Tennessee football vs Alabama picks: Vols lean on Neyland against Tide

Tennessee Vols football enters another important game on the third Saturday in October against Alabama on Oct. 17 at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols and Crimson Tide enter the midseason rivalry game with one loss apiece, and the loser will have to navigate the final month of the regular season with no margin of error in the CFP race.

George MacIntyre will start at quarterback for Tennessee, but the Vols will again lean on running back DeSean Bishop.

Alabama's Keelon Russell is playing in his third career SEC road game, but the previous two were at Kentucky and Mississippi State.

Here are Knox News' staff predictions for Tennessee-Alabama:

INJURY REPORT UPDATE: QB Faizon Brandon no longer on SEC injury report for Tennessee vs Alabama

Tennessee-Alabama expert predictions: Who gets its second loss on Third Saturday in October?

Adam Sparks, UT beat reporter: Alabama 28, Tennessee 20

UT’s defense has allowed only two TDs in each of its SEC games. If it can do that in this one, the Vols are in business. But that’s a lot to ask against Alabama, which is averaging almost 42 points in SEC games. The Vols must stretch the field with their passing attack to make this a toss-up game. The Neyland Stadium crowd will do its job, but that might not be enough to compensate for limitations on offense.

Emmett Siegel, UT beat reporter: Alabama 27, Tennessee 20

Tennessee needs to prove it can move the ball through the air, and if it can't it'll be tough to keep up against the Tide. There were flashes against Arkansas, but that came against arguably the worst team in the SEC. Alabama is a different challenge altogether.

The Vols' defense should be able to keep this one close. Whether they can find enough offense is a different question.

Cora Hall, UT beat reporter: Alabama 28, Tennessee 17

This matchup will feel closer than the final score, but the Tide will leave Knoxville with a win for the first time since 2020. Both teams have the defense to win, but Alabama has the edge offensively over the Vols right now.

Stephen Thompson, UT beat reporter: Alabama 28, Tennessee 20

Both defenses will put a stranglehold on this game until the late stages. And in crunch time, I have more faith that Keelon Russell can put his offense over the top than George MacIntyre. The Vols will be competitive but still suffer another agonizing loss to an elite team.

John Adams, columnist: Alabama 24, Tennessee 20

UT’s defense seems capable of keeping the Vols in the game against just about anybody. But it’s hard to imagine Tennessee mounting enough offense to upset the Tide.

Gentry Estes, Tennessean columnist: Alabama 24, Tennessee 23

I believe the defense will give the Vols an opportunity in a close game. I do not believe the Vols' offense will ultimately do enough to take advantage of it.

Wynton Jackson, sports reporter: Alabama 27, Tennessee 17

DeSean Bishop has carried Tennessee to two ugly SEC wins over Auburn and Arkansas, but the Vols will need more from the quarterback position to have a chance against the Tide. Alabama's Keelon Russell may be the most talented quarterback Tennessee will face this season. 

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football vs Alabama picks: Vols lean on Neyland against Tide