The Third Saturday in October is here, and even our KnoxTNToday writers aren’t entirely convinced the Vols will come out on top. Seven are picking Tennessee. Three believe Alabama will spoil the party. And nobody is expecting a runaway victory.
No. 14 Tennessee welcomes No. 6 Alabama to Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.
Both teams enter the game with 5-1 records. Tennessee is coming off a 24-17 victory over Arkansas, while Alabama looks to rebound from a 20-17 loss to Georgia.
The Vols have won the last two meetings against Alabama in Knoxville, including the unforgettable 52-49 victory in 2022 and a 24-17 win in 2024.
This year’s game brings back a little extra tradition. Tennessee will wear orange, and Alabama will wear crimson, marking the first time since 1970 that both teams have worn their home colors against each other at Neyland Stadium.
Can Tennessee make it three straight home victories over the Crimson Tide? More importantly for Game Ball, can you predict the final score?
🏈 Beat the Writers
The Third Saturday in October has our KnoxTNToday writers divided between confidence, cautious optimism and a little downright pessimism.
Marvin West, Beth Kinnane and Jan Dickens aren’t feeling a Tennessee victory this week. Both see Alabama leaving Neyland Stadium with the win, with Jan predicting an especially tough afternoon for the Vols.
The other seven writers are holding out hope for Tennessee, although nobody is predicting a runaway victory. Aneisa Rolen, Susan Espiritu and Tom King see the Vols winning by just three points, while Maria Cornelius is the most optimistic, giving Tennessee a seven-point advantage.
Apparently, even our orange-blooded writers know better than to take anything for granted when Alabama comes to town.
Here are their predictions:
🏈 Marvin West: Alabama 21, Tennessee 17
🏈 Beth Kinnane: Alabama 30, Tennessee 20
🏈 Jan Dickens: Alabama 21, Tennessee 10
🏈 Thomas Mabry: Tennessee 23, Alabama 18
🏈 Aneisa Rolen: Tennessee 20, Alabama 17
🏈 Charlie Barnett: Tennessee 21, Alabama 17
🏈 Linda Sullivan: Tennessee 17, Alabama 13
🏈 Susan Espiritu: Tennessee 27, Alabama 24
🏈 Maria Cornelius: Tennessee 24, Alabama 17
🏈 Tom King: Tennessee 24, Alabama 21
Seven believe. Three have their doubts. Who has it right?
That’s where our readers come in. Can you Beat the Writers?
🍊 Make your Game Ball prediction
Think you know how the Third Saturday in October will end?
Predict the final score of Tennessee vs. Alabama for your chance to win a Dinner for Two at Aubrey’s!
Email your prediction to gameball@knoxtntoday.com. Include your name and the final scores you predict for Tennessee and Alabama.
Entries must be received before kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. One entry per person.
🏆 How the winner is determined
An exact score wins. If nobody predicts the exact final score, the winner will be the eligible reader whose prediction has the smallest combined difference from the actual scores.
If needed, the first tiebreaker is the prediction closest to Tennessee’s actual score. Any remaining tie will be decided by random selection.
We’ll announce the winning reader Monday, along with the KnoxTNToday writer who came closest to the final score.
Our writers are playing for bragging rights only and are not eligible to win the Dinner for Two at Aubrey’s.
The Third Saturday in October is about tradition, bragging rights and a rivalry that never gets old.
Make your pick. Beat the Writers. Win a Dinner for Two at Aubrey’s!
Participants must be 18 or older. One entry per person. No purchase or subscription is necessary. Entries must be received before kickoff. KnoxTNToday writers and staff directly involved in administering the contest are not eligible to win.
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