Georgia football schedule: Early game-by-game predictions for 2023 season

Georgia Bulldogs vs Tennessee Volunteers

Series record: Georgia leads, 27-23-2
Last meeting: 27-13 Georgia, 2022

Well, here we go. This is going to be one of the most compelling games of the year if both teams live up to expectations for the first 10 games of the season.

Tennessee strolled into Sanford Stadium in 2022 looking 7 feet tall and bulletproof, and everyone was convinced that a changing of the guard was about to happen in the SEC East.

Not so fast, my friends. (Love you, Coach Corso!)

The Vols quickly discovered exactly what “elite” was, and former Tennessee quarterback and resident crow eater Erik Ainge was proven wrong about the crowd at Sanford Stadium. Georgia rolled to a 27-13 win and burst the bubble in Knoxville.

Will it be that easy again? Well, yes and no.

The game is in Knoxville, and just like traveling to Athens for a game, Neyland Stadium is not the easiest venue in which to play. The crowd, who is always pumped up and loud, will probably have some extra motivation to help the Vols make amends and possibly return the favor of the seven false start penalties the crowd at Sanford helped create in 2022.

On the flip side, star quarterback Hendon Hooker is gone, and that means Joe Milton will likely be taking over under center. Milton has been inconsistent, with flashes of great play, but doesn’t have the football IQ that Hooker did.

It’s going to be a tough game, it almost always is in Knoxville. Georgia will need to be healthy and work to silence the crowd early in the game.

Chance of Upset: 40%