Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Four of 2019
No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs
Line: Georgia -14.5; Over/Under: 58; TV: CBS
Saturday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. E.T.; Sanford Stadium; Athens, Ga.
Similar to Tennessee football, the Georgia Bulldogs enter this week against a top 10 team and then have a bye week after that. Then they and the Vols face each other the week after that, so it’s a pretty interesting time for both programs. But UGA has its first major test of the year in Athens set for Saturday night.
After easily blowing out their first three opponents, Kirby Smart’s program clearly looks like the most talented team in the nation. Back to back No. 1 recruiting classes, including the greatest recruiting class in history, will do that for you, and the offense hasn’t missed a bit after the departure of Jim Chaney.
But the Notre Dame Fighting Irish should be upset. How are they 14.5-point underdogs, when they are also a top 10 team and they made the College Football Playoff last year while Georgia did not? Brian Kelly could sell a bit of motivation to his guys with a spread like that, but will it be enough for the win?
Prediction
Normally, it’s ill-advised to bet the cover on a double-digit spread in a game between two top 10 teams. This is not one of those times. Georgia is simply loaded with talent, and Notre Dame, while actually a solid team, is not the same team it was last year. UGA is better, they’re at home, and since this is ahead of a bye, they are taking this game seriously.
Notre Dame has no chance. The difference will be the Dawgs defense, which shuts down the Irish all night. Meanwhile, their offense will move the ball very well on them to the point that they actually coast to a pretty easy victory. But since the defense is the difference, take the under.