The Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Tennessee Volunteers this Saturday from Bryant-Denny Stadium, and the common perception, especially after looking at the early Vegas lines this week, is that the Tide are going to roll over the Vols with ease. Our friends in the desert agree enthusiastically, too:
WELP, Alabama’s favored by 34 against Tennessee, the biggest spread in series history
Can’t blame Vegas for this one!
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
When looking back at the past lines on this matchup — Covers.com goes all the way back to 1985 — the closest Alabama came to being a 34-point favorite was in 2011, when the Tide was a 29-point favorite. Bama ended up winning that game 37-6, covering the spread. The next closest was in 2013 — the Tide went into the game as 28-point favorites and won 45-10.
Alabama vs. Tennessee since 1985
Year | Bama line | Bama result |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | -3.5 | L 14-16 |
| 1986 | -13 | W 56-28 |
| 1987 | 2.5 | W 41-22 |
| 1988 | -7.5 | W 28-20 |
| 1989 | -4 | W 47-30 |
| 1990 | 1 | W 9-6 |
| 1991 | -2.5 | W 24-19 |
| 1992 | -1 | W 17-10 |
| 1993 | -6 | L 17-17(Forfeit) |
| 1994 | 4 | W 17-13 |
| 1995 | 4 | L 14-41 |
| 1996 | 14 | L 13-20 |
| 1997 | 8.5 | L 21-38 |
| 1998 | 17.5 | L 18-35 |
| 1999 | 3.5 | L 7-21 |
| 2000 | 3 | L 10-20 |
| 2001 | 2 | L 24-35 |
| 2002 | 1.5 | W 34-14 |
| 2003 | 3 | L 43-51 |
| 2004 | 7 | L 13-17 |
| 2005 | -3 | W 6-3 |
| 2006 | 10.5 | L 13-16 |
| 2007 | 1 | W 41-17 |
| 2008 | -5 | W 29-9 |
| 2009 | -14 | W 12-10 |
| 2010 | -17 | W 41-10 |
| 2011 | -29 | W 37-6 |
| 2012 | -19.5 | W 44-13 |
| 2013 | -28 | W 45-10 |
| 2014 | -20 | W 34-20 |
| 2015 | -14.5 | W 19-14 |
| 2016 | -14 | W 49-10 |
Alabama’s won the last 10 games in this series, and that certainly doesn’t look like it’ll be ending anytime soon.
The largest margin of victory Alabama’s ever had: 51-0 back in 1906. Just going off the way Tennessee looks so far this season, Bama could easily have 50 on ‘em again, to be honest.
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