This time one year ago, Georgia was chasing history, aiming to become the first FBS football team to win three consecutive national championships since Minnesota in the mid-1930s.
Now, the Bulldogs are fighting for their College Football Playoff life.
Coming off a gutting 28-10 loss last Saturday at Ole Miss, coach Kirby Smart and his No. 10 Georgia team will aim to rebound in what should be one of their most challenging games of the season: a home matchup Saturday against No. 4 Tennessee at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
REQUIRED READING:BYU, LSU upset victims? Our experts give bold predictions for college football Week 12
While the Vols and quarterback Nico Iamaleava are in a relatively strong position to make the newly expanded 12-team playoff with an 8-1 record, the Bulldogs are looking to avoid their third loss of the season, a setback that would put their postseason hopes in serious peril.
To earn a much-needed victory, they’ll have to slow down one of the most explosive offenses in college football, one that averages 37.6 points per game. Tennessee figures to have Iamaleava, who spent much of the week in concussion protocol, but was removed from the SEC’s weekly availability report, signaling that he’s able to play. Georgia, meanwhile, is dealing with injuries of its own, with running back Trevor Etienne listed as out on the availability report as he nurses a rib injury.
The Vols will look to snap what has been an underwhelming recent history against the Bulldogs. Georgia has won seven consecutive games in the series, including a 38-10 beatdown last season at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Following along here for the live score, updates, highlights and more as Tennessee football travels down to Georgia to take on the Bulldogs:
REQUIRED READING:College football conference tiebreakers will decide races. Where things stand ahead of Week 12
This section will be updated when the game begins.
The Bulldogs manage to get a first down this time around, but they’re forced to punt yet again after Dominic Lovett drops a screen from Carson Beck on third-and-10. Georgia has just 16 yards on its first two drives.
A 43-yard punt gives Tennessee the ball at its own 18-yard line.
Tennessee wasted little time showing off the potency of its offense, going 78 yards in 12 plays on its first drive of the night. The Vols cap it off in style, too, with tight end Miles Kitselman lining up as a fullback on third-and-goal from the Georgia 1-yard line, getting the carry and diving over the lines for a touchdown.
Kitselman was Tennessee’s leading receiver that possession, too, with two catches for 21 yards. It’s the first career rushing touchdown for the Alabama transfer.
Georgia received the opening kickoff, but isn’t able to mount any kind of sustained drive, going three and out. Carson Beck threw deep balls on first and third down, but was unable to connect on either. The first one was particularly painful, as he appeared to link up with Arian Smith at the Tennessee 31-yard line for a first down, but Smith wasn’t able to hang on.
Bulldogs punt and the Vols take over at their 22.
While his absence on the SEC availability report signaled that he was almost certainly playing against Georgia, Nico Iamaleava has removed any remaining doubt, with the Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback warming up for the Vols.
The final SEC availability report before kickoff features no changes for Tennessee, but several for Georgia. The Bulldogs will be without linebacker Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, who was previously listed as questionable, as well as running backs Trevor Etienne, Roderick Robinson II and Brandon Robinson.
However, wide receiver Anthony Evans III, running back Cash Jones and offensive lineman Micah Morris, all of whom were previously deemed questionable, are no longer on the injury report and ostensibly available for Georgia.
While playing away from Neyland Stadium, Tennessee will go with its traditional road uniform — white helmets, white jerseys and white pants.
With “College GameDay” broadcasting from Athens, Georgia on Saturday, the show’s panel made predictions for the game that brought everyone there.
Each of the show’s analysts — excluding Kirk Herbstreit, who is calling the game for ABC and thus abstained from making a prediction — went with the Bulldogs.
The game between the Vols and Bulldogs will air on ABC. Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be on the call while Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge serve as sideline reporters.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee 23, Georgia 21
“There are no certainties in this game. Will Nico Iamaleava play well after being cleared from concussion protocol? Will Carson Beck stop turning the ball over? Can Georgia be the first team to score 20 on Tennessee’s defense? Can the Vols overcome their road woes and an unfriendly raucous crowd? It’s been a crazy college football season. Let’s add this game to the list of eye-opening outcomes.”
Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel: Georgia 24, Tennessee 20
“Tennessee’s offense is looking better lately, but the Vols haven’t played a road game since Arkansas in early October. Georgia was a house of horrors in 2022 for Tennessee and its CFP hopes. It will be that again.”
John Adams, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee 23, Georgia 20
“If Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out because of injury, don’t hold me to this prediction. Iamaleava didn’t play in the second half of UT’s 33-14 victory over Mississippi State because of an “upper-body” injury. However, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said after the game and again Monday that he expected Iamaleava to be in “great shape for Saturday.” As anyone who follows college football knows, if a coach tells you something about injuries, you can bank on it. Or bet on it.“
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia 24, Tennessee 21
“Georgia needs this game in a big way and that should produce a fiery squad who should play more loose than tight at home. Tennessee’s defense is one of the best in the nation, but this is not one of Heupel’s top offenses. Tennessee is 1-1 in true road games including a loss at Arkansas. Bulldogs ride home crowd to win.”
REQUIRED READING:In bizarro world, Tennessee plays better defense, and Georgia’s Kirby Smart comes unglued
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Nov. 16
According to the SEC’s official availability report.
Tennessee
Georgia
According to the forecast from The Weather Channel, there will be a few passing clouds Saturday night in Athens, Georgia, with a low of 41 degrees and light winds.
REQUIRED READING:The best college football games of Week 12 starts with Georgia-Tennessee showdown
* Denotes SEC game
* Denotes SEC game
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
