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Tennessee vs Georgia: Game preview, odds, prediction

By John Buhler

Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Preston Williams (7) misses a catch during the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38 to 31. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Preston Williams (7) misses a catch during the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38 to 31. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The No. 25 Georgia Bulldogs host the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday. Here is the game preview, the betting odds, and a final score prediction.

CBS’ SEC Game of the Week will be in the Classic City on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 25 Georgia Bulldogs will host the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers in Week 5. Kickoff from Sanford Stadium will be at 3:30 PM ET.

Georgia is 3-1 (1-1) after being blown out on the road in Week 4 to the Ole Miss Rebels, 45-14. This team is young, growing pains are expected in 2016, and there was no way Ole Miss was going to drop that game to fall to 1-3 (0-2). Georgia took its lumps and should be ready for Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.

Tennessee is 4-0 (1-0) on the year after beating the Florida Gators for the first time since social media existed. The Volunteers are in the driver’s seat of the SEC East, but face a brutal next three games. How the Volunteers handle October will decide if this team can contend for the College Football Playoff.

According to OddsShark.com, Georgia is a 3.5-point underdog at home to visiting Tennessee. The associated moneylines are Tennessee -157 and Georgia +143. The projected over/under comes in at 54 combined points.

Odds

Point Spread: Georgia +3.5

Moneylines: Tennessee -157, Georgia +143

Over/Under: 54

Tennessee holds a tight, one-game lead in the all-time series with Georgia at 22-21-2. Georgia has won six of the last 10 head-to-head games, including six of the last eight. The last time Tennessee beat Georgia in Athens was on October 7th, 2006, 51-33.

Here are a few trends to keep in mind with Tennessee: 1.) The Volunteers are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games and 5-0 straight up in their last five. 2.) Tennessee has gone over in four of its last six games. 3.) The Volunteers are 6-17 straight up in their last 23 roads.

Here are a few trends to know with regards to Georgia: 1.) The Bulldogs are 8-1 straight up in their last nine games and 8-1 straight up in their last nine home games. 2.) Georgia has gone under in 10 of its last 11 games. 3.) The Bulldogs are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games with Tennessee, but 5-1 straight up in their last six against the Volunteers.

This is the most exciting game in the SEC in Week 5. Will Tennessee prevail on the road and move to 5-0 (2-0) on the year? Can Georgia protect its house and take control of the SEC East with an upset victory over Tennessee at home.

Expect a one-possession game in Athens on Saturday. That’s what this SEC East rivalry series has been for the last five seasons. Georgia is coming off an embarrassing road loss, while Tennessee is coming off the biggest win of the Butch Jones era at home. The Bulldogs are going to be ready to play, but are the Volunteers prepared for a potential letdown game?

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is a former defensive back for the Bulldogs and the former defensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He’s going to devise a defensive game plan for his secondary to not let Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs get anything over the top.

Neither of these teams have great offensive lines, so quarterback play might be suspect at best on Saturday. This game is going to come down to three things: clock management, special teams, and the running game.

Jones is not a good in-game tactician and is bound to screw up clock management at least once on Saturday. Georgia cannot kick a field goal; it’s embarrassingly bad. Let’s just say those two cancel each other out. So what about the running game? This is where it gets interesting.

Georgia star tailback Nick Chubb tore multiple ligaments in his right knee against Tennessee last year. Though he is questionable for this game with an ankle injury, Chubb will have his best game of the season against the Volunteers. An angry Chubb is bad news for the Volunteers defense.

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There is a good chance that Tennessee could be overlooking Georgia. The Volunteers’ next three games are at Georgia, at Texas A&M, and home versus Alabama. They are going to drop at least one, maybe two of those games. Georgia is playing with house money in this game. This is an upset for the Volunteers just waiting to happen.

Pick: Georgia 24, Tennessee 20

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