Tennessee and Georgia Tech End Week 1 of College Football
Week 1 of the college football regular second ends Monday night when the No. 24 ranked Tennessee Volunteers visit the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The current line on top sportsbooks has Tennessee favored by 3.5 points with the over/under point total on 55.5.
Coaches for both teams have not named starting quarterbacks at least not officially. Both are replacing long-time starting signal callers and will wait until game time to announce who will be their new starters.
Tennessee has Quinten Dormady a junior who has been a backup for two seasons and Jarrett Guarantan a redshirt freshman in line to replace the departed Joshua Dobbs. Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said his team had a good idea who would start at quarterback.
Georgia Tech will likely start Matthew Jordan a junior who played some last season when then starter Justin Thomas was sidelined with an injury. However, TaQuon Marshall or two redshirt freshmen could be named.
Tennessee must replace the majority of its offensive skill position players but John Kelly a running back who rushed for 630 yards returns, as does Jauan Jennings a wide receiver who caught 7 touchdown passes last season.
On defense, Tennessee will have its complete starting group of linebackers from last season returning, which will anchor that side of the ball.
Georgia Tech will continue with its triple-option offense but must replace Dedrick Mills the team’s leading rusher after he was dismissed from the team during August for breaking team rules. However, the Yellow Jackets have experienced rushers in J.J. Green and Clinton Lynch.
On defense, the Yellow Jackets have five members of their defensive secondary returning and should be strong against the pass. The five back combined to make eight interceptions last season.
Tennessee has won 9 games and ended in the nation’s top 25 in each of the past two seasons.
Georgia Tech ended last season winning four straight. The Yellow Jackets are 5-1 in their last 6 games versus SEC opponents.
Both Tennessee and Georgia Tech were original SEC members but have not played head to head since 1987.
Tennessee is 6-0 against the number in its last 6 games played at neutral fields.
Georgia Tech is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 games played.
Prediction: Tennessee has too many weapons for Georgia Tech in this one. Lean her toward the Vols less the points.
