Georgia vs. Tennessee has been heralded as the most anticipated game of the season, and over the course of two quarters of play, it’s clear the defending national champions are ready to make a statement on the biggest stage of the season. . The No. 3 Bulldogs lead the No. 1 Volunteers 24-6 as the third quarter begins in Athens as the Georgian offense is there to remind some people just how deadly it can be.
Stetson Bennett threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns as Ladd McConkey led the way on reception with 63 yards on three catches with a touchdown. Bennett also added a score on the ground as the Dawgs dominated the first 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s powerful offense was contained by the Georgian defense. Hendon Hooker, who drew a plethora of Heisman hype throughout this undefeated run for the Vols, threw for just 88 yards and one interception through halftime.
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How to watch Georgia vs Tennessee live
Date: Saturday 5 Nov | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium — Athens, Georgia
TV: SCS | Direct: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports app (free)
Georgia vs. Tennessee: What you need to know
What does the loss of Nolan Smith mean? : Georgia received terrible news this week when it was announced that star linebacker Nolan Smith’s season was over after he suffered a pectoral injury in the win over Florida. The eldest had seven tackles for loss and three sacks in eight games this season before the injury. The timing couldn’t be worse for the Bulldogs.
The Volunteer Offense is not only one of the most dynamic units in the country, but it operates at lightning speed. The veteran presence that Smith brought to the defense — including his familiarity with the defensive scheme — is irreplaceable. Coach Kirby Smart addressed possible substitutions on Monday.
“Well Robert [Beal] played,” he said at his press conference. “He played a few more snaps once Nolan was injured. chaz [Chambliss] did a good job coming in. It was great to have him back. I didn’t know he would have to play so much in this role. His hamstrings always bother him. It bothered him the other night after the game. It is therefore one of those of which we are going to see how it does today and moves. Looking to get Marvin [Jones], all these guys go. So nobody really played more because it was just Chaz and Robert, really.”
The sneaky strength of Tennessee: The Volunteers rank second in the SEC in rushing defense (92.88 yards per game) and yards per play (2.90), which probably surprises people who haven’t sat down and studied the Flights. They’re tied for the SEC lead in fewest rushing plays of 20 or more yards allowed (3), and the fact that they don’t give up on explosive rushing plays is a big plus against the Bulldogs.
Georgia likes to set the run and work out of play action. That’s been his identity throughout Smart’s tenure there, and it’s still true even as Bennett took more control of the offense. This year. If Tennessee can have the same kind of success against Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards, Branson Robinson and the rest of the talented Bulldogs running back, they’ll have a chance to cause an upset.
Styles make fights: If Tennessee is allowed to play its brand of football, it will beat any opponent it plays with the exception, perhaps, of a hypothetical game with Ohio State. Smart knows how dangerous Josh Heupel’s offense can be.
“They go really fast,” Smart said. “They’re getting a lot of shots in terms of possessions, and they’re off to a quick start. I think our team has done a really good job of growing and improving throughout this year. And every week, including the off week, it’s, like, I see a definite improvement. I really want to keep doing that. We’re going in the right direction in terms of improving both offensively and defensively.
Knowing that, it’s up to Bennett to make sure this game doesn’t turn into a track meet. That means sticking to the schedule, avoiding negative plays, getting to third-and-run situations, and converting red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. Generally speaking, time of possession isn’t as important these days as it was before the rise of offensive creativity. It’s important in this one, though. Georgia needs to keep Hooker and the rest of the Vols offense on the sidelines and not waste any opportunities.
Georgia vs Tennessee Prediction, Picks
I’ll go out on a limb and take on Tennessee to win straight. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to grab those points too, but this Tennessee offense is too good to be stopped even by a defense as talented and deep as Georgia’s. The Vols will be running at lightning speed, exposing Smith’s absence while using Hooker and running backs Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright on the field to set up chunky plays over the top. Bennett won’t be able to keep up and the Vols will earn their biggest win in decades. Prediction: Tennessee +8.5
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