The 12th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2 SEC) are set to host the 7th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (8-1, 5-1) in an SEC matchup on Saturday night. The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off a 28-10 away loss against the Ole Miss Rebels in Week 11. Quarterback Carson Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for 186 yards and 1 interception. Running back Nate Frazier carried the ball 12 times for 47 yards and had 1 touchdown.
Tennessee is coming off a home win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Week 11, beating them by a score of 33-14. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Dylan Sampson carried the ball 30 times for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Will the Dawgs bounce back from a devastating loss last week, or will the Volunteers continue to push for a chance at making the SEC title game?
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Tennessee Volunteers | +10.5
-112 |
Over 48
-112 |
+295 |
| Georgia Bulldogs | -10.5
-108 |
Under 48
-108 |
-375 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Match Details
- Fixture: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
- Date and Time: Saturday, November 16th, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
- Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
Key Stats
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers enter 8-1, averaging 37.56 points per game this season. Running back Dylan Sampson leads the team in rushing, averaging 125.44 yards per game, and has 20 touchdowns. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is averaging 208.78 passing yards per game and is completing 65.20% of his passes. He has thrown 11 touchdowns and has 4 interceptions so far this season.
It is also worth noting that Iamaleava exited last week’s game with an upper-body injury and is questionable for the game this week against Georgia. In the event he is ruled out, backup quarterback Gaston Moore will be the most likely candidate to replace him. In the four games he has played, Moore is averaging 50.25 passing yards and has 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions.
Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. is averaging 56.11 receiving yards per game and has scored 4 touchdowns. Bru McCoy is averaging 39.67 receiving yards per game but has not scored a touchdown. Defensively, Tennessee has 8 interceptions and 22 sacks. They are allowing 12.56 points per game.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs enter 7-2, averaging 30.56 points per game this season. Running back Trevor Etienne leads the team in rushing, averaging 53.0 yards per game, and has 7 touchdowns. Quarterback Carson Beck is averaging 276.44 passing yards per game and is completing 65.40% of his passes. So far this season, Beck has thrown 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Wide receiver Arian Smith is averaging 59.44 receiving yards per game and has scored 3 touchdowns. Dominic Lovett is averaging 47.78 receiving yards per game and has 3 touchdowns. Defensively, Georgia has 6 interceptions and 21 sacks. They are allowing 18.44 points per game.
Prediction
Georgia has been labeled as a double-digit favorite in this huge game, which at first glance looks to be way too many points. However, the likely reason the spread is set this high is that Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s availability is questionable. Having a backup quarterback potentially start against Georgia on the road is a recipe for disaster.
As for Georgia, this is a game they must win if they want any hope of being in the College Football Playoffs. The Dawgs have been inconsistent this season, especially quarterback Carson Beck, who cannot seem to stop throwing interceptions weekly. Georgia has one thing going for them: this game is being played at home. Georgia has had a brutal schedule this season, including at Alabama (Loss), at Texas (Win), and at Ole Miss (Loss). Prior to the loss at Ole Miss, the last time the Bulldogs were overlooked, they went into Texas and beat them convincingly. Because of that, this is a game where a similar outcome could be in play.
Based on where the spread is at the time of writing, instead, we will opt to back Georgia in the first quarter. The Dawgs have certainly not been a first-half team this season, but with what is at stake in terms of their postseason implications, I expect Georgia to come out looking to make a statement. For that reason, backing Georgia to cover -3.5 in the first quarter will be our best bet.
