Undefeated no. 2 Georgia football takes on the Tennessee Volunteers in Athens this Saturday at 3:30 on CBS.
Today, the Georgia versus Tennessee rivalry is one of the most anticipated games of the year for both schools. Because of history and location, the two are perfect rivals. That has shown on the field numerous times in the past. Very often, a game between the Dawgs and the Vols is an instant classic.
Statistically, the two schools are neck and neck throughout college football history. Both have 13 SEC Championships and they combine for 11 SEC Eastern Division Championships. Tennessee’s .677 winning percentage is 12th nationally. Georgia is 13th with a .652 percentage. The 54 bowl visits by the Dawgs is second in the nation. Tennessee is sixth with 52 bowl games. That closeness is reflected in the all-time record as well. Tennessee leads the series 23-22-2.
And despite being four hours apart, two US highways run through both towns. Whether you choose Hwy. 129 or Hwy. 441, if you go north out of Athens, you’ll wind up in Knoxville Tennessee in about four hours. If you don’t get stuck behind drivers not used to the mountain roads you’ll drive across in the Great Smoky Mountains.
It’s in those mountains where Georgia fans and Tennessee fans are bound to meet away from football. The popular tourist cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, are located less than an hour away from Knoxville. All three cities are visited frequently by members of the Bulldog Nation throughout the year.
Everything about the SEC East rivalry is special. The contrasting colors; red and black versus orange and white. Having dogs as live and costumed mascots. The field itself has added to the specialness of the rivalry. Plays and moments like Georgia’s “Hobnail Boot” and Tennessee’s “Dobnail Boot”. Tennessee had the upset in 2004 and the comeback-to-blowout in 2006. Georgia had the streak ending game in 2000 and Herschel’s coming out party in 1980.
Neither fan base considers the other to be their school’s biggest rival. Georgia fans debate between Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech. Tennessee fans will go between Florida and Alabama. But that shouldn’t take away from the rivalry that Georgia and Tennessee have created. It’s about as close as the Auburn rivalry, more civil than the Florida rivalry. And Tennessee fans are much more bearable than Georgia Tech fans.