacobs Ladder
Just in case you thought the Crimson offense wasn’t already so dangerous in so many different ways, running back Josh Jacobs is returning right on time to prove you wrong. I think he’s a really good change-of-pace guy,” head coach Nick Saban said. “He’s a guy to create roles for because he has a lot of diversity as a player. He’s a very good receiver. He’s an inside runner, he’s an outside runner. But I do think he’s a little bit of a change-of-pace guy relative to the other two guys, Damien [Harris] and Bo [Scarbrough].” The Vols haven’t scored a TD in 10 quarters, haven’t scored a TD from inside the 5-yard line since the first quarter of Week 2, and have the worst red zone scoring percentage the SEC, so it will be up to Harris, Scarbrough, Jacobs, and of course Jalen Hurts – or Pestilence , War, Famine, and Death, if you will – to make the NCAA football betting total go over, because Zeus knows the Vols’ 7.3 points per game in their last three just won’t do the trick.