The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (9-0, 7-0) long ago clinched the SEC East, and the only thing that stands between them and an undefeated conference regular season are the Tennessee Volunteers (5-4, 3-3).
Tennessee still needs another win to become bowl eligible and will have chances against South Alabama and Vanderbilt. Saturday’s kick-off at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS.
Georgia has won the last four matchups between these teams, including a 44-21 win last year. The Bulldogs have scored at least 38 points in all four of those wins, with 43 and 41 in their last two trips to Knoxville. The Vols last won in 2015 and last won at home in 2014 as they trail the overall series 25-23-2.
Daniels Returns as Georgia Gets Stronger
Georgia is 6-3 against the spread this season, and the under is 6-3 in their nine games, thanks in large part to the Bulldogs stifling defense. The Georgia defense ranks 1st in the nation allowing 6.6 points per game while ranking 2nd in yards allowed (232.4) per game while allowing just 80 yards rushing per contest.
The Georgia offense is middle of the pack in most categories with 240 passing yards and 190 rushing yards per game. They do rank 14th in the nation in scoring at 38.4 points per game.
Quarterback J.T. Daniels returned to action last week in the 43-6 win over Missouri, his first snaps since September. Daniels was 7-for-11 for 82 yards with a touchdown and interception while splitting time with Stetson Bennett. Bennett threw for 255 yards and two scores against Missouri and has completed 67 percent of his passes as a starter this season.
Georgia spreads the ball around on offense as three running backs have over 250 yards. Zamir White leads the way with 519 yards and nine touchdowns, while James Cook and Kendall Milton both average over 5.1 yards per carry.
Defensively the Bulldogs have 28 sacks on the season to go with ten interceptions and three fumble recoveries. They haven’t allowed more than 13 points in a game this season and have given up seven or less on six occasions.
Biggest Test for Hooker and Vols Offense
Tennessee is 4-5 against the spread on the season, and the over is 6-3 in their nine games. The offense is scoring 38.2 points per game, good for 15th in the nation, and piling up 457 yards of offense. But the defense has struggled, allowing nearly 30 points and 420 yards per game.
The Vols losses in the SEC this season have come to Florida, Alabama, and Ole Miss, all ranked in the top 15 at the time of the game. With last week’s 45-42 triumph over No. 18 Kentucky, Tennessee is now 1-3 against ranked teams, allowing an average of 41 points in those four games.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker has thrown 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions on the season. Against Kentucky, he completed 15-of-20 passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns. In his last two home games, Hooker has nearly 500 combined passing yards to go with four touchdowns and one interception.
Hooker has also run for 457 yards and four touchdowns on the season, surpassed by only Tiyon Evans from the Vols backfield. Evans has 525 yards for a 6.5 per carry average and has scored six times.
Two wideouts will try to stretch the Georgie defense as Velus Jones Jr. and Cedric Tillman have combined for over 1,000 yards on the season. Both have 36 receptions and five touchdowns, while Javonta Payton is the big-play threat. Payton has six touchdowns on 14 receptions and averages over 26 yards per catch.
Betting Analysis
- Georgia Bulldogs -20 (-110). -1250 Moneyline
- Tennessee Volunteers +20 (-110) +750 Moneyline
- Total points 56. Over -110, Under -110
The under has hit in five straight Georgia games, and they have won by at least 24 in seven of their last eight games. Tennessee was blown out by both Florida and Alabama though they did keep it close at home against Mississippi, losing by five.
The Vols need to win the turnover battle and keep the Georgia run game under wraps to have any shot in this one, but they are unlikely to score enough points to keep it close.
Betting Pick: Under 56 (-110)
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