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Tennessee football at Georgia: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 3, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; A general view of the stadium prior to the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Athens, Georgia, USA; A general view of the stadium prior to the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) looks to pass during the first quarter of a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) looks to pass during the first quarter of a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg /

1. Consistent accuracy from the quarterbacks

All that talk about grounding and pounding in this game seems nullified with us naming quarterbacks as the biggest factor. On paper, Tennessee football quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett are very efficient.

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Guarantano has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 449 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers with an average of nearly eight and a half yards an attempt. Bennett has completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 451 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers with an average of just under eight yards an attempt.

However, accuracy concerns seem to stand out at times for both. Guarantano missed numerous short passes at the South Carolina Gamecocks, which is why the Vols were one-of-12 on third downs and USC was in the game. The next week, though, he had almost no issues.

Stats bare out these issues. According to SEC Stat Cat, the accuracy percentage of these quarterbacks, which doesn’t count dropped passes against quarterbacks and doesn’t favor them if a receiver made a great catch to bail them out, are in the bottom half of the league. Guarantano is 11th in the league among starters at 59.26 percent while Bennet is 12th at 57.89 percent.

Next. Five takeaways from Vols' 35-12 win vs. Missouri. dark

Taking that into account, both need to do better. However, their decision-making is superb, and it outweighs the accuracy coming and going. If Guarantano looks like he did last week, Tennessee football is in great shape. A repeat of the opener by him, though, will result in the Vols getting blown out.

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