Breaking news’:Volunteers confirm deal from BYU decommit and commitment to Tennessee vols football over Kansas State, Clemson and Alabama all…
The Volunteers’ offensive struggles are compounded by their porous offensive line. True freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been sacked 16 times this season, with seven of those coming on the road. Tennessee’s propensity for penalties (ranking 120th overall and third-worst in the SEC) further hampers their offensive production. Iamaleava’s passing inconsistency — he has surpassed 200 yards in only three of nine games — suggests he may face significant challenges a stout Georgia defense that ranks 21st against the run, which could force Iamaleava into more passing situations.
Georgia’s offense, despite its reputation, is not without its own weaknesses. The Bulldogs’ ground game has been notably ineffective, averaging a mere 119 rushing yards per game (104th in FBS), making their offense more predictable. Quarterback Carson Beck’s turnover issues are concerning, as he has 12 interceptions, nine of which have come in the last four games. Turnovers could further prevent Georgia from putting up points against a Tennessee defense that has given up just 13 total touchdowns this season, tied for the fourth fewest.
Beck has struggled with decision-making, often forcing passes into tight coverage, and has acknowledged as much.
“There’s times where it’s OK to throw it away if it’s not there,” Beck said. “That’s something I think I did a lot better last year.”
Just as in chess, where cautious play leads to drawn-out and low-scoring matches, this game feels poised for a similar outcome that is more about defense and attrition than explosive scoring, making the under 24.5 a logical and calculated choice.
Betting trends
Courtesy of ESPN Research
Georgia has covered five straight meetings against Tennessee, but is just 1-7 ATS as a favorite on the year.
Tennessee has the second-worst ATS record as a road underdog since the start
of last season.
