Finest moments and highlights from Tennessee vs. Georgia

The defending nationwide champion No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs host the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers in a marquee matchup that can possible have main implications on the SEC championship recreation and Faculty Soccer Playoff.

Based on ESPN Analytics, the winner of this recreation will even have a 99% probability of profitable the SEC East.

This has been a lopsided collection lately as Georgia enters the showdown driving a five-game profitable streak — tied for its longest in collection historical past — with all 5 wins by greater than 20 factors.

Tennessee will look to alter that with Heisman Trophy-favorite Hendon Hooker on the helm. Hooker has 21 landing passes this season, second to solely Peyton Manning (23) via eight video games in program historical past. Most of them have gone to Jalin Hyatt (14), who’s on tempo to turn out to be the third receiver in SEC historical past to catch 20 landing passes in a season.

Listed below are the most effective moments from Tennessee-Georgia:

What ought to concerning the Vols?

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel stated the Vols must be as wholesome as they have been all season at this time in opposition to Georgia.

Cedric Tillman, who led Tennessee in receiving final season, figures to supply a lift to an already potent receiving corps. He performed restricted snaps final week in opposition to Kentucky, and Heupel stated that they had him on a “pitch rely” after lacking the earlier 4 video games.

Heupel stated Tillman shall be “able to roll” in opposition to the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-3 Tillman creates severe matchup issues together with his dimension and athleticism, significantly with speedy Jalin Hyatt and his 14 touchdowns on the opposite facet.

Tillman has been training full pace, however the Vols wished to verify he was 100% earlier than bringing him again for a recreation. Tillman had tightrope surgical procedure to restore a excessive ankle sprain in September. — Chris Low

How about them Dawgs?

There is no query that Georgia’s protection will miss senior exterior linebacker Nolan Smith, who led the Bulldogs in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hurries. He is a flexible defender that Georgia moved round rather a lot, and he is one of many staff’s most skilled gamers.

However the Bulldogs have been going to battle to get stress on Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker regardless. Hooker eliminates the ball rapidly in Tennessee’s fast-paced offense. He has large eye self-discipline and would not make many errors, which is why he has just one interception this season.

Georgia’s cornerbacks — Kelee Ringo and Kamari Lassiter — are going to must play properly on the perimeter to gradual the Vols down. They’re going to face a monumental problem in attempting to include UT receivers Tillman, Bru McCoy and Hyatt.

Georgia coach Kirby Good stated the Bulldogs are going to have to regulate to UT’s tempo on the fly and do it properly.

“They bought a number of paces they use and so they can go as quick as anyone within the nation. They follow it, they preach it, they do a extremely good job researching themselves and determining how they’ll go sooner. And our job is to have the ability to match that conditioning stage.” — Mark Schlabach

It is on in Athens

What is perhaps the most important recreation in Sanford Stadium historical past remains to be hours away, however 1000’s of followers have flocked to Athens from each course.

Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is right here. So is former Georgia defensive again and NFL Corridor of Famer Champ Bailey. Nation music star Luke Bryan arrived for “Faculty GameDay” by way of personal jet. PGA Tour golfers Kevin Kisner, a Georgia alum, and previous U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland have been anticipated to reach from Justin Thomas’ wedding ceremony in Nashville someday Saturday morning.

The Bulldogs have hosted loads of huge video games in Sanford Stadium throughout the previous 93 years, however maybe none greater than Saturday’s, which can in all probability determine the SEC East title and who will play within the SEC championship recreation. The winner will even have an inside monitor to the Faculty Soccer Playoff, whereas the loser will need assistance from different groups to get into the highest 4.

It is the primary top-five matchup at Sanford Stadium since 1983, when Bo Jackson and No. 3 Auburn ended No. 4 Georgia’s 23-game SEC profitable streak with a 13-7 victory between the hedges.

“It is a huge recreation, proper?” Georgia coach Kirby Good stated. “There’s nothing a few quantity being in entrance of it. It will be a giant recreation regardless as a result of each groups are within the East.” — Schlabach