3 Ridiculous Stats from Alabama’s 9-Game Winning Streak Over Tennessee
The Alabama-Tennessee series has always been a streaky one, but the Third Saturday in October hasn't been anything but crimson since Nick Saban's plane touched down in Tuscaloosa nearly 10 years ago.
When he was hired to take over the Crimson Tide program prior to the 2007 season, Saban inherited a team that had little recent success in rivalry games. Tennessee had just won 10 of the past 12 in the series and the confidence was at an all-time high in Knoxville.
But the tide turned in a hurry.
The first game with Saban on the sideline took place on October 20, 2007. The Vols grabbed a 14-10 lead in the first half but the Tide outscored them 31-3 the rest of the way and hasn't looked back since.
There have been two close games (a two-point win in 2009 and a five-point win last year), but that's been the exception rather than the norm. To give you an idea of how lopsided this series has become, we found three ridiculous stats that highlight Alabama's dominance.
- 1
Alabama's margin of victory has been more than 3 touchdowns per game
Outside of the tight finishes in 2009 and 2015, there's been little drama in this series. Alabama's biggest win (35 points) came in 2013 and there have been three other 30+ point victories.
During this nine-game winning streak, Alabama's average margin of victory has been just over 21 points per game. To give you some idea of dominant that is, consider this: Tennessee hasn't scored 21 points total during that time.
- 2
Alabama has as many 40-point games in 9 years as Tennesssee has all-time
Beginning with that 41-17 victory in 2007, Alabama has scored at least 40 points in four of the past nine meetings under Saban. That's the same total of 40-point games Tennessee has in 98 meetings against Alabama.
- 3
Tennessee has led Alabama for 17:49 total in nine years
It's demoralizing enough to go nearly 3,700 days since your last victory in the series, but it's the failure to even be able to take a lead on Alabama that has to be soul-crushing for fans in Knoxville.
During this nine-game winning streak, Tennessee has been ahead on the scoreboard for a total of 17 minutes and 49 seconds. They've played a total of 540 minutes.
The only time they've even held a lead in the second half of a game was last year's game in Tuscaloosa.