Normally, the annual SEC East-West rivalry game between Alabama and Tennessee is at least competitive on paper, with both teams being ranked heading into the matchup more often than not.

This year, though, the Volunteers are a mess, having lost their last two games without managing to score a touchdown.

Coach Butch Jones is on the hot seat, and a lopsided loss to Alabama may spell the end for him in Knoxville.

Ahead of what should be an easy game for the No. 1 Crimson Tide, coach Nick Saban had to really stretch when trying to hype up this weekend’s matchup during his Monday press conference.

“Butch Jones has done a nice job there,” he said. “They could easily be 5-1, lost on the last play twice.”

While Saban is right that Tennessee could be 5-1, the Vols could just as easily be 1-5, as they needed overtime to beat Georgia Tech and narrowly avoided a massive upset at the hands of UMass.

With the way Alabama is rolling right now, it should be an easy win for the Crimson Tide. However, as we all know, Saban won’t let his team get complacent ahead of a game like this.