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Tennessee vs Georgia Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Quarterback Hendon Hooker has moved to the front of the pack in the Heisman Trophy betting as his Tennessee Volunteers prepare for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle with the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday.
This game will be the 25th regular-season matchup of the No. 1 vs. No. 2-ranked teams and just the third featuring a pair of Southeastern Conference teams.
Hooker, who is -130 to become the first player from Tennessee to win the Heisman, moved ahead of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (+175) in the betting.
Hooker, who has thrown for 2,338 yards and 21 touchdowns with just one interception, opened at odds of +6,500 despite throwing for 31 touchdowns as a junior.
“Hendon’s development since we’ve gotten here is a great story,” Vols head coach Josh Heupel told the media. “From the first day of spring ball to where he is now, just fundamentally changed who he is and has allowed him to be decisive.”
The Georgia defense will likely be without a big piece against the country’s No. 1 scoring offense as Nolan Smith is doubtful to play due to a pectoral injury.
In addition to providing senior leadership from his linebacker spot, Smith leads the Bulldogs with three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hurries.
Jalen Carter returning for Georgia’s last game should help to offset the loss while Chaz Chambliss will pick up the slack, as he did with three tackles and a sack last week.
Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports and college football lines for Tennessee vs Georgia. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.
Hyatt rewriting record books
Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt is generating his own Heisman Trophy buzz, but not at the level of Hooker. He has become the fifth choice in the betting at +3000.
Hyatt leads the country in receiving touchdowns (14) – four touchdowns clear of the No. 2 spot – and is fourth in receiving yards (904) and receiving yards per game (113.4).
The junior has nine plays of 40 or more yards, a total greater than 117 FBS teams. He is one of five SEC players to ever score five touchdowns in a game. The most recent to do it was Heisman winner DeVonta Smith of Alabama in 2019.
Hyatt also moved past Marcus Nash (13 in 1997) for the school record for touchdown catches in a single season. Alabama’s Smith owns the SEC mark with 23 in 2021.
Georgia secondary needs to come up big
The Bulldogs have not allowed a single point in the first quarter this season and they will need to continue that to have a chance to win the first top-five matchup at Sanford Stadium since Bo Jackson and Auburn ended their 23-game SEC win streak in 1983.
Safety Chris Smith, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Week, will be called on to protect the deep part of the field in order to limit Tennessee’s big play ability.
Cornerbacks Kamari Lassiter and Kelee Ringo, a pair of sophomores, didn’t have much experience entering the season but have started every game for the Bulldogs.
“We’re excited to see them complete,” head coach Kirby Smart told the media of his secondary. “They’ve gotten better each and every week. They’re going to get to cover because there’s no hiding anybody when you play these guys (Volunteers).”
Tennessee vs Georgia Game Injuries
Tennessee vs Georgia Head-to-Head
The Bulldogs have won five straight meetings with the Volunteers to pull ahead in the all-time series 26-23-2. Georgia is 13-11-1 against Tennessee in Athens.
Tennessee vs Georgia Game Information
- Game: Tennessee (8-0) vs Georgia (8-0)
- Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
- Day/Time: Saturday, Nov. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Tennessee vs Georgia Live Stream: ESPN
Tennessee vs Georgia Betting Lines
Tennessee vs Georgia Prediction
The Bulldogs have been installed eight-point favorites on the NCAA football odds, the largest point spread for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup since Florida State was a nine-point favorite against second-ranked Auburn in 2013. Florida State won that game 34-31.
The Bulldogs have the No. 2 scoring defense in the country (10.5 points per game), but they have not faced an offense of Tennessee’s quality. The Volunteers roll in this one.
The Tennessee Volunteers are listed at +230 in our Vegas NCAAF lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Volunteers, you have a chance to win $230. The Georgia Bulldogs are -270, offering a chance to win $37 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives “Tennessee” a 30.30% chance to win, with Georgia at 72.97%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
