Tag: georgia bulldogs vs Tennessee volunteers

Reasons Tennessee will win against Georgia

Reasons why No. 7 Tennessee will defeat No. 12 Georgia and put Georgia’s playoff hopes on life support

The Georgia Bulldogs are large home favorites against the Tennessee Volunteers in their first home night game of the seasons. Georgia’s postseason fate rides on this game. The Bulldogs are nine-point favorites against the Volunteers (8-1).

With a line this big here are three reasons the Volunteers can cover and win the game on Saturday.

Dylan Sampson

Running back Dylan Sampson is arguably the MVP of the SEC. He takes on major responsibilities week after week for the Tennessee offense. Sampson leads the SEC with 20 touchdowns, making him the focal point of the offense and an impact player.

Coach Kirby Smart even compared Sampson to Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara. His combination of speed and vision makes him a constant threat. He is often breaking through defenses for significant gains. Opposing teams have struggled to contain him as he consistently finds ways to make big plays.

front seven

Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Georgia offensive line has struggled throughout the season and last week’s performance was Georgia’s worst. Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. is considered a potential high first-round pick and will be facing off against Earnest Greene.

Pearce Jr.’s lightning-quick first step poses a significant challenge for Greene, who struggled last week against Ole Miss’s Princely Umanmielen, allowing two sacks. Pearce’s relentless pass-rushing ability could be game-changing if Greene isn’t able to contain him. Greene will need to elevate his play to keep Georgia’s offense moving and protect Carson Beck.

Tennessee has the second-best run defense in the SEC and is allowing just 100 rushing yards per game.

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explosive plays

Explosive plays are a key component of Tennessee’s offense, with a 50-plus yard play in every game except one. Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. has been the primary beneficiary with his longest reception stretching 73 yards.
The UGA secondary has been inconsistent this season and it faces another major test against Tennessee’s dynamic wide receivers. If the Georgia defensive backs can’t stay disciplined and cover Thornton and his teammates effectively, then Tennessee could make big plays that swing the momentum in their favor.

Tennessee’s starting quarterback may be out versus Georgia

Tennessee’s starting quarterback missed the second half of the Vols’ win over Mississippi State. Will Nico Iamaleava play at Georgia?

The No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 33-14, this past Saturday. In Tennessee’s win, redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava missed the second half due to an upper-body injury.

On Monday, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel updated Iamaleava’s status for the top-10 matchup in Athens.

“He was with us today,” Heupel said. “Had a really good day. Feel like he’ll be in great shape for Saturday, but you guys can monitor the report that comes out on Wednesday, and track it through the week, but certainly feel like he’ll be in a good spot.”

Iamaleava’s status trending in the right direction, which is huge for the Vols. However, never underestimate how little coaches are willing to share in their press conference. Iamaleava has helped the Vols’ offense rank No. 3 in total offense and No. 4 in points in the SEC. Iamaleava has shown he can be steady: He has thrown only four interceptions this season.

Update: Iamaleava is reportedly in concussion protocol, but he has been dressing and practicing.

The SEC releases its weekly availability report on Wednesday night. If Iamaleava is unable to play, Tennessee is expected to turn to senior Gaston Moore, who completed five of eight passes for 38 yards against Mississippi State.

“That’s a dilemma because we don’t know a lot. I’m talking about his (Nico Iamaleava) injury,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “We don’t really know what’s going on there; it’s hard to figure. We do have – because they had those games earlier in the year where they beat teams so bad – Gaston got to play quite a bit.”

Twitter reacts: Georgia weathers Tennessee storm, pulls away for 41-17 win

Twitter is buzzing after another dominant SEC win from Georgia

No. 1 Georgia has moved to 10-0 with a dominant win on the road over rival Tennessee.

It wasn’t easy. The Vols scored a touchdown on their first possession, which marked the first touchdown allowed in the first quarter by Georgia this season, while the 7-point deficit was the largest UGA had faced this year.

Georgia responded with a score of their own but stalled for the rest of the first period.

Tennessee held a 10-7 lead at the start of the 2nd quarter before UGA stormed back with 17 unanswered points to take a 24-10 lead into the half.

Georgia kept that momentum throughout the second half. Tennessee’s offense couldn’t get anything going until a garbage-time touchdown with just a few minutes left in the fourth quarter.

That gave us a 41-17 final.

Senior running back James Cook was the player of the game by far. Cook totaled 147 yards from scrimmage with three total touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving).

Here’s how UGA Twitter reacted to the Dawgs win:

https://twitter.com/Ashncoll/status/1459681429227556865

Watch: James Cook’s 3rd TD of the day puts Georgia up 34-10

James Cook is having a MONSTER game for the Bulldogs…

Senior running back James Cook is having the game of his career versus Tennessee.

Cook has racked 104 yards rushing and 43 yards receiving, that’s 147 yards from scrimmage, while adding three touchdowns (2 rush, 1 receiving).

Cook’s last score, a 16-yard rush, put the Bulldogs up 34-10 over Tennessee early in the fourth quarter.

You can catch Cook and the Dawgs right now on CBS.

Long Georgia drive leads to Podlesny FG, Dawgs up 27-10

Recap: Georgia’s 74-yard scoring drive

No. 1 Georgia is starting to pull away from Tennessee after a 27-yard field goal from Jack Podlesny, his third of the day, makes it 27-10 late in the third quarter.

The Vols held a 10-7 lead early in the second before Georgia stormed back with 17 unanswered points to end the half.

UGA’s long drive featured 13 plays and covered 74 yards in five minutes.

The UGA run game is starting to shine. 59 of those yards came on the ground.

Junior running back James Cook is closing in on 100 yards (99).

The game is live right now on CBS.

 

 

Twitter reacts: UGA holding on to 14 point lead over UT at halftime

Here’s a look at UGA Twitter after a wild half at UT

No. 1 Georgia is facing its toughest test to date with Tennessee in Knoxville.

The Bulldogs hold a 14-point lead at the half. Tennessee’s offense has been as lethal as advertised, even against the top defense in the country.

UGA was down 10-7 early in the second quarter before kicking a field goal to tie it up. That was followed with a Derion Kendrick interception and a Stetson Bennett touchdown to make it 17-10 Georgia.

The Bulldogs were able to lock down the UT offense for the most of the second quarter and got a little cushion thanks to a big 23-yard touchdown pass from Bennett to James Cook, which is Cook’s second score of the day.

Here’s how UGA Twitter reacted to a wild first half:

 

Watch: Georgia follows FG with Derion Kendrick INT, Stetson Bennett TD

Georgia storms back with 10 unanswered points in 6 minutes…

No. 1 Georgia has its hands full with a feisty Tennessee squad in Knoxville.

UGA was down 10-7 early in the second quarter before a long drive set up a 40-yard Jack Podlesny field goal to tie it up.

That gave Tennessee’s rolling offense the ball back, but that didn’t last long thanks to a big play from Georgia corner Derion Kendrick.

That gave the Bulldog offense great field position where quarterback Stetson Bennett answered the call and scampered to the endzone on a nine-yard score to put the Dawgs up 17-10 after trailing 10-7 to start the 2nd quarter.

We’ve got just under 8 minutes remaining in the second quarter. The game is live on CBS.

Watch: Georgia answers UT score with James Cook TD

Here’s how Georgia responded to that opening Tennessee touchdown…

We’ve got a game in Knoxville.

No. 1 Georgia watched Tennessee march down the field for a score on their opening possession and answered with their own touchdown to make it 7-7 with just under nine minutes to go in the first quarter.

It all started with a nine yard touchdown pass from Volunteer quarterback Hendon Hooker to Velus Jones.

That was the first touchdown the Bulldogs have allowed in the first quarter all season.

It was UGA’s turn, though, and they answered with a big drive capped off by a 39-yard touchdown rush from James Cook.

You can catch the game live right now on CBS.

College GameDay crew picks winner of Georgia vs Tennessee

Here’s how the College Gameday crew picked Georgia vs. Tennessee…

ESPN’s “College Gameday” is in Oxford, Miss. for the SEC matchup between No. 11 Texas A&M and No. 15 Ole Miss.

Rebels head coach and former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin joined the crew as the celebrity guest picker.

Here’s how Kiffin and the crew picked the Georgia versus Tennessee matchup:

What the media is saying about Georgia vs Tennessee

No. 1 Georgia travels to Tennessee on Saturday. Here’s what the media is saying about the matchup…

No. 1 Georgia (9-0) will travel to Knoxville for a matchup with Tennessee  (5-4) this Saturday.

The Volunteers are coming off of a big 45-42 win over No. 18 Kentucky on the road. The Tennessee offense is one of the best in the SEC through nine games and boasts one of the quickest snap sequences in college football.

They’ll be pitted against a Georgia defense that has been dominant all season. The Bulldogs are only giving up 6.6 points per game so far, but will face one their toughest tests to date versus the Volunteers.

Here’s what the media is saying ahead of the matchup: