One of college football’s most storied rivalries will be renewed on Saturday. It’s the Third Saturday in October, meaning Alabama and Tennessee will have their cigars ready – and the offensive player projections are set, according to PrizePicks.
The offenses are sure to be on full display when the two teams square off at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jalen Milroe and Nico Iamaleava are both coming off grind-it-out victories a week ago, and will now prepare for the intensity of a rivalry affair on Rocky Top.
For Tennessee, the running game has seen plenty of success this year. Dylan Sampson enters Week 8 with 116.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks ninth in the nation. He’s also coming off back-to-back 100-yard performances, giving him plenty of momentum.
As for Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s leading receiver is electric freshman Ryan Williams. He enters the matchup against Tennessee with 576 yards through the first six games of his college career, making him a weapon to watch in Saturday afternoon’s affair.
Alabama and Tennessee will square off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Here are the full offensive player projections for the game, according to PrizePicks.
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Pass Yards: 232.5
Rush Yards: 48.5
Interceptions: 0.5
Jalen Milroe continues to be one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation entering Week 8. He heads into the Tennessee matchup with 1,483 passing yards, 319 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns through six games.
Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee
Pass Yards: 198.5
Rush Yards: 19.5
Through his first six games as Tennessee’s starter, Nico Iamaleava is averaging just over 203 passing yards as the Vols lean into the running game. His projection for Saturday’s game against Alabama is set at 198.5, according to PrizePicks, along with 19.5 rush yards.
Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Receiving Yards: 68.5
Receptions: 4.5
The 17-year-old Ryan Williams continues to take college football by storm as a true freshman. His big-play ability makes him a top threat for Alabama, and his projection for the Tennessee matchup is set at 68.5 receiving yards, according to PrizePicks.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Rush Yards: 98.5
Receiving Yards: 11.5
Dylan Sampson continues to cement himself as one of the top running backs in the nation this year after yet another 100-yard performance. He ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including the walk-off winner in overtime to defeat Florida in Week 7.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Receiving Yards: 53.5
Receptions: 4
After shining under Kalen DeBoer at Washington last year, Germie Bernard is making a similar impact at Alabama as one of Jalen Milroe’s top targets. He ranks second on the Crimson Tide with 309 receiving yards and is coming off his biggest game yet with 89 yards against South Carolina last week.
Squirrel White, WR, Tennessee
Receiving Yards: 39.5
Nico Iamaleava’s top target this year, Squirrel White leads Tennessee in receptions and is second on the team in receiving yards. He had a huge game against Florida, totaling five receptions for 71 yards to lead the Vols, and PrizePicks sets his projection at 39.5 yards against Alabama on Saturday.
Jam Miller, RB, Alabama
Rush Yards: 41.5
Receiving Yards: 10.5
The leader in the Alabama running backs room, Jam Miller enters Week 8 as the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher with 360 yards. While Jalen Milroe has taken more carries, Miller gets most of the work in the backfield and led the way with 42 yards against South Carolina last week.
Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
Receiving Yards: 34.5
Receptions: 3
Ranking second on Tennessee in receptions, Chris Brazzell was the Volunteers’ second-leading receiver last week against Florida. He had 49 yards in the overtime victory, and his projection against Alabama is set at 34.5, according to PrizePicks.
Justice Haynes, RB, Alabama
Rush Yards: 29.5
Sitting behind Jam Miller, Justice Haynes is Alabama’s third-leading rusher this season with 249 yards entering Week 8. He rounds out the three-headed monster in the running game with Miller and Jalen Milroe, but still plays an important role in throwing different looks at opposing defenses.
Bru McCoy, WR, Tennessee
Receiving Yards: 22.5
Bru McCoy is keeping pace with Chris Brazzell on Tennessee’s receiving yards list entering the Alabama game. He has 209 yards on 14 receptions, and PrizePicks sets his receiving yards projection at 22.5 on Saturday.
CJ Dippre, TE, Alabama
Receiving Yards: 22.5
While not as much of a vertical threat as Alabama’s receivers, CJ Dippre has been a good safety blanket for Jalen Milroe as the receiver corps gets healthy. He enters Week 8 with 10 receptions for 121 yards, showing the role he plays in Kalen DeBoer’s offense through the first part of the year.
Alabama and Tennessee will meet for the 106th time on Saturday, and the 32nd straight Third Saturday in October. It’s one of the SEC’s biggest rivalries – and cigar smoke is sure to flow, one way or another, when the clock hits zeroes.
