Tennessee could run out of steam against Alabama

If Tennessee is going to vie with Alabama successful the Josh Heupel era, it’s not going to beryllium this season.

The Vols tract a decent Southeastern Conference defense. But the portion mislaid a batch of players successful the offseason, and extent is simply a question mark.

Worse, Mississippi made Tennessee support 101 snaps past week. The Vols are playing for an eighth consecutive week earlier yet getting a bye, this clip connected the roadworthy aft a draining, marathon nonaccomplishment against the Rebels.

Heupel coached the fastest discourtesy successful the Football Bowl Subdivision past play astatine Central Florida. Tennessee ranks successful the apical 10 successful snaps per second. That tempo mightiness commencement doing the team’s defence a disservice during the 2nd fractional of the season.

On the different broadside of the ball, backmost Hendon Hooker, moving backmost Tiyon Evans, halfway Cooper Mays and violative tackle Cade Mays are nursing injuries. Tennessee’s moving backs managed conscionable 3.9 yards per transportation against an Ole Miss defence that ranks 113th successful rushing EPA (Expected Points Added) per snap.

Alabama’s Will Anderson leads the state successful tackles for loss.

Take Alabama -25.

Four much plays (home squad successful CAPS):

— TEXAS A&M -19½ implicit South Carolina: The Gamecocks had 29 violative possessions against East Carolina (100th-best defense, according to SP+) and Vanderbilt (108th). South Carolina scored conscionable 33 points connected those possessions. It reached the hostile 40-yard enactment 9 times and scored conscionable 3 touchdowns. The Gamecocks are 124th successful EPA per rush, 122nd successful enactment yards, 114th successful worldly complaint and 113th successful passing downs sack rate. Now they indispensable look a Texas A&M defence that’s 11th successful SP+. The Aggies are improving connected the different broadside of the shot arsenic well.

— LOUISIANA STATE-MISSISSIPPI U76½: The Rebels are disconnected 3 taxing weeks: Lane Kiffin vs. Nick Saban, a chaotic 52-51 triumph against Arkansas and Lane Kiffin vs. each instrumentality successful Knoxville. Ole Miss receiver Jonathan Mingo, Braylon Sanders and Bralon Brown are dealing with injuries, arsenic good arsenic choky extremity Chase Rogers and near defender Caleb Warren. Quarterback Matt Corral, who ran 30 times against Tennessee and took 5 sacks, was reportedly beauteous bushed up aboriginal this week. LSU, which couldn’t tally against aerial earlier this season, abruptly produced 321 rushing yards against Florida. The Ole Miss defence gives up rushing yards willingly, which volition let the timepiece to run.

— Cincinnati-NAVY O48½: Against Group of Five oregon Football Championship Subdivision opponents, the Bearcats person scored 49, 42, 52 and 56 points. With College Football Playoff aspirations and a anemic schedule, Cincinnati is making it a constituent to tally up the people arsenic acold arsenic possible. Navy runs the option, but it has allowed 30-plus points successful its past 3 games, which totaled 64, 55 and 52 points. The Bearcats person the defence to unit immoderate three-and-outs and forestall the Midshipmen from chewing up each the crippled clock.

— Colorado State -3 implicit UTAH STATE: These programs are going successful other directions. Colorado State has won 3 of 4 and pushed Iowa for astir 4 quarters. Utah State has mislaid 2 of 3 and needed a last-minute touchdown to bushed winless UNLV. Colorado State’s defence ranks seventh successful EPA per drawback and 4th connected passing plays. The Rams are 16th successful sack rate, and Pro Football Focus grades them arsenic the 10th-best walk rush. In its archetypal 3 games, Utah State’s walk discourtesy completed 62.6 percent connected 8.7 yards per effort with 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. In its past 3 games, those figures sunk to 54.1 percent connected 7.4 yards per effort with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

— Last week: 3-2

— Season: 20-15

Christopher Smith of AL.com is providing assemblage shot investigation for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow @CFBlocksmith connected Twitter.