It comes down to the early season matchup with Georgia

#1
ConantheVolbarian

ConantheVolbarian

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#1
Heupel has gotten us over a lot of humps. We've won 2 out of the last 3 against Florida and Alabama, been ranked #1 for the first time in two decades, and even made the playoff. But there's one traditional SEC East foe that Heupel hasn't taken down yet.

Let's face it, Heupel coached teams have performed poorly against Georgia for the most part. This year we get them at home early in the season with both teams having question marks heading into the season. The point I'm trying to make is we have an opportunity to get a win against Georgia finally or at least put a scare in them.

In my opinion, if we can't at least be within 7 late we have some soul searching to do. Not saying it's lose and the whole season is a bust. But it's year 5. We should be competitive with Georgia by now. If we can't match up well with them this year we never will
 
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#2
#2
A win vs UGA changes the perception of this team’s ceiling for the season from a national perspective. A loss is expected, but a victory puts us in the playoff discussion immediately. What benefits us is that it is a home game early in the season after we will have faced a decent Syracuse squad and a tune-up against ETSU, whereas Georgia will have only faced Marshall & Austin Peay—neither providing stout competition. Both teams are breaking-in new starting QBs, but the ‘Dawgs have the advantage in that Stockton has played in some really big games already. I think these factors still benefit us overall, and hopefully we can finally beat UGA and propel us to a playoff-contending season.
 
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#4
#4
ConantheVolbarian said:
Heupel has gotten us over a lot of humps. We've won 2 out of the last 3 against Florida and Alabama, been ranked #1 for the first time in two decades, and even made the playoff. But there's one traditional SEC East foe that Heupel hasn't taken down yet.

Let's face it, Heupel coached teams have performed poorly against Georgia for the most part. This year we get them at home early in the season with both teams having question marks heading into the season. The point I'm trying to make is we have an opportunity to get a win against Georgia finally or at least put a scare in them.

In my opinion, if we can't at least be within 7 late we have some soul searching to do. Not saying it's lose and the whole season is a bust. But it's year 5. We should be competitive with Georgia by now. If we can't match up well with them this year we never will
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Last year’s game was closer than the score indicated. I still think about Boo’s punt return where he had space down the right side and got tackled by the punter.

We settled for a FG. 14-0 is different than, 10-0. Then we didn’t score after half. We have to find a way to either keep drives alive by converting on 3rd down or hitting 🧨

UGA has really good athletes and they’re well coached defensively. I think it’ll be a close game in the 4th and if we can execute offensively, we’ve got a shot
 
#5
#5
Number of Tennessee players drafted since Heupel became coach (2022 Draft) - 17
Number of Georgia players drafted since 2022 - 46
Number of Alabama players drafted since 2022 - 34
Number of Tennessee players drafted in 2025 - 4
Number of Georgia players drafted in 2025 - 13
Number of Alabama players drafted in 2025 - 7
 
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#6
#6
They have out recruited us for a decade plus. The talent gap is getting more narrow, but there's still a gap. They have more depth of 4* and 5* players. I think with what we have coming up at QB, we should be right there with them within 2 years and should be taking them down regularly after that. If JA can be Hooker this year, we beat them. Heupel needs to use the whole playbook and get back to warp speed. It isn't a new offense that nobody understands anymore. He has to freshen it up and get back to scoring 40 per game. We have the defense now to stop them. Had the 22 team had last year's defense...wow.
 
#9
#9
We’re not beating Georgia until we have equal talent, and that’s not happening as long as Kirby is there… unless Faizon comes in here and wows and we start stacking blue chip players. That’s the only way imo. We don’t have the mental edge to steal one either unfortunately.
 
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#11
#11
ConantheVolbarian said:
Heupel has gotten us over a lot of humps. We've won 2 out of the last 3 against Florida and Alabama, been ranked #1 for the first time in two decades, and even made the playoff. But there's one traditional SEC East foe that Heupel hasn't taken down yet.

Let's face it, Heupel coached teams have performed poorly against Georgia for the most part. This year we get them at home early in the season with both teams having question marks heading into the season. The point I'm trying to make is we have an opportunity to get a win against Georgia finally or at least put a scare in them.

In my opinion, if we can't at least be within 7 late we have some soul searching to do. Not saying it's lose and the whole season is a bust. But it's year 5. We should be competitive with Georgia by now. If we can't match up well with them this year we never will
Click to expand...

The thing about Ga is they are a horrible matchup for Heupel teams. They have had great DB's they can leave on Islands and not fear our WR's.
 
#15
#15
MDsweetT said:
Last year’s game was closer than the score indicated. I still think about Boo’s punt return where he had space down the right side and got tackled by the punter.

We settled for a FG. 14-0 is different than, 10-0. Then we didn’t score after half. We have to find a way to either keep drives alive by converting on 3rd down or hitting 🧨

UGA has really good athletes and they’re well coached defensively. I think it’ll be a close game in the 4th and if we can execute offensively, we’ve got a shot
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Don't get me wrong. Last year was competitive on the scoreboard for most of the game, but it felt like Georgia slept walk and still won comfortably when it was said and done. If Georgia beats us again in Neyland in September I want it to be a dog fight where we go down swinging. None of this BS where their QB sits back with all the time in the world while our D doesn't get any pressure. I want them to earn everything and be sore and exhausted after the game
 
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#17
#17
Proud Army Wife said:
We’re not beating Georgia until we have equal talent, and that’s not happening as long as Kirby is there… unless Faizon comes in here and wows and we start stacking blue chip players. That’s the only way imo. We don’t have the mental edge to steal one either unfortunately.
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Georgia has always had more talent than us. Even when we beat them more often than not.
 
#19
#19
Proud Army Wife said:
We’re not beating Georgia until we have equal talent, and that’s not happening as long as Kirby is there… unless Faizon comes in here and wows and we start stacking blue chip players. That’s the only way imo. We don’t have the mental edge to steal one either unfortunately.
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Georgia lost a few last year despite having better talent top to bottom than teams like Ole Miss and Notre Dame. They are a particularly bad matchup for Heupel though. 4 games against them, and he is yet to break 20.
 
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#21
#21
That’s a premier challenge at the bigger ing of the season. I don’t think it comes down to that at all.

We could lose to uga and bama and still make the playoffs.

The most pivotal games are Oklahoma at home and even more so Florida on the road late in season.
 
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#24
#24
Proud Army Wife said:
We’re not beating Georgia until we have equal talent, and that’s not happening as long as Kirby is there… unless Faizon comes in here and wows and we start stacking blue chip players. That’s the only way imo. We don’t have the mental edge to steal one either unfortunately.
Click to expand...
But Ole Miss beat them last year with considerably less talent
 
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#25
#25
tennesseeduke said:
Better chance to beat GA at home than Bama on the road or Florida!
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Think we can beat bama down t town… think our defense can get Georgia new qb rattled early , keep the crowd in the game , and take them to The 4th quarter , u never know . We got a good chance I think we the game …. We got to over come the swamp jinx .vs Florida
 
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