PREVIEW: Georgia vs. Tennessee - Score Predictions from the experts
This Saturday brings us the latest edition in the Georgia & Tennessee rivalry. It’s set to kick off at 7 pm in Knoxville, and to say the excitement levels of the respective fan bases are on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum would be a vast understatement.
Georgia is coming off a bye week and has rolled to a 4-0 start with their most recent win being over a to-10 Notre Dame team in week 4. Tennessee sits at 1-3 with losses to Georgia State, BYU, and Florida. Their lone victory coming against Chattanooga in week 3. Coach Smart is playing to keep his Bulldogs firmly on top of the SEC east and in the conversation for the playoffs. Coach Pruitt and the Vols... not so much. The differences in these 2 programs are stark and alarming. But the one constant that never changes regardless of rank or record: This is a rivalry. And it’s a bitter one.
- Intro by Hunter Gosseck
Jamey Goodman (Georgia Wins 35-17)
This SEC matchup will give you two teams headed in opposite directions. Tennessee seems to be in a state of disarray. From players entering the transfer portal in record fashion to police dashcam clips that brought even more negative attention. Georgia, in contrast, has the steady hand of Kirby Smart at the helm. What Kirby tries to bring is a model of consistency. While I think Tennessee will be motivated to compete I feel comfortable that the leadership of Jake Fromm and the old school grit of Cade Mays will prevail. I'm sticking with my July prediction once again. I have the Dawgs walking away victorious with a final of 35-17. I hope you guys enjoy Knoxville and as always Go Dawgs!
Jordan Jackson (Georgia Wins 44-10)
Tennessee is said to be undecided on rather they will start Jarrett Guarantano or Brian Maurer at quarterback. There is even a chance that third team signal-caller J.T. Shout may get a shot. As the old saying goes, when you have multiple starting quarterbacks, more often than not, that means you don't have a starting quarterback. I suspect that is the case for the Volunteers.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart spoke this week about getting the ball into the hands of his young underclassmen playmakers such as James Cook, Zamir White, and Dominick Blaylock more often. I suspect we will see the Dawgs open up their offense earlier than usual in this game, to fulfill the aforementioned wishes of coach Smart.
Defensively, I expect to see five star freshman inside linebacker Nakobe Dean, make a major impact for the first time as a Dawg, as we've come to learn he'd been dealing with an ankle issue throughout the early part of the season.
Tennessee has given up an average of nearly 37 points per game, and over 149 yards on the ground in their three losses. That is a bad sign for the Vols when facing a power football team like the Georgia Bulldogs.
UGA 44 - Tennessee 10
Brent Wilson (Georgia Wins 38-13)
Of course, everyone would love a repeat of the 41-0 score from 2017. And despite as bad as Tennessee has looked the past few weeks and as well as Georgia has played, I see this one being a little closer than most fans would like it to be, but still a controlling win nonetheless. The Volunteers are going to come lit with everything they have because they have nothing to lose. This is essentially their “Super Bowl” as is the case for a lot of teams on Georgia’s schedule this season. I have the Bulldogs going out there with a very plain offense on Saturday and taking it to the Volunteers. However, Tennessee might end up with some “trash time” points to make the score more respectable. 38-13 Georgia.
Brooks Austin, (Georgia Wins 38-17)
Leading into the season, I suspected Georgia would be 4-0 heading into this matchup. What none of us could have foreseen is a Tennessee loss to Georgia State, and a Vols team sitting at 1-3 staring down the barrel that is two out of their next three against the Dawgs & Alabama.
Despite the rough patch for Tennessee, if they are ever going to show a sign of life it's got to be at home against the current pride of the SEC East in Georgia. If you're Jeremy Pruitt and you want to at least hamper the heat up in that seat, you can not get blown out as Butch Jones did at home in 2017.
Dawgs win 38-17.
Fans Predictions:
