Tennessee and Alabama meet up Saturday in the SCRC final, and everyone knows this is going to be an unpredictable game.

So, maybe, being unpredictable is, in and of itself, predictable. Tennessee was upset by Alabama in the SCRC semis two years ago, and this year ‘Bama mounted a stirring comeback to beat Kentucky in the semis, exacting revenge for an earlier loss to the Wildcats.

Tennessee held off a determined Florida team. It’s their relentless pressure and defense, combined with some snappy goalkicking, that should keep it going for Tennessee. The Vols have won all of their key games with fairly close scores. It could be the same this time.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Tennessee Head Coach Marty Bradley. “Alabama is a strong, aggressive team with some good size. They bring it at ya.”

Bradley said his team has to be prepared to play a lot of defense. 

“Make your tackles and get back up on your feet because here they come again,” Bradley added. “Alabama are impressive group of athletes, who learn to play rugby as freshman in college. We don’t do that much anymore. It’s impressive what they’ve done, and I hope we can beat ‘em.”

Alabama center and captain Ross Depperschmidt said his team rebounded from a bad first half against Kentucky.

“We were not playing well, we were missing touch with penalty kicks, and we were turning the ball over,” said Depperschmidt. “But at halftime we cleaned it up. We started kicking better. Our possession was a lot cleaner and started to get more aggressive.”

Prop Sean Dawley and flanker Bobby Morgan were very good, but the guy who helped turn things around was Brett Walsh, who subbed in at center with Depperschmidt moving to flyhalf. That turned things around.

Turning things around may not be an option this weekend.

“If we fall into a hole against Tennessee the way we did on Saturday, we can’t expect to be able to come back,” said Depperschmidt.