Tennessee vs Alabama football defense ranking week 8: Exploring Volunteers defensive viability before Crimson Tide clash

The Tennessee vs Alabama game will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m. The number 11-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) will host the number seven-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1). Both teams have performed well this season but have a blemish on their records that should not be there.

Alabama lost to Vanderbilt 40-35 on Oct. 5 in a matchup that should never have been close, and Tennessee lost on the same day 19-14 to Arkansas. These elite teams had opposite problems in their losses. Alabama allowed Vanderbilt to score too many points, and Tennessee could not get enough points on the board.

Heading into this Tennessee vs Alabama matchup, it will be interesting to see if the Volunteers' defense can keep the Crimson Tide's offense in check. It could be the biggest factor heading into the game.

How much of a factor is the Volunteers' defense in the Tennessee vs Alabama matchup?

According to the NCAA website, Tennessee has the number two defense in the nation, behind only the Texas Longhorns. On average, it only allows 249.8 yards per game, and on 371 plays, it only allows 4.04 yards per play on average.

The defense's success is evident when you look at the scores of Tennessee's games this season. In the first three games of the season, the Volunteers allowed only 13 points combined. Although they took a bit of a step back in the next three games, they still only allowed 15, 19, and 17 points in each matchup.

Tennessee's defense will be a big factor compared to Alabama's, who rank 53rd in total defense. The Crimson Tide allow an average of 342.5 yards per game and 4.64 yards per play.

Interestingly, Tennessee also ranks higher than Alabama in total offense. The Volunteers are ranked ninth in the nation, averaging 484.5 yards per game and 6.39 yards per play. Conversely, the Crimson Tide are ranked 35th with 442.3 yards per game but are better on each play, averaging 7.37 yards.

Another thing to consider is the strength of each team's schedule. Alabama defeated number five ranked Georgia 41-34 on Sept. 28 in its only matchup against a ranked opponent through the season's first seven weeks.

Tennessee's first-ranked matchup on Saturday is against Alabama. Since Alabama's offense has proven itself against an elite team in Georgia, Tennessee's defense must be prepared. Tennessee vs Alabama should be a close game regardless of offensive and defensive rankings.