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SEC Football: Three Things to Watch For in Week Seven

By Justin Melton

Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; The SEC logo on the field prior to a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the UCLA Bruins at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; The SEC logo on the field prior to a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the UCLA Bruins at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) gets ready to throw during the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) gets ready to throw during the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Can Alabama Make it Ten in a Row Over Tennessee?

The last time Alabama lost to the Tennessee Volunteers I was a sophomore in high school. Now I have a master’s degree. Time flies. Last season, Tennessee gave the Tide all they wanted before ultimately losing 19-14. Can they pull out a win this season?

The Volunteers have an extremely potent running game. Joshua Dobbs, Jalen Hurd, and Alvin Kamara form a powerful three-man attack. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, the Tide’s strength on defense is stopping the run.

That means that Joshua Dobbs is going to have to beat the Tide through the air. Can he do so? I don’t think he can. He simply isn’t accurate enough. On the season Dobbs is completing just 58 percent of his passes. The Tide secondary is tough and experienced. They make opposing quarterbacks fit the ball into tight windows. Chad Kelly and Austin Allen were able to do so, but I’m not sure Dobbs can.

On the other side of the ball things look pretty bleak for the Volunteers. Their defense is a triage unit. If the Volunteers want to slow down an explosive Bama offense, Derek Barnett will have to play like the star he is. He is essentially the only elite defender healthy enough to play this week. Expect Lane Kiffin to focus on minimizing Barnett’s impact in his game plan this week.

I am biased in favor of Alabama. I will admit that. First, I got my bachelor’s degree here. Then, I got my master’s degree here. And now, finally, I work here. So I’m about as biased as it gets. With that said, I don’t see how Tennessee beats Alabama this week. The Tide rolls.

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