Tennessee vs. Alabama spread, odds, props, line: 2023 college football picks, prediction by expert on 24-9 run

Longtime SEC rivals are set to square off when the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 SEC) hit the road to take on the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1, 4-0 SEC) in the 2023 playing of 'The Third Saturday in October' rivalry game. The Crimson Tide have won five straight after losing to Texas in early September, and beat Arkansas 24-21 in their last outing. The Vols are riding a three-game winning streak after knocking off Texas A&M 20-13 on Oct. 14. Tennessee defeated Alabama 52-49 in an instant classic in 2022, snapping the Tide's 15-game winning streak in the series. Alabama leads the all-time rivalry series 59-39-7.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on CBS and Paramount+. The Crimson Tide are favored by 9 points in the latest Tennessee vs. Alabama odds, while the over/under is 47.5 points, per the SportsLine consensus. Before making any Alabama vs. Tennessee picks or bets, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine football expert Jimmie Kaylor. 

Kaylor is a NFL, college football, and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years. 

Kaylor has been red-hot all season, going 24-9-1 on his college football best bets for SportsLine this season so far. Anyone who has followed his picks is way up.

Now, he has set his sights on Tennessee vs. Alabama and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Kaylor's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Alabama vs. Tennessee:

• Tennessee vs. Alabama spread: Alabama -9
• Tennessee vs. Alabama over/under: 47.5 points
• Tennessee vs. Alabama money line: Alabama -345, Tennessee +269
  
• ALA: RB Jase McClellan has 454 yards and three TDs.
• TENN: Averaging 231.3 rushing yards per game.
• Tennessee vs. Alabama picks: See picks at SportsLine
  
• Tennessee vs. Alabama live stream: Paramount+

Why Alabama can cover

Alabama has a massive recent edge in this rivalry, winning 15 of the last 16 matchups. The Tide will also have the added benefit of playing this game in the friendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium, where they are 105-9 during Nick Saban's tenure as head coach. Alabama is allowing only 292.4 total yards per game in 2023.

Alabama has a slight advantage at the quarterback position in this game with Jalen Milroe looking much improved in recent weeks. The 6-foot-2 sophomore is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks Saban has ever had in Tuscaloosa, and his decision making and command of the offense are improving every week. Milroe enters this matchup completing 64.4% of his passes for 1,397 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He's also added 139 yards and five TDs rushing. See which team to pick at SportsLine. 

Why Tennessee can cover

The Vols have one of the nation's premier rushing attacks, and enter this matchup ranked sixth in college football averaging 231.3 yards per game on the ground. Tennessee has a three-headed monster at running back led by Jaylen Wright (571 yards, one TD), Jabari Small (359 yards, two TDs), and Dylan Sampson (273 yards, 6 TDs). Quarterback Joe Milton III has added 173 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Milton could prove to be the difference in this matchup. If he plays well, the Vols are undoubtedly talented enough to keep this game close and perhaps even pull off an outright win. The former Michigan transfer enters this matchup completing 61.5% of his pass attempts for 1,264 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. See which team to pick at SportsLine.

How to make Tennessee vs. Alabama picks

Kaylor has analyzed this matchup from every angle and he's leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.