[Stoney]

[Stoney]

Final: Alabama 29, Tennessee 9
October 25, 2008 11:05 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The path to Atlanta has never been clearer for Alabama.
The No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide disposed of Tennessee for a 29-9 victory Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, which had a decidedly crimson tint to it when this one-sided affair ended.
The Bama fans had plenty to cheer about, too. With Georgia thumping LSU earlier in the day, Alabama can clinch the Western Division title and a trip to the SEC Championship Game by winning over LSU on Nov. 8 in Baton Rouge.
Even if the Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 SEC) lose that game, they could lock up their first trip to Atlanta since 1999 by winning their remaining two SEC games over Mississippi State and Auburn.
There was plenty to like about this game for Alabama fans, with the exception of a couple of special teams breakdowns in the first half.
The Vols (3-5, 1-4 SEC) scored their only touchdown with 7:26 to play. Even with that touchdown, it was probably the best and most complete second half Alabama has played all season.
The Tide had been struggling to put teams away and had been outscored 61-13 in the second half in their last three games. But after leading 13-3 at the half Saturday, they turned it on in the second half and built a 29-3 lead with just under 10 minutes to play.
Playing without massive nose tackle Terrence Cody, Alabama's defense was still able to dominate the game and kept Tennessee quarterback Nick Stephens off balance all game.
For Tennessee, the big question exiting this game will be whether or not it was the final Alabama game of Phillip Fulmer's career. The Tide won for the second time in a row over the Vols for the first time since 1991 and 1992.
This one wasn't much closer than last season's 41-17 rout in Tuscaloosa, and the pressure against Fulmer is mounting. Regardless of what happens the rest of this season, he's going to have a hard time surviving