Game Day - Oct. 25th

Alabama vs. Tennessee

For Alabama fans, two games stand out above all the rest: the season-ending "Iron Bowl" contest against Auburn and the "third weekend in October" against Tennessee.

No. 2 Alabama (7-0, 4-0) travels to Knoxville to take on Tennessee (3-4, 1-3) Saturday afternoon.

Two concerns this week for Alabama: One is the loss of massive nose tackle Terrence Cody. The 365-pounder has been able to occupy two and sometimes three blockers in the middle, freeing the linebackers to attack and make plays. Cody even went in as a blocking fullback on a short touchdown run against Ole Miss last week. But with a strained MCL, Cody is expected to be out for at least two weeks, which leads to the other concern at Alabama.

Second is a lack of depth.

The Tide has faltered in the second halves of its last three games. Maybe it's because the team has gotten such big leads the players lose focus, or maybe it's because this team, for all its talent, is still not deep enough to keep players from wearing down as the season goes on.

Nick Saban said from the beginning that depth would be a major concern this season. He's done a great job of shortening games by burning the clock and running the ball. But when left tackle Andre Smith has gone out (he's missed parts of two games with slight injuries), the offense has faltered.

Beating Alabama won't be easy, but last week's 34-3 rout of Mississippi State has given the Vols hope.

UT made improvements in its running game, which produced one lousy yard at Georgia Oct. 11, and has a quarterback who hasn't tossed an interception in his first three starts. What's more, it will get the Crimson Tide without 365-pound nose guard Terrance Cody.

But the Vols' offense might be hampered if WR Gerald Jones and OG Anthony Parker can't shake off ankle injuries. And this is an offense which hasn't exactly been a power this year with everyone at full strength.

Still, it's an opportunity for this disappointing team to make one positive impact in what's been a miserable season.