What other message boards are saying (Alabama pre game)

[cgrish]

This is going to be a rough one for this team. The staff had better have some wrinkles for bama. The Vols are not just going to line up and run them over like we did against the weaker schools at the beginning of the year. If Nico can just get off some quick passes and keep the ball moving 3 to 5 yards a play and the O line not make mental mistakes we can win this game at home. If we keep playing like we have for the past few games, bama will walk away signing and smoking.

I have said the same thing, the way our ol is playing we have got to have some quick hitting passes. Nico has shown if given time he is very accurate, but not too accurate when pressured.

 

[Prayivm3rcy]

These dorks talking about Bama blow-outs must be 20 somethings. Because the people who have watched this crap for 40 years know that bookies are more often right than wrong. This game will be close and down to the wire with perhaps a last second field goal either allowing Tennessee fans to pour out onto the field. Or a field goal allowing the corner Bama fans to breathe a sigh of relief knowing Bama escaped yet another one.

No blow outs. Should be fun.

We better not run out onto that field

 

[Voljayton]

This is such a potentially crazy game. No clue what's gonna happen. Could be close, we could win, they could win, could be a blowout from either side. No frickin clue. I just have no idea. Can't wait to find out.

 

[purp]

The last take on Nico is comical.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

This is such a potentially crazy game. No clue what's gonna happen. Could be close, we could win, they could win, could be a blowout from either side. No frickin clue. I just have no idea. Can't wait to find out.

I’m with you but based on this rivalry’s history, I think the least likely outcome of this game is UT blowing the doors off Bama. Here’s to hoping

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Off the top of my head....a playmaker at QB and a solid team on both sides of the ball? Confidence?

Exactly. They have an absolute dog at QB who is fearless.

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

When people in Tennessee talk about The Third Saturday In October, you can damn well hear the capital letters. The only I team I enjoy beating more than the Gators. We're gonna win this one. I don't care by how much or if it's ugly or a thing of beauty, but we're gonna win.

Interesting stat I saw earlier: Tennessee has won nine of the last ten matchups with Alabama in which Tennessee was a top 15 team.

 

[amorange]

I haven’t given up on him, but he’s making costly mistakes too often right now. Heupel needs to decide what kind of offense he wants to run and gameplan around it. The run game and defense is what’s gonna get this team to the playoff, it is what it is. We just need Nico to take care of the football, that’s it.

Typical freshman slump. most go through it.

 

[Jackcrevol]

How is it that Spillman is out? Swear I heard Hubbs say he's ok, but he may RS.

 

[ArmyVol697]

This game is the only game. That's what it means. I've watched this game in Birmingham on October 16, 1993 when Heath Schuler, Jay Barker, and the Deuce ( David Palmer ) were playing and the game ended in a 17-17 tie. I've watched this game in Tuscaloosa and Knoxville. No other game matters. There's nothing like it. Some of the best times of my life. If someone made me choose only one football game each year that I'd be allowed to watch out of the NFL games and the college games, this one would be the one. Go Vols.

It's unsettling that we were winning and they scored at the last of the game and converted for 2 pts to end in a tie.

 

[UTK]

We do have trouble with running qb though. I sure hope we can contain him, because I believe that will be the key to win this game, if we can contain their qb

Based on what? We contained him last year and we haven’t had any issues this year, granted he’s a step above anyone we’ve played. Haven’t really seen us struggle containing a QB since 21 off the top of my head

 

[CAVPUT]

Exactly. They have an absolute dog at QB who is fearless.

Give Nico more experience and a functional OL and I'd bet we see a far different QB.

 

[Zues1]

Typical freshman slump. most go through it.

I thought the term was " sophomore slump"
Let's hope he gets that out of the way this season

 

[volbound1700]

Interesting stat I saw earlier: Tennessee has won nine of the last ten matchups with Alabama in which Tennessee was a top 15 team.

The sad truth is that this rivalry usually sees one program being really solid and the other in turmoil. In the late 1990s-2000s, Alabama wasn't very good and we almost expected to beat them. The focus had shifted to beating Florida who was seen as more of a threat. Saban changed things for Alabama but unfortunately, we fell off the map. Now with Heupel, we are a visible threat again. (I do think we have them some issues in 2015 with Josh Dobbs but Butch Jones was not going to consistently compete with them).

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

It’s gonna be another horrible game for Nico. I he only hope we have is if Sampson and Bishop can take over and win it for us. I fully expect at least another INT or two from Nico and yet ANOTHER less than 200 yard passing game.

What about Bamas defense makes you think that?

 

[Orange931]

Based on what? We contained him last year and we haven’t had any issues this year, granted he’s a step above anyone we’ve played. Haven’t really seen us struggle containing a QB since 21 off the top of my head

Yeah I’m not sure why people keep saying this and we have another person on this board saying “our wide receivers aren’t getting separation” lol. Neither are true.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

Tennessee is going to have to come out of that offensive slump sometime, it might as well be tomorrow.

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

I'll be honest I'm expecting either a close and gritty win or a blowout loss where we score like 10 points

.. me too sadly. If our offense comes out and peppers them like we use to in the first quarter would be the biggest relief moment

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I'm honestly not too nervous about tomorrow's game as far as UT being dominated. Even last year with the struggles on offense, we played right with them and when they got ahead in the second half there was some home cooking with penalties IMO. We also contained their QB fairly well. UT may very well lose but I think it's going to be a close one and I'm looking forward to it!

 

[superdave1984]

Our d-line should control the game, but our o-line has to step up and play above average. Their defense isn't playing well, but they have darn good players. If we can get to Milroe consistently rushing 4, we should be able to shut them down into a low scoring game.

 

[General Jack]

I'm honestly not too nervous about tomorrow's game as far as UT being dominated. Even last year with the struggles on offense, we played right with them and when they got ahead in the second half there was some home cooking with penalties IMO. We also contained their QB fairly well. UT may very well lose but I think it's going to be a close one and I'm looking forward to it!

Agree. We won in 2022 and we won the first half in 2023.

Saban is gone and bama looks MUCH more mortal. And we are playing a home.

While we have a few issues (Pili out, Heard underperforming, Nico getting flustered), we've also got a strong defense and running game, and it feels like our deep shots could start clicking at any moment.

We have a good chance in this one.

 

[05_never_again]

I don't see a situation where we blow them out. I think it is a close game that can go either way, or they blow us out. If this game was in Tuscaloosa, I think we'd have no chance at winning.

If the offense continues to struggle and Milroe is able to run for 11 yards on 3rd and 10, it'll be a relatively close game at halftime that ends up with them winning by 24 points.

 

[DaddyChad]

So when you’re wrong and called out you just double-down on subpar sarcasm instead of acknowledging it. Gotcha.

Subpar sarcasm has gotten me through life sir.

 

[RockyTopTommy]

It's amazing how quickly yall have given up on Nico. He's a young player going through a slight slump. His talent hasn't depreciated. Just realize this is the worst he'll ever look.

Nico will play his best game thus far next Saturday as the offense explodes and runs Alabama out of the stadium.

Everyone wants nico to do well.. this is more than just a slight slump

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

-I’m not sure if some of you are drinking, Tennessee is as bad as Kentucky, we win by 3 plus scores.

-Tennessee is not better than Vanderbilt. We will be fine.

-Tennessee is a very suspect team. I mean look at their wins, they’ve been against 5 really bad teams and they’ve struggled. We should roll in this one.

-Deboer better have them ready or this season will be an absolute failure.

-We CANNOT, I REPEAT, CANNOT lose to Tennessee.

-This is the type of game where Tennessee looks like a national champion and puts the nail in our coffin.

-I’m not worried about Tennessee, they’re not a very good team.

-Tennessee has zero offense, they won’t be able to play catch up.

-I don’t think Tennessee’s defense is going to be able to contain Milroe on the perimeter. Career afternoon coming up! ROLL TIDE!

-To anyone fearing this game: What exactly has Tennessee done that gives you a thought that they even have a pulse to beat us?

-We haven’t looked anything near to what we looked like against UGA since that first half. I hope we get back to it. If we do, Tennessee fans will be praying by the end of the 1st quarter.

-Tennessee is overrated and we’re going to prove it.

-Tennessee has the worst offensive line in the country. All we have to do is get a push and we win big.

-LOL at anyone that thinks we’re going to get beat by this fraud that is Tennessee.

-Milroe rushes for 150, we win by 4 touchdowns, then we take over downtown Knoxville. My kind of night. RTR!!!

-That Nico kid isn’t even a D1 QB. We should feast.

The Vols are not better than Vanderbilt? That's hilarious

Bad as Kentucky? Kentucky has not looked awful in some of their bigger games.

We are a fraud, yet the one loss we have is to a 4-2 Arkansas team that has lost one heartbreaker and honestly should have won another won. Meanwhile they lose to Vanderbilt in basically a home game. They also should have lost to South Carolina.

They have had a lot to say about how noise won't be a factor and all of that. The Vols will be ready for this one. We may have to grit this one out, but the team will be ready. Should have beaten them last year with a little more aggressive play calling on the road, we would have. Put Milroe in the dirt a few times and they will be in trouble.