Our 4 boldest Georgia football predictions vs. Tennessee in Week 3

Georgia football has four starters remaining from its last visit to Neyland Stadium when it closed out an undefeated SEC season with a 38-10 wipeout of Tennessee in 2023.

That was a mid-November matchup.

This time around, No. 3 Georgia hits the road for the first time to face the No. 15 Volunteers after easing into the season with wins against Marshall and Austin Peay.

Awaiting for the game on Saturday Sept. 13 will be a crowd of 101,915 in Neyland Stadium.

“It’s loud,” said Bulldogs cornerback Daylen Everette who started at Tennessee two years ago. “You go to any SEC stadium it’s loud. That’s just how it is. Just got to try to make sure everybody tries to tune it out as much as they can and just stays locked in and play ball.”

Georgia has 17 players in all who saw action in the last matchup in Knoxville including receiver Dillon Bell who had a 9-yard touchdown catch and 5 receptions for 90 yards.

“I actually enjoy playing away more because the crowd is more involved,” kicker Peyton Woodring said. “Whenever you’re at home, nobody’s yelling. I enjoy the pressure of it. It’s fun. It gets my adrenaline up.

Georgia players seem to be embracing heading to Rocky Top.

“Guys have been spirited,” coach Kirby Smart said after Tuesday’s practice. “They know it’s a big matchup.”

Georgia vs. Tennessee predictions

Who is the best team in the SEC? The winner of this one could make that claim.

Tennessee has looked better than Georgia so far. After all, it has a win over ACC team Syracuse 45-26 on a neutral field. Then again, the Orange turned around and needed overtime to beat UConn last week.

Georgia puttered around with FCS Austin Peay in a 28-6 win last week while Tennessee destroyed FCS East Tennessee State 72-17.

UCLA transfer quarterback Joey Aguliar takes a big step up when he goes up against a Georgia defense whose only touchdown allowed this season came in the fourth quarter of a game it led 45-0.

The gap between those programs may have closed, but the Bulldogs still have the edge.

Buy Georgia vs. Tennessee tickets

Why Georgia has an advantage: Georgia’s offense needs to be better, particuarly in the downfield passing game, but the Bulldogs defense with defensive lineman Christen Miller, linebacker CJ Allen and cornerback Daylen Everette is the strength of this team along with a rock solid special teams unit. Smart’s defense has not allowed the Vols under Josh Heupel to score more than 17 points and the 387 yards Tenenssee had in a 41-17 loss in 2021 is the most in four games under Heupel.

Why Tennessee has an advantage: The Volunteers showed a balanced offense against Syracuse rushing for 246 yards and Aguilar passing for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns while completing 16 of 28 passes. Aguilar has hit deep balls to Braylen Staley for a 73-yard touchdown and Mike Matthews for 53 yards. The offense’s confidence and the team’s hunger to beat Georgia for the first time since 2016 is in its favor.

Georgia vs. Tennessee injury updates

Georgia has rotated often on the right side of its offensive line where it has dealt with multiple injuries.

Right guard Juan Gaston (ankle) and right tackles Earnest Greene (back/lower body stiffness) and Jazhare Jackson (ankle) have missed games and/or series. Running back Roderick Robinson (hamstring) and center Malachi Toliver (ankle) appear questionable. Tight end Ethan Barbour (ankle) is out.

Tennessee: Offensive tackle David Sanders (upper body injury) appears probable. Defensive tackle Jaxson Moil (upper-body injury) is questionable. Defensive tackle Daevin Hobbs (foot) is out. Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy (knee) and Rickey Gibson (upper-body injury) are out. Defensive end Tyree Weathersby (unspecified) appears probable.

Georgia vs. Tennessee score prediction

Georgia 27, Tennessee 21. I ranked this as only Georgia’s fifth toughest game of the season in mid-July, but began the week considering picking a Vols upset. Instead I’m going with Georgia because Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs defense have a history of holding Tennessee’s offense down. This is the first game this season that really matters for Georgia and it won’t hold anything back.

Georgia vs. Tennessee scouting report: What we’re watching

Chris Cole: The sophomore linebacker is a big play waiting to happen as was displayed last week when he had his first college sack off the edge. With Jalon Walker now in the NFL with the Falcons, Cole can serve that role as a big-game missile that Glenn Schumann can find ways to launch to get after opposing quarterbacks. Cole has 7 tackles, two tackles for loss and leads the team with 5 quarterback pressures.

Monroe Freeling: Georgia’s offensive line has not allowed a sack yet this season. Freeling, the left tackle who had a rough game against Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals, gets some credit for that, but will be tested by a defensive front that includes edge rusher Joshua Josephs who has two sacks and a forced fumble. “They penetrate,” Freeling said. “They love to come off the ball. They’re strong rushers. They love the bull (rush), they love contact. …I’m excited to compete.”

Joey Aguliar: It’s not only Gunner Stockton’s first SEC game, it’s the first SEC game for the former Appalachian State quarterback who spent the spring at UCLA. The 24-year old has thrown 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions while completing 39 of 59 passes for 535 yards. Aguilar was 18 of 41 for 214 yards and a touchdown last season at Clemson in his only game against a Power Four Conference team.

Daylen Everette: The senior cornerback returned from an ankle injury last week and had a tackle and a pass breakup and was sticky in coverage The preseason All-SEC pick will go up against a Vols passing game averaging 352.5 yards per game. “He’s playing well,” Smart said. “He’s a leader. We need him to play well. He plays a lot of times into the boundary. And it’s good to have his confidence back out there.”

Bold predictions

The return game will make an impact

Southern Cal transfer Zachariah Branch showed he can be an electric player by taking a pass 47 yards for a touchdown in Georgia’s season-opening win against Marshall. He’s averaging 8.3 yards on punt returns, but has the capability for busting one for a huge gain. Tennessee’s Boo Carter had a 40-yard punt return against East Tennessee State and led the SEC last season in punt return average at 16.5.

“Special teams has got to be an area that we win on each Saturday,” Heupel said. “The return game is a big part of that.”

Georgia football QB Gunner Stockton will hit downfield shots

Gunner Stockton will not only be making his first SEC start, it will be his first start in a true road game.

He has never even taken a snap in an opponent’s stadium with Georgia.

He is embracing the moment.

“I think that’s why you come to the SEC, all the cool atmospheres that the SEC brings,” Stockton said. “It’s definitely exciting. Two years ago when we went there, it was a great atmosphere. That’s why you want to play.”

Stockton has relied heavily on the short passing game and not taking shots downfield, but along with using his legs more on the run then he did last week, coordinator Mike Bobo will scheme up ways to have Stockton throw deep more often.

“A very instinctive, savvy guy I would say,” Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter: “We just have to go in early and be able to disrupt throws and get him off timing and be able to cover downfield.”

Tennessee is missing its top two cornerbacks—Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson. McCoy is viewed as a top 10 NFL draft prospect. Georgia could target freshman cornerback Ty Redmond.

Vols will score its most points under Heupel against Georgia

Georgia has not scored more than 17 points in four games against Georgia.

The Bulldogs held Texas and Kentucky last season below that in SEC road games, but gave up 41 to Alabama and 28 to Ole Miss and finished allowing 20.6 points per game overall.

“In a game like this when you’re playing a really good opponent, the details matter,” Heupel said. “Ultimately, you’ve got to win on third downs and you have to maximize your possessions when you get on the other side of the 50 that comes from the details in your preparation and winning the one-on-ones.”

Georgia will stymie Tennessee’s run game

The Volunteers have a good running back rotation with DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis and Star Thomas who lead a ground game averaging 252.5 rushing yards a game.

“They really trust their blocking schemes and they’re patient which can be hard if they find holes,” Smart said. “It’s a talented room. It was a talented room last year.”

Georgia has not allowed a run longer than 11 yards so far this season with junior linebackers Raylen Wilson and CJ Allen leading the way behind a defensive front with Christen Miller and Jordan Hall and the emerging Elijah Griffin who leads all defensive linemen with four tackles.

” I would say that it really hasn’t been challenged, but I promise you it will be this time because these guys are good at it,” Smart said. “They know how to attack you, and they have wrinkles, and they do a really good job. You better be able to strike blocks and get off blocks and tackle people because they’re very physical.”

Tennessee was held to 3.7 yards per carry last season in a 31-17 loss to Georgia.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia vs. Tennessee predictions: How much Bulldogs win Week 3 game by

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