Adams: Anguish trumps reason in UT vs. Alabama

But you can’t change the fact that the rivalry isn’t what it used to be. In fact, it isn’t even what it was last year.

Last year, most Alabama fans were all revved up with hatred for UT coach Phillip Fulmer, whom so many of them blamed for their harsh NCAA probation sentence. One Alabama victory later, the animosity dropped so dramatically that he didn’t even need a police escort to attend the SEC media days in Birmingham this July.

The significance of the victory also dwindled quickly. After all, how pumped up can you get about beating a team that lost to Vanderbilt? Bottom line: A 10-2 Alabama team beat a 5-6 UT team by three points on Alabama’s home field.

Alabama now has greater concerns elsewhere. Most importantly, it has become the second-best program in its own state. For those looking ahead, its fifth consecutive loss to Auburn is scheduled for Nov. 18 in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama isn’t exactly flourishing against its other SEC West rivals, either. It has lost three of its last four games against Arkansas, and five of its last six to LSU.

Tennessee traditionalists might insist that beating Alabama means as much as ever. Realists know better. They know divisional play has made Georgia and Florida bigger rivals.

Halfway through the season, you could argue that the Alabama game is the least significant of the next five for UT. Victories over nationally ranked LSU and Arkansas would mean more in the BCS standings; losses to South Carolina and Vanderbilt would be more devastating than a loss to Alabama.

Losing to South Carolina means back-to-back losses to Steve Spurrier. The significance of back-to-back losses to Vanderbilt needs no explanation.

But I realize such detached, rational analysis is lost on some UT fans, whose personal history with the Tide overrules all logic. For example, take Cindy Lundy of Knoxville.

She vividly remembers sitting in the rain at Neyland Stadium as a 10-year-old when Alabama defeated the Vols 11-10 in 1966. She also remembers the two Alabama fans laughing at her as she cried after the game.

"I’ve never gotten over that," she said 40 years later. "And I never will."

Tennessee 37, Alabama 17: One rule to follow in predicting UT games this season: If you keep it close against Ole Miss, you won’t keep it close against UT.

Memphis lost to Ole Miss 28-25 and lost to UT 41-7. Georgia beat Ole Miss 14-9 and lost to UT 51-33.

Alabama beat Ole Miss in overtime last week.

South Carolina 23, Vanderbilt 20: UT’s David Cutcliffe is an obvious choice as the offensive coach of the year in the SEC. Bruce Fowler is a not-so-obvious choice as the conference’s defensive coach of the year.

Question you’re probably asking: "Who’s Bruce Fowler?"

He’s the coach in charge of the Vanderbilt defense.

Through seven games, no one has scored more than 27 points on the Commodores. Not since 1965 has Vanderbilt gone this deep into a season without giving up at least 30 points.

LSU 45, Fresno State 17: A bad season is about to become worse for the 1-5 Bulldogs. And I’m not just talking about this Saturday.

LSU leaves opponents with a hangover.

Only two teams have won games the week after playing LSU. Arizona beat Division I-AA Stephen F. Austin, and Auburn beat 1-5 Buffalo.

Arkansas 31, Ole Miss 17: The Razorbacks ranks fifth nationally in rushing. Ole Miss ranks 98th in rushing defense.

Scary fact: Ole Miss’ offense is worse than its defense.

Georgia 27, Mississippi State 3: What kind of odds could you have gotten in Vegas if you had predicted in preseason that Georgia would enter this game with a longer losing streak than Mississippi State?

Georgia has lost back-to-back games to UT and Vanderbilt. Mississippi State beat Division I-AA Jacksonville State last week.

Auburn 45, Tulane 10: Startling fact: Tulane leads the series 17-13-6.

That doesn’t mean Tulane’s 14 fans have reason to be optimistic. The teams haven’t played since 1955.

A more relevant fact: Auburn has won its last four games against non-conference opponents from Louisiana by an average score of 52-7.

Top 25: Ohio State 45, Indiana 17; Michigan 30, Iowa 17; Texas 27, Nebraska 17; Louisville 34, Syracuse 17; Notre Dame 38, UCLA 20; Cal 37, Washington 17; Clemson 34, Georgia Tech 20; Oregon 31, Washington State 20; Wisconsin 31, Purdue 23; Pitt 27, Rutgers 24; Texas A&M 30, Oklahoma State 27; Oklahoma 24, Colorado 16; Missouri 30, Kansas State 17; Florida State 23, Boston College 13.

Record: 137-16 (.896) overall, 69-65 (.515) against the spread.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.