#19 Georgia Bulldogs at Tennessee Volunteers
Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, Tennessee
Saturday, October 10, 2015, 3:30 pm Eastern, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Georgia -2 1/2
Current Line: Georgia -3 (-105)
Opening Total: 57
Current Total: 59 1/2
Opening Money Line: Georgia -150 / Tennessee +130
Current Money Line: Georgia -150 / Tennessee +130
Before the season started, many thought this Tennessee-Georgia match-up in Knoxville could decided the SEC East title. However, both teams are coming off disappointing losses and both teams are looking up in the standings at undefeated Florida. Georgia is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC. The Bulldogs are tied with Kentucky for second in the division. Tennessee is 2-3 overall and is 0-2 in SEC play. Only Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Auburn are winless in SEC play.
The series is tied 21-21-2, but Tennessee is 11-10-1 in Knoxville against Georgia. The Bulldogs have won the last 5 games in the series, but each game has been decided by 8 points or less. Georgia won last year’s meeting 34-31 in Athens.
Georgia is coached by Mark Richt. The Bulldogs were destroyed last week at home 38-10 by Alabama. Georgia has home wins over UL-Monroe 51-14, South Carolina 52-20 and Southern 48-6 along with a road win over Vanderbilt 31-14. Georgia was a 1.5 point favorite against Alabama and the total was 51. It was the first time Alabama was an underdog since the 2009 SEC Championship game. The two teams were tied at 3 early in the second quarter. However, Alabama scored 35 straight points, including a pick six and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Georgia scored on the last play of the game on an 83 yard touchdown run from running back Nick Chubb. Georgia had 4 turnovers and Alabama had 2. The Crimson Tide had 379 total yards to 299 for the Bulldogs. Georgia is 2-3 ATS and the total is 2-3 as well.
Tennessee is coached by Butch Jones. The Volunteers have home wins over Bowling Green 59-30 and Western Carolina 55-10. Tennessee has a road loss at Florida 28-27, plus home losses to Oklahoma 31-24 in double overtime and last week against Arkansas 24-20. In each of the losses Tennessee had at least a 13 point lead. Tennessee was a 5.5 point favorite against Arkansas and the total was 53.5. The Volunteers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. However, they would be tied at 17 at halftime. Arkansas scored a touchdown midway through the third and Tennessee would kick a field goal three minutes later. Neither team would score again as the Razorbacks snapped a three game losing streak. The Volunteers are 2-3 ATS and the total is 3-2 this season.
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Georgia is outscoring teams 38-18 this season. The Bulldogs are #24 in scoring and #28 in points allowed. Georgia averages 453 total yards per game including 208 passing and 255 rushing yards. The Bulldogs are #31 in total offense and #15 in rushing. On defense, Georgia is allowing 294 yards per game including 171 passing and 124 rushing yards. The Bulldogs are in the top 31 in all three categories. Georgia has forced 7 turnovers and has 7 of their own this season. Georgia averages 58 penalty yards per game and opponents average 35. The Bulldogs are 14/48 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 26/87. Georgia has 8 sacks and has allowed 5 this season. The Bulldogs are 17/20 scoring in the red zone with 13 touchdowns, and opponents are 7/10 with 6 touchdowns. Georgia has a punt return and a pick six this season, and has also allowed two defensive/special teams touchdowns.
Quarterback Greyson Lambert has thrown for 819 yards with 7 touchdowns and 1 interception, and also has a rushing touchdown. Back-up Brice Ramsey has thrown for 221 yards and a touchdown with 2 interceptions.
Running back Nick Chubb has 91 carries for 745 yards and 7 touchdowns, plus 4 catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. Sony Michel has 41 catches for 276 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 9 catches for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns. Keith Marshall has 23 carries for 131 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Receiver Malcolm Mitchell has 23 catches for 371 yards and 3 touchdowns. Terry Godwin has 10 catches for 106 yards. No other receiver has more than 8 catches. Receivers Shakenneth Williams, Jayson Stanley, and Isaiah McKenzie are all questionable or doubtful Saturday.
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Tennessee is outscoring teams 37-25 this season. The Volunteers are #31 in scoring nationally. Tennessee averages 418 total yards per game, including 193 passing and 225 rushing. The Volunteers are #19 in rushing and #95 in passing out of 128 teams. On defense, Tennessee is allowing 417 total yards per game including 242 passing and 174 rushing yards. The Volunteers are #79 or worse in all three categories. Tennessee has forced 7 turnovers and has 3 of their own. The Vols average 40 penalty yards per game and opponents average 56. Tennessee is 37/85 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 33/92. The Volunteers have forced 8 sacks and allowed 10 this season. Tennessee is 23/26 scoring in the red zone with 16 touchdowns and opponents are 16/21 with 11 touchdowns. The Volunteers have 2 kick returns and a punt return all for touchdowns.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has thrown for 789 yards with 5 touchdowns and an interception, along with 55 carries for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. Back-up Quinten Dormady has thrown for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Jalen Hurd has 105 carries for 492 yards and 7 touchdowns, along with 6 catches for 70 yards and a touchdowns. Alvin Kamara has 38 carries for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 10 catches for 77 yards. John Kelly will also get a few carries. Running back Ralph Abernathy IV is questionable with an ankle injury.
Receiver Ethan Wolf has 12 catches for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns. Preston Williams has 5 catches for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. Josh Malone has 12 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Josh Smith has 9 catches for 104 yards. Juaun Jennings has 9 catches for 87 yards, and also has a touchdown pass. Seven defensive players, three offensive linemen, and three wide receivers are on the injury report.
Georgia is 4-0 ATS after a straight up loss, 4-1 after an ATS loss and in road games, 5-2 after a straight up loss of 20 points or more, 2-5 in October, 4-10 after scoring less than 20 points and 1-7 after a double digit home loss. The over is 5-1 overall in this series recently and 5-2-1 in Knoxville between the teams.
Tennessee is 5-2 ATS after failing to cover, 2-5 after allowing more than 200 rushing yards, 4-11 against teams with winning records, 7-20-1 against teams with winning road records, and 0-4 in SEC games. The underdog is 6-2 ATS in this series recently. The Volunteers are 7-2 ATS in this series recently.
Georgia might have a hangover after getting just pummeled last week, but Tennessee is desperate for a win as well. Georgia has more talent and they should win this game with relative ease.
