Tennessee vs. Alabama Picks and Prediction for Saturday, October 18, 2025
Use Code WWWC Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1)
A couple of 5-1 teams will lock horns in Week 8 of the 2025 college football season, as the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers take on the No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC showdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL, on Saturday night, so we’ve got the Tennessee vs. Alabama prediction and the latest odds update.
The Volunteers have won two of their previous three encounters with the Crimson Tide. Last year, Tennessee beat Alabama 24-17 as a 3.5-point home dog. However, the Vols are winless in 10 straight visits to Tuscaloosa.
The kick-off at Bryant-Denny Stadium is set at 7:30 PM ET, so let’s take a closer look at this Tennessee vs. Alabama prediction, one of our NCAAF picks for Week 8. Alabama is a 7.5-point home fave with a total of 58.5 points.
Tennessee aims for its fourth straight win
The Tennessee Volunteers (5-1; 3-3 ATS; 5-1 O/U, 2-1 SEC) extended their winning streak to three games and advanced to 2-1 in conference play following a 34-31 home victory over Arkansas in Week 7. After a 56-24 non-conference win over UAB and a 41-34 overtime victory at Mississippi State, the Vols nearly blew a 17-point lead against the Razorbacks.
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The Volunteers led the Razorbacks 34-17, and Arkansas scored two unanswered touchdowns to make the game interesting to watch in the final three minutes. Arkansas outgained Tennessee 496-485 in total yards, but the Volunteers won the turnover battle 3-0.
Sophomore RB DeSean Bishop led the way for Tennessee last week, posting 14 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown. Fellow sophomore RB Peyton Lewis had eight carries for 33 yards and two touchdowns, while senior QB Joey Aguilar threw for 221 yards and a touchdown.
“We had to find a way to win,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “With three defensive coaches added, we didn't know what Arkansas' defensive structure would look like.”
The Volunteers lead the nation in scoring offense (48.2 points per game). They are seventh in passing yards (317.8 per game) and 22nd in rushing yards (210.0). Aguilar has thrown for 1,680 yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions so far this season, while Bishop and Lewis have combined for 10 rushing touchdowns.
Bishop tallies a staggering 7.6 yards per carry, while senior RB Star Thomas posts 5.3 yards per rush. Junior wideout Chris Brazzell II leads the receiving corps with 32 catches for 536 yards and seven touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, the Vols are still without their star cornerback Jermod McCoy, who suffered a torn ACL in the offseason. Tennessee leads the nation in sacks per game (4.3) but ranks dead last in the SEC in passing yards allowed (257.8 per game). The Vols allow 29.3 points per game (tied for 106th).
Alabama continues to roll
The Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1; 4-1-1 ATS; 3-3 O/U) is 3-0 in conference play. After a 24-21 road victory over Georgia and a 30-14 home win to Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide outlasted Missouri 27-24 as 3-point road favorites in Week 7.
The Crimson Tide barely outgained the Tigers in total yards (326-325) but had eight more first downs than Missouri (22-14) and won the turnover battle 2-1. Moreover, Alabama held the ball in possession for 38:33 while rushing 43 times for 126 yards.
Junior signal-caller Ty Simpson led the way for the Tide last week, tossing for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Senior RB Jam Miller posted 20 totes for 85 yards, while junior WR Isaiah Horton had three receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown.
“We did the job. Got the job done,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Each side of the ball, we covered for each other.”
The Crimson Tide lean on their passing offense. Alabama scores 34.8 points per game (36th in the country) on 304.5 passing yards (14th) and 126.5 rushing yards (102nd). The Tide allow 17.3 points in return (22nd) on 135.7 passing yards (3rd) and 156.7 rushing yards (95th).
Simpson is having a great season and is one of the top candidates to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s thrown for 1,678 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just one interception thus far. Horton and Germie Bernard have combined for 682 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns, while Miller has amassed 267 rushing yards and a touchdown across just three appearances.
Miller suffered a concussion last week and is questionable for Week 8. Linebacker Cayden Jones is out with an ankle injury.
Tennessee vs. Alabama Pick
Spread Pick for Tennessee vs. Alabama
- Tennessee +7.5 (5 units)
Alabama is arguably a better defensive team than Tennessee. The Crimson Tide’s passing defense is one of the best in the country. However, Alabama’s run D has struggled so far this season. The Tide allow 4.8 yards per carry (tied for 111th in the nation), so I expect the Volunteers to find a way to move the chains in this matchup.
The Tide should prevail over the Vols, but covering a 7.5-point spread might be a tall task. I’m backing the Volunteers to keep it close and beat the number on the back of their offense. Their backfield is full of dangerous weapons, and the Vols’ run blocking has been terrific thus far.
Over/Under Pick for Tennessee vs. Alabama
- Over 58.5 (5 units)
I’m going with the over, even though the Volunteers will pound the rock a lot in this game. They are not a great defensive team by any stretch of the imagination, and Tennessee will struggle to contain Alabama’s passing offense. The Crimson Tide will continue to lean on their passing, especially if Jam Miller remains in the concussion protocol.
The over has hit in nine of the previous 13 encounters between Tennessee and Alabama. Also, the over is 9-1 in the Volunteers’ last 10 games overall and 4-1 in their previous five showings on the road. Each of their six games in 2025 has seen at least 65 points on the scoreboard.
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