Biggest games of 2023 -- (3) Tennessee at Georgia

[VOL Outlaw]

Georgia’s schedule is light on challenges, to say the least. The defending national champions do have at least one tough matchup on their hands, though, as they travel to Tennessee for a game that may very well decide the winner of the SEC East. The Volunteers might have to go undefeated in conference play to have a shot at uprooting the Bulldogs, and if they hold more than one tally in the loss column come November 18th, the division will likely already be wrapped up. Regardless, the Vols’ chances of taking down a mostly untested Georgia team should be legitimate.

College football's biggest games of 2023: Predicting must-see matchups

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I would feel much better about this game if last year’s game had been competitive. They thoroughly dominated us along the line of scrimmage. We’re recruiting well but not sure that we’ve made significant improvements on that front. But that’s why the games are played so I hope I’m surprised.

 

[madbamahater]

How long its been to just be in the conversation. We all knew Tennessee was/is still a top football destination and just had to clean house from the top down. Not 3 full years ago, Tennessee came off their worst season in the entire history of football dating back to the 1800s and now are in arguably the biggest match up of the upcoming season......

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

It'll depend on how we do in all of the games before that whether or not it's a big game. Same for Georgia. I can understand projecting "big games" in week 1 or 2 at this point but beyond that it's kind of a farce. Everybody thought Bama-A&M would be a big game last year at this time and it turned out to be a pretty ho-hum match up as far as implications, though it was a good game score wise.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I would feel much better about this game if last year’s game had been competitive. They thoroughly dominated us along the line of scrimmage. We’re recruiting well but not sure that we’ve made significant improvements on that front. But that’s why the games are played so I hope I’m surprised.

Here is one reassurance: two years ago, the game vs Bama was not competitive. One year later, we beat them in a classic showdown.

Our football team is growing up fast under Josh Heupel & Co. Rapid change. Past does not predict future under these conditions.

Go Vols!

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Here is one reassurance: two years ago, the game vs Bama was not competitive. One year later, we beat them in a classic showdown.

Our football team is growing up fast under Josh Heupel & Co. Rapid change. Past does not predict future under these conditions.

Go Vols!

In 2021, the Bama game was a one possession game in the 4th quarter if I recall correctly, they just blew us out in the 4th. We hung with them though. Heupel has to figure out Kirby's defense. That is the only team that two years in a row has pretty much shut us down most of the game.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Here is one reassurance: two years ago, the game vs Bama was not competitive. One year later, we beat them in a classic showdown.

Our football team is growing up fast under Josh Heupel & Co. Rapid change. Past does not predict future under these conditions.

Go Vols!

That Bama game was more competitive than the final score would suggest. We were in that game until the 4 quarter when the wheels came off with a pick 6 if I recall correctly. But you're right about it being a new year. Each year's team does have it's own identity and I hope this year's team is much improved on defense and maybe that's the ticket to hanging in there with Georgia for 4 quarters. That and maybe some elusive running ability from either Milton or our running backs to open up some plays downfield.

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

So glad this game is at Neyland this season!!

 

[wmcovol]

Nobody was beating Georgia that day. It’s was one of, if not the most fired up Georgia team & fan base I’ve ever seen in Athens. I’m not drawing huge conclusions for this year based on that day. I suspect Ga will be ready but the crowd will be against them this time.

 

[A.J.]

It would be extra sweet for them to come in undefeated and end their win streak. Beat Bama and Georgia back to back years at Neyland would be awesome!

 

[Frozevol]

That list was tilted toward having the leading conferences represented and not necessarily on the big picture. Our game with Bama and Bama/Texas also loom large. They had to list our Georgia game because it is the only competitive game they play all season.

 

[sjt18]

I would feel much better about this game if last year’s game had been competitive. They thoroughly dominated us along the line of scrimmage. We’re recruiting well but not sure that we’ve made significant improvements on that front. But that’s why the games are played so I hope I’m surprised.

There's truth in that but also some holes. They lost some guys to include the one guy who gave UT's OL the most trouble. We don't know how UGA will fill those holes. They have talent but you never know for sure when a team has to replace guys. Goes for UT as well though as you point out... UT's recruiting has gotten better. They're also now at full maturity in their development programs.

You also have to tip your hat to Bennett in that game. Smart's plan required a game manager at QB. That was UGA's 2nd lowest O output of the year... and we all know it wasn't because UT's D was great. The plan was completely "old school" in the sense that they wanted to make the game about UGA's D. No mistakes on O. Let the D win it for you.

That works better at home than on the road. It may not always work and particularly if the talent gap closes some.

I actually think UT's chances against UGA are better than most people do.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

There's truth in that but also some holes. They lost some guys to include the one guy who gave UT's OL the most trouble. We don't know how UGA will fill those holes. They have talent but you never know for sure when a team has to replace guys. Goes for UT as well though as you point out... UT's recruiting has gotten better. They're also now at full maturity in their development programs.

You also have to tip your hat to Bennett in that game. Smart's plan required a game manager at QB. That was UGA's 2nd lowest O output of the year... and we all know it wasn't because UT's D was great. The plan was completely "old school" in the sense that they wanted to make the game about UGA's D. No mistakes on O. Let the D win it for you.

That works better at home than on the road. It may not always work and particularly if the talent gap closes some.

I actually think UT's chances against UGA are better than most people do.

I remember thinking last year before the game that UGA had lost so much on defense from the previous year that we'd be able to take advantage, but maybe that really will be true this season. I sure hope so.

Having the game at home sure is a plus.

 

[S.C. OrangeMan]

So glad this game is at Neyland this season!!

Agreed. The headline is misleading.

 

[sjt18]

I remember thinking last year before the game that UGA had lost so much on defense from the previous year that we'd be able to take advantage, but maybe that really will be true this season. I sure hope so.

Having the game at home sure is a plus.

I don't think we can look for them to crater or anything. But even with highly rated players you always have ups and downs and risks. I believe UGA is near the top of the curve. I think UT is on the steep part of their improvement curve as a program. Each UGA game will be a test of UT's progress for the next 3 or 4 years. IMO it will be a better indicator than the W/L record.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I remember thinking last year before the game that UGA had lost so much on defense from the previous year that we'd be able to take advantage, but maybe that really will be true this season. I sure hope so.

Having the game at home sure is a plus.

They will probably be better on defense this year than last year. The best chance for them to take a step back is if they don't have an answer at QB. Unfortunately, that Carson Beck looked pretty good at their spring game. However, he doesn't have any real experience in games taking meaningful snaps, he just has cleaned up blow outs. It's a different deal with the live bullets start flying so who knows, he may wilt, he may be great, but it's very fair to consider him unproven, because he is. If Beck or one of the other guys gives them good quarterback play, they will be really good again. Kirby doesn't produce bad defenses and he's got plenty of tools on that side of the ball, offense is where I think there is some hope they may take a step back. Monken left as OC too and was replaced by Mike Bobo. Mike Bobo was a good OC when he was at UGA before, but he hasn't been good much of anywhere else, so we'll see. Their offense was really underrated last year, statistically it was only very slightly lower ranked than ours.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

Would be nice to beat them but I just don’t see it. They’re a juggernaut now. I see us going 10-2 9-3 at worst

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

Aaaaah...the talkin' season. Personnel-wise, both teams look significantly different heading into 2023. UGA has another "no-name" D with plenty of depth, but light on star power. Six months from now, you should know the names Mykel Williams and Marvin Jones Jr. Offensively, the Dawgs replace QB1 and OC. That should concern Dawg fan. O line will be a strength again. Expect fewer 12 personnel sets, but the WR room looks to be a notch above last year. RB depth could be a problem if it's an extended season.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

They will probably be better on defense this year than last year. The best chance for them to take a step back is if they don't have an answer at QB. Unfortunately, that Carson Beck looked pretty good at their spring game. However, he doesn't have any real experience in games taking meaningful snaps, he just has cleaned up blow outs. It's a different deal with the live bullets start flying so who knows, he may wilt, he may be great, but it's very fair to consider him unproven, because he is. If Beck or one of the other guys gives them good quarterback play, they will be really good again. Kirby doesn't produce bad defenses and he's got plenty of tools on that side of the ball, offense is where I think there is some hope they may take a step back. Monken left as OC too and was replaced by Mike Bobo. Mike Bobo was a good OC when he was at UGA before, but he hasn't been good much of anywhere else, so we'll see. Their offense was really underrated last year, statistically it was only very slightly lower ranked than ours.

Correct about Beck, but as Georgia's luck would have it, he basically gets a full season to figure it out before he gets to us. It would have been very beneficial to play them early this year.

 

[vegasvolfan]

I would feel much better about this game if last year’s game had been competitive. They thoroughly dominated us along the line of scrimmage. We’re recruiting well but not sure that we’ve made significant improvements on that front. But that’s why the games are played so I hope I’m surprised.

Guess that all depends on how good of play they get this year from people who didn’t start last year there.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Correct about Beck, but as Georgia's luck would have it, he basically gets a full season to figure it out before he gets to us. It would have been very beneficial to play them early this year.

I said it when we switched that I didn't like moving to November with them. We basically took Auburn's traditional spot on their schedule and they had been walloping them in that spot since Richt got there. Their greater depth is a bigger advantage late in the year.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Nobody was beating Georgia that day. It’s was one of, if not the most fired up Georgia team & fan base I’ve ever seen in Athens. I’m not drawing huge conclusions for this year based on that day. I suspect Ga will be ready but the crowd will be against them this time.

Georgia this past year was just one of those teams that if they brought their A game, nobody was beating them. Poor TCU got their A+ game.

 

[njvols]

I would feel much better about this game if last year’s game had been competitive. They thoroughly dominated us along the line of scrimmage. We’re recruiting well but not sure that we’ve made significant improvements on that front. But that’s why the games are played so I hope I’m surprised.

I agree, but I also think that all of these games take on a life of their own. If we didn't come out and utterly blitz LSU and take them completely out of the game early at Death Valley, they game may have been closer. If we didn't stall out early and fail to get any offense going in Q1 and then the rain impact...just saying, if Bama game had been in Alabama and UGA had been in Knoxville on a dry day, both could have been different, but it's all circumstantial. UGA was just a monster of a team though and gotta give them credit. Think the potential differentiator this year could be if Milton > UGA's new QB...thier new QB may be better than Bennett, but doesn't mean he'll be a better leader/coach on the field...and our D needs to take the next step.

 

[DirtyDawg]

GA will be tough to beat, there’s no getting around that. But as I’ve said before, if the Vols get great QB play their offense is capable of making them a contender in any game. Playing GA, the Vols O- line will also need to play very well. I’m not educated on what the line is looking like so I’ve no idea.

I’ve read many posts on GA boards and even here that say it seems that GA knows how to handle the vaunted Vols offense. And sure it does seem so looking at previous games, but it’s not like CJH and Co haven’t been taking notes and learning more about they way GA plays defense. Last year the GA D was great in that game and they hardly missed a tackle, but the weather certainly helped in the second half. Maybe the GA D plays great again, and maybe not. It’s a long way off and much can happen before we get there. It’s a certainty that playing in Neyland will absolutely benefit TN, especially if they start the game strong. It will be an environment that our QB has never played in for sure. Who knows what might happen?

 

[HooahVol]

This really is the only tough game on Georgia's schedule unless Florida or Auburn have a surprising resurgence. . They have a cherry season. The bad thing for us is that means they will likely be pretty healthy when they come to Neyland. The good news for us is there is a strong possibility their starters will have not played 4 quarters and been in tight games. We will have already played Bama and A&M (along with SCar and UF who UGA also plays) so we should be battle hardened.