Georgia football: Dawgs go undefeated in the state of Tennessee

Georgia football has been undefeated in the state of Tennessee for the past two seasons, and the Dawgs look to make it three in a row. Here is Dawn of the Dawg’s staff members’ predictions for the showdown in Knoxville.

Georgia football had a week off to get ready for the showdown in Knoxville, and the Dawgs are hungry to get back on the field.

After the first four games, here are how these two teams stack up stat-wise. The Dawgs are averaging 42.75 points a game and holding opponents to 10. Tennessee, on the other hand, averages 26 points on the offense and gives up 25.25 on defense.

Georgia averages 253 on the ground while the Vols average 154.5 yards. Through the air, the Dawgs average 255.75, and Tennessee averages 200.75. Overall the Vols average 355.3 total offensive yards a game. Georgia averages 508.8.

Both offenses have plenty of playmakers who can get the ball rolling. These two are likely to score some points, well at least Georgia should. In the last two years, the Dawgs have won 38-12 and 41-0 and haven’t given the Vols much of a chance.

Defensively, Georgia’s allowing opponents 57 yards on the ground and 205.50 through the air. Teams haven’t been able to run the ball on the Dawgs, and neither will Tennessee. The Vols will have to challenge Eric Stokes and company, and well, we know how good they are.

Tennessee’s defense gives up 149.8 on the ground and 190 yards through the air on average. So Georgia’s going to have to open up its run game and throw the long ball. However, the Vols are hungry and itching for an upset.

Currently, the spread between these two is 25 points going in Georgia’s way. With all of that to consider, here are this week’s staff predictions from the contributors here at Dawn of the Dawg.

Savannah Leigh

Georgia and Tennessee have always seemed to be one of the Dawgs bigger rivalries, well at least in the past. The Dawgs have taken two in a row, and are looking for numero tres.

With the talent that Georgia has and a week off, the Dawgs have the chance to put up numbers as it did in 2017 when they beat Tennessee 41-0.

I expect D’Andre Swift to go for over 100 yards and two scores, and we finally see Fromm let it rip through the air. Georgia’s defense finds the backfield again for a couple of sacks and Rodrigo Blankenship well, he stays perfect.

Score Prediction: Georgia 42 Tennessee 10

Eric Taylor

Georgia goes to Knoxville Saturday to take on the Volunteers. There they will face Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney, both former coaches for the Bulldogs. There has been some talk about how Pruitt and Chaney (especially Chaney) knows how the Dawgs operate.

However, knowing what we do and having the personnel to stop it is not the same thing. Tennessee does not have near the talent that Georgia does, on either side of the ball. Even if they did, I believe that Kirby will coach circles around Chaney.

I do not expect a close game at all.

Score Prediction: Georgia 42 Tennessee 3

Joey Shiver

While there may be some familiarity with Jim Chaney and our offense, I believe that fact has been a little overblown this week. All teams have film on their opponent’s playcalling and players.

While Chaney was in the room designing some plays for the Georgia offense, we have seen a change in the way Georgia has attacked at times this year. I believe our defense gets a better advantage from knowing Chaney than the opposite being the case.

I think Fromm opens up a little bit this week, even if it’s only to satisfy some of the naysayers after the Notre Dame game. Swift and Co. will get theirs, but I expect to see more of an aerial assault than what we’ve seen so far. Don’t forget that Eli Wolf is a former Vol, either.

If Guarantano gets the start in Tennessee, expect Nolan Smith and Jermaine Johnson to force him into some mistakes. And from a UT perspective, the margin for error will be microscopic.

Tennessee may come out of the tunnel with a lot of emotion, and the fans will no doubt try to make a statement. But all of that will fade somewhere during the first quarter. Georgia is just too much for Tennessee right now. It might not be 41-0, but it will be ugly.

Score Prediction: Georgia 42 – Tennessee 10

Jeffrey Stevens

This game is a huge opportunity for the Georgia Bulldogs to work on stretching the field with the passing game against a solid defense. Look for Fromm to take more shots than average down the field.

Because of that, I also think he’ll be hitting running backs coming out of the backfield, keeping the Tennessee linebackers honest against the check-down pass.

I like Georgia winning and winning big here. They were snubbed last week being on a bye, and a huge win in the SEC will go a long way. Big wins against teams like Tennessee will play a huge role in keeping the Dawgs ahead of Ohio State, Oklahoma, and LSU in the polls.

Score Prediction: Georgia 42- Tennessee 7

Ashley Espie

Georgia enters this game coming off a win over Notre Dame and a bye week. After the crucial mistakes and lackluster playcalling that almost cost them a victory two weeks ago,  I think the off week will have helped the Dawgs strengthen some problematic areas and tighten up the offense.

With a rivalry game on the road, the Dawgs should come out swinging. I expect Jake Fromm to throw early and throw a lot as he picks apart Tennessee’s backfield.

The running backs will also have a great day, and Swift and Herrien should both come close to 100 yards, with the possibility of both surpassing that. The talent differential between Georgia and Tennessee is simply too wide at the moment, and Georgia wins decisively.

Score Prediction: Georgia 48 – Tennessee 6

Brenden Armour

The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off of a huge win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and are poised to make a playoff run later this year. Tennessee, however, is 1-3 with a couple of terrible losses on their resume.

This game will not be close or ever in doubt with the Bulldogs in control from start to finish.

The Georgia offense struggled against Notre Dame, but quarterback Jake Fromm showed how much of a factor he can be as he was making big-time throws against Notre Dame and was the biggest factor behind the win at home vs. the Irish.

I think that offensive coordinator James Coley will want to know just how good the passing game can be and will choose to air it out big time this week against Tennessee.

The Volunteer offense has been just plain bad, and a Bulldog defense that has been stifling all season will have no problems bottling up what little the Tennessee offense can throw at them.

Linebacker Tae Crowder and safety JR Reed will lead the way for a defense that could very well shut out Tennessee in their home stadium.

When this game is over, Fromm will have passed for at least 250 yards and three touchdowns, while the running backs will combine for around 200 yards rushing and two to three touchdowns.

The Bulldog offense will have no trouble getting into the endzone as Tennessee’s defense is outmatched everywhere.

Georgia’s defense will hold strong much of the game, and the starting defense will not yield any points. However, the Volunteer offense may get some garbage time points against the Dawgs’ third-string defense in the fourth quarter.

Score Prediction: Georgia Bulldogs 45 – Tennessee Volunteers 6

Richard Gnann

For Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt to be successful, he must compete with Georgia annually, winning his share of games against the Dawgs. Unfortunately for the Vols, that priority will have to go on the back burner for 2019, and perhaps 2020.

There is some good news for Tennessee: Sports Illustrated still projects Tennessee as a bowl team and beer sales in Neyland Stadium. The bad news is, no one besides the folks at Sports Illustrated has figured out how Tennessee wins more than four more games, and Georgia people will be drinking the beer this week.

Score Prediction: Georgia 36 Tennessee 10

Davis Kimball

After a much-needed bye week, Georgia gets the running game going early and pounds Tennessee until the Vols just can’t take it anymore. The starters will probably play a half to three quarters at the most because the Dawgs will have this game well under control by halftime.

This control will allow for some younger players to get valuable SEC experience.

Score Prediction: Georgia 40, Tennessee 13

Alistar Penny

Georgia fans expecting a blowout will likely be slightly disappointed this week, but hopefully not by much.

While the Vols have been truly terrible this season, this is the biggest game of the year for them, and they’ve managed to make it a night game that should help ensure that Neyland Stadium has at least a somewhat decent atmosphere.

I expect a game similar to South Carolina last season. The Dawgs go in at the break leading by a single score and pull away in the 2nd half.

With so much on the line for Jeremy Pruitt and his team, I expect them to play well out of the gate and keep things relatively close.

The tables should turn in the 3rd quarter when UGAs superior talent and depth start to wear down the Vols and leaves them struggling when Jake Fromm goes to the tempo offense.

In the end, I think the Vols cover (just), but Georgia gets another comfortable win and can sit Fromm and other staters for much of the 4th quarter.

Score Prediction: Georgia 38 – Tenessee 17

Brandon Howie

Georgia travels to Knoxville to take on Tennessee, who is very much wounded at this early point in the season. The Volunteers come into the game with a 1-3 record, and Kirby Smart and the Dawgs are looking to be the nail in the coffin on their season and ignite the fire underneath Jeremy Pruitt’s seat.

I fully expect Georgia to impose their will in this game against a Tennessee defense coming in that gives up 25 points and almost 400 yards per game.

All Bulldog fans are familiar with the Tennessee offensive coordinator, Jim Chaney, and his monotonous offensive scheme and play calling.

I see newly promoted offensive coordinator James Coley, for the Dawgs having a chip on his shoulder for this game and showing no mercy on the Volunteers.

Expect the reigns to get loosened on Jake Fromm, as he airs it out for 300 yards and four touchdowns in this game.

The running game will seal the deal on a comfortable win in the second half while the Georgia defense wreaks some havoc against one of the worst SEC offenses and forces Tennessee to commit a pair of turnovers.

Score Prediction: Georgia 41- Tennessee 6