#6 Georgia vs. Tennessee final score: Upset averted, Bulldogs prevail 34-31 in overtime
Coming into the game, Tennessee had lost 18 straight games against ranked opponents, per ESPN stats and Info.
#6 Georgia was coming off perhaps the most exciting college football game of the year in the Southeastern Conference thus far in their 44-41 victory over LSU last week.
This game may have surpassed that thriller.
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray set the SEC career passing record early in the game on Saturday on a 24 yard pass to Chris Conley.
But, all of that hype didn’t matter to the Volunteers.
With the game tied 24-24 and facing 4th down three times on their final drive in regulation, the Volunteers converted each and wound up with a 7-yard touchdown run from running back Rajion Neal putting them up 31-24.
Georgia then drove within the Tennessee 5-yard line and scored on a Murray 2-yard pass to Rantavious Wilson after several penalties called on the Volunteers’ defense helped set it up, sending the game to overtime.
In a gut wrenching twist for Volunteers’ fans, running back Alton Howard dove for the end zone and lost control of the ball just before it crossed the plane. Tennessee’s first overtime possession resulted in a touchback.
Georgia failed to move the ball in their ensuing possession, but Marshall Morgan nailed a 42-yard field goal to help Georgia avert the upset and come out on top 34-31.
Tennessee put on a good show, and showed they are a program on the rise in the SEC and not to be looked over going forward. But, the streak remains: 19 consecutive losses to ranked opponents.
Tennessee moves to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the SEC, while Georgia moves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the SEC.