Tennessee football: SEC and top 25 picks and gambling bets for Week 1 of 2021

Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida won 47 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida won 47 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; A general view of Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; A general view of Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 3 Clemson Tigers (ABC)

Saturday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. ET; Bank of America Stadium;  Charlotte, N.C.

Line: Clemson -3; Over/Under: 50.5

Moneyline: Clemson -150; Georgia +130

We’ve now reached the game of the week for everybody. Two top five programs facing each other with national title implications makes for an epic start to the season. The Georgia Bulldogs have all the talent, but they are trying to reach the success that the Clemson Tigers have had under Dabo Swinney over the past two years.

UGA enters this year with arguably Kirby Smart’s most talented team. That historic greatest recruiting class in history from 2018 now involves all seniors, and they have added J.T. Daniels to play quarterback, which leads to the high expectations this year.

Meanwhile, Clemson is entering the post-Trevor Lawrence era with D.J. Uiagalelei at quarterback, and he may be able to surpass Lawrence when it’s alls said and done. The quarterback battle is the storyline here, and it’ll define the game.

Prediction

While everybody talks about the quarterback race, Georgia’s defense will be the difference. Smart will contain Swinney’s offense. Take UGA in the upset, and by containing that offense, take this game to hit the under as well. This will be a thriller that the Dawgs pull out in the end, propelling them into the national title conversation.

Georgia: 20 Clemson: 17 (Georgia +3; Under 50.5)

Make your pick for this game now on WynnBET