The No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2) host the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (8-1, 5-1) in an SEC clash with College Football Playoff implications. The Georgia-Tennessee game will be played on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ABC.
Georgia enters the Tennessee game as 9 1/2-point favorites. The Bulldogs are coming off a 28-10 loss to Ole Miss. Tennessee won 33-14 against Mississippi State last week.
Georgia’s playoff hopes are on the line against Tennessee. The Bulldogs need to win to control their own playoff path.
Members of the media are picking Georgia to beat Tennessee, but the media is divided on who will cover.
National media predictions for Georgia vs. Tennessee
“Georgia needs this game in a big way and that should produce a fiery squad who should play more loose than tight at home. Tennessee’s defense is one of the best in the nation, but this is not one of Heupel’s top offenses,” said Marc Weiszer of Athens Banner-Herald.
Weiszer has the Georgia covering the spread and winning. He’s smart to point out that Tennessee has played just two true road games this season, including their loss to Arkansas.
Prediction: Georgia 24, Tennessee 21
SEC Mike of “That SEC Podcast” predicts Georgia will cover and win over Tennessee. SEC Mike, who is a Tennessee fan, does not have it as his lock of the week.
Prediction: Georgia 28, Tennessee 17
Cousin Shane of “That SEC Podcast” predicts Georgia will win and cover against Tennessee. Cousin Shane is feeling so confident in Georgia that he made the Bulldogs his lock of the week.
Prediction: Georgia 28, Tennessee 17
“Georgia has rapidly become a confusing team. How do you go from dominating Texas on the road to slumping past Florida and getting overwhelmed at Ole Miss? I will stubbornly stick with UGA because of its defense, but I certainly don’t feel great about it,” said David Kenyon of Bleacher Report.
Kenyon has Georgia winning, but not covering. We’re also stumped on why Georgia has struggled so much. We have to point to a combination of turnovers, poor offensive line play, and Carson Beck and the wide receivers not being on the same page.
Prediction: Georgia 20, Tennessee 16
Our prediction
Georgia has its backs against the wall and is playing one of the best defenses in the country. We think the Bulldogs have just enough to get the job done, but we would be surprised if UGA covered the 9 1/2-point spread based on the Bulldogs’ recent performances.
Prediction: Georgia 20, Tennessee 17
Overall prediction tally
All five writers have Georgia winning, but only two have Georgia winning and covering the 9 1/2-point spread.
Georgia wins: 5
Tennessee wins: 0