College Football Odds Week 8: Tennessee vs Alabama Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

A key game in Week 8 of college football is an SEC showdown between one-loss squads Tennessee and Alabama. Betting odds see the Crimson Tide as 8.5-point home favorites against the Volunteers. Coverage begins from Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, October 21 at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

Here's everything you need to know about the college football odds for Week 8 Tennessee vs Alabama: the opening lines, spreads, betting trends and more. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

No. 17 Tennessee vs No. 11 Alabama Odds

• Opening point spread: Alabama -9
• Opening moneyline: Alabama -395/Tennessee +295
• Opening total: Over/Under 48 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS)

UPDATE 12:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Three hours pre-kick, BetMGM has the Crimson Tide at -8.5 (-115). Alabama opened -9.5, went to -8.5 (-115) and -8.5 flat Monday, then adjusted to -8.5 (-115) again late this morning.

Tennessee is taking 54% of spread bets, while 70% of spread cash is on Alabama.

"We're gonna need Tennessee to cover the spread. Lots of public money on 'Bama, but sharps have been on the Vols," BetMGM trader Seamus Magee said.

The Vols are a popular upset pick, landing 81% of moneyline bets/69% of moneyline cash at BetMGM. In fact, Tennessee (+260) is the second-most-bet moneyline underdog today, behind only Penn State (at Ohio State).

So on the surface, it would seem the book would be rooting for an Alabama win/Tennessee cover. But not exactly.

"Tennessee outright would be great. We have a huge bet on 'Bama national championship. So a loss here takes Alabama out of the playoff," Magee said, while also noting a Vols outright win would be a big moneyline parlay killer today, too.

The total dipped from 48.5 to 47.5 Monday, then rebounded to 49 Tuesday. By Friday, it was back down to 47.5, where it sits now. The Over is netting 56% of tickets/70% of dollars.

UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: PointsBet pegged Alabama as 9.5-point chalk Sunday night, then Monday morning moved to -8.5. The number hasn't moved since, with 54% of tickets on Tennessee and 82% of dollars on Alabama.

"Don’t make too much of this Tennessee movement yet, as it hasn’t crossed over into the 7.5 or 7 range," PointsBet trader Wyatt Satre said. "Tennessee struggled last week against a top defense in Texas A&M and got bailed out by turnovers and special teams. I don’t think Alabama makes those same mistakes."

PointsBet opened the total at 48, hit bottom at 47.5 Monday, peaked at 49.5 (Under -115) Tuesday and is now back at 48. Ticket count is 3/1 on the Over, but money is 8/1 on the Under.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Alabama closed as 19.5-point home favorites against Arkansas and had to hang on just to get the win. The Crimson Tide (6-1 SU/4-3 ATS) led 24-6 midway through the third quarter, but didn't score again in a 24-21 victory.

Tennessee (5-1 SU/4-2 ATS) fended off Texas A&M in a low-scoring battle throughout. The Vols got two late fourth-quarter field goals to help seal a 20-13 victory giving 3 points at home.

Alabama nudged down to -8.5 on TwinSpires' college football Week 8 odds board. Early tickets and money are in the 2/1 range on Tennessee.

"Tennessee is another trendy 'dog this week. It's 2/1 tickets and 3/1 money on Tennessee moneyline, as well. It looks like 'Bama will be a rare need," Lucas said.

The total dipped from 48 to 47, with 58% of early tickets/64% of early money on the Under.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full College Football Odds Week 8 Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every Top 25 matchup.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson