Texas A&M Football
Week 2: Oklahoma - Tennessee
Week 3: Ole Miss - Alabama
Week 4: Texas A&M - Arkansas
Week 5: Georgia - Alabama
Week 6: Georgia - Tennessee
Week 7: Alabama - Texas A&M
Nick Saban isn’t the most likable guy.
He’s polite enough in interviews. He's charismatic when it benefits him, too. But he’s probably gotten under your skin before somehow.
There’s plenty of reasons to dislike the man, but when he looked at his team’s October slate, even he had to wonder, “What in the world did I do to deserve this?”
For four straight weeks, Saban’s Crimson Tide get hit with different challenges from both sides of the SEC. They’ll be bruised, tired and more than ready for the sanctum of their bye week. Will they reach it unbeaten? Tennessee will have the final say.
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
When: Oct. 24
Throughout its history, and especially of late, Alabama doesn't lose very often.
In fact, the Tide has beaten Tennessee every year since 2007. When looking at the trajectories of both programs since then, that should come as no surprise. However, the Vols can take solace in one fact.
When the Tide fall, it is often to a team with a mobile quarterback.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Butch Jones will have an opportunity to make a statement about his program — and perhaps the right ingredients to do it.
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Johnny Manziel did it once and then nearly again. Cardale Jones didn't have his best rushing night in the Sugar Bowl, but his dual-threat ability opened lanes for Ezekiel Elliot, who thrashed Bama for 230 yards.
For the first time since its championship season of 1998, Tennessee has a mobile quarterback of its own in Joshua Dobbs. In just six games last year, Dobbs rushed for 469 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a running back that many are targeting as a breakout player in Jalen Hurd by his side.
That’ll work.
Since we’re on the topic of things working in Tennessee’s favor, the Vols will be the second team in a row to face Alabama coming off a bye week. They’ll be able to watch what a rested Texas A&M team can do, learn from it and adjust accordingly against an Alabama squad that should be near exhaustion by the time it rolls back into T-Town.
With all that said, it goes without saying that Alabama can hold its own.
Both teams will have faced Georgia and Arkansas earlier in the season. That gives Saban and his crew plenty of tape to search for mistakes. When they find one, or multiple, you can be certain they will exploit them for a full four quarters.
The Tide’s ability to find flaws is one of its greatest assets. Coming into this season, another one appears to be its defense.
Nearly all of Bama's front seven returns, including linebacker Reggie Ragland, who finished second in tackles a year ago. How they handle Dobbs will be key, as their own offense will have it’s hands full.
With Alabama’s biggest question mark residing at quarterback, Tennessee will do everything in its power to make the QB uncomfortable. Between Saban's two options at quarterback, neither will have dealt with a force like Derek Barnett across from them. How will they handle that constant presence? The answer could mean the difference in the game.
In a rivalry that dates back to 1901, Alabama has only won nine games in a row twice. Can it reach that mark once again? If it does, Nick Saban might be the most liked man in the rest of the SEC East.
The Season Ahead: The SEC's best game in Week Eight
August 7, 2015
2,512
SEC Game of the Week series
Week 1: Texas A&M - Arizona StateWeek 2: Oklahoma - Tennessee
Week 3: Ole Miss - Alabama
Week 4: Texas A&M - Arkansas
Week 5: Georgia - Alabama
Week 6: Georgia - Tennessee
Week 7: Alabama - Texas A&M
Nick Saban isn’t the most likable guy.
He’s polite enough in interviews. He's charismatic when it benefits him, too. But he’s probably gotten under your skin before somehow.
There’s plenty of reasons to dislike the man, but when he looked at his team’s October slate, even he had to wonder, “What in the world did I do to deserve this?”
For four straight weeks, Saban’s Crimson Tide get hit with different challenges from both sides of the SEC. They’ll be bruised, tired and more than ready for the sanctum of their bye week. Will they reach it unbeaten? Tennessee will have the final say.
SEC Game of the Week: Week Eight
Who: Tennessee vs. AlabamaWhere: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
When: Oct. 24
Throughout its history, and especially of late, Alabama doesn't lose very often.
In fact, the Tide has beaten Tennessee every year since 2007. When looking at the trajectories of both programs since then, that should come as no surprise. However, the Vols can take solace in one fact.
When the Tide fall, it is often to a team with a mobile quarterback.
Brandon Jones, TexAgs
Butch Jones will have an opportunity to make a statement about his program — and perhaps the right ingredients to do it.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Butch Jones will have an opportunity to make a statement about his program — and perhaps the right ingredients to do it.","MediaItemID":44571}
For the first time since its championship season of 1998, Tennessee has a mobile quarterback of its own in Joshua Dobbs. In just six games last year, Dobbs rushed for 469 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a running back that many are targeting as a breakout player in Jalen Hurd by his side.
That’ll work.
Since we’re on the topic of things working in Tennessee’s favor, the Vols will be the second team in a row to face Alabama coming off a bye week. They’ll be able to watch what a rested Texas A&M team can do, learn from it and adjust accordingly against an Alabama squad that should be near exhaustion by the time it rolls back into T-Town.
With all that said, it goes without saying that Alabama can hold its own.
Both teams will have faced Georgia and Arkansas earlier in the season. That gives Saban and his crew plenty of tape to search for mistakes. When they find one, or multiple, you can be certain they will exploit them for a full four quarters.
The Tide’s ability to find flaws is one of its greatest assets. Coming into this season, another one appears to be its defense.
Nearly all of Bama's front seven returns, including linebacker Reggie Ragland, who finished second in tackles a year ago. How they handle Dobbs will be key, as their own offense will have it’s hands full.
With Alabama’s biggest question mark residing at quarterback, Tennessee will do everything in its power to make the QB uncomfortable. Between Saban's two options at quarterback, neither will have dealt with a force like Derek Barnett across from them. How will they handle that constant presence? The answer could mean the difference in the game.
In a rivalry that dates back to 1901, Alabama has only won nine games in a row twice. Can it reach that mark once again? If it does, Nick Saban might be the most liked man in the rest of the SEC East.
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