Tennessee football: Game-by-game predictions for Vols 2019 season
Game Five
Georgia Bulldogs at Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, Oct. 5; Sanford Stadium; Athens, Ga.
After the Florida Gators, Tennessee football has its bye week. It comes at the perfect time for them to prepare for their gauntlet that hits October, and it starts with arguably the most talented team they will face all year, the Georgia Bulldogs.
UGA will be coming off a bye week as well, and what happens in this game could depend on what both teams did before their bye. After all, Georgia has a major test against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the Vols obviously have their game against the Florida Gators.
The combination of the two before the bye really puts these teams on even playing field in the abstract in terms of momentum, not talent. But what will happen in those games is a different story. Last year, the Vols actually played Georgia tough in the second half on the road.
This year, Jim Chaney has left Kirby Smart to return to UT as offensive coordinator. Could that make a difference for the Vols in this game? What about having it at home? The last time the two teams met at Neyland, it was the beginning of the downward slide for Butch Jones as the Vols lost 41-0. How will it unfold this time.
Prediction
Jeremy Pruitt will have the Vols very focused coming off a bye week, and he’s got a much better program this year. Georgia, meanwhile, will be a bit distracted. Combine that with Chaney being on Rocky Top, and the Vols will give the Dawgs a game. However, Georgia is just too talented, so they’ll pull away in the fourth quarter.
Georgia: 34 Tennessee: 23