Analyzing Tennessee's chances of beating Georgia in 2023

The Tennessee–Georgia game did not live up to the hype in 2022. The matchup was built up as perhaps the biggest college football game of the season. However, Georgia ended up winning by two touchdowns, on its way to a national title.

The Bulldogs controlled the game throughout, leading 14-3 after the first quarter and holding a double-digit advantage throughout.

JD PicKell of On3 recently previewed the 2023 game and analyzed Tennessee’s chances of pulling off the upset this season. The two teams will meet at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Nov. 18.

“The second-to-last week of the season, the Dogs go to Neyland Stadium,” PicKell said. “The place will be rocking, especially if Tennessee will be able to trend the way that a lot of people believe they could trend up to that point. It could be a game that decides that side of the SEC.”

As PicKell later pointed out, Tennessee will have to take advantage of its opportunities to have a chance to come out on top.

Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt were unable to connect on some big plays early last season, keeping the pressure off the Bulldogs. Tennessee will have to capitalize when it gets the chance this year.

“A lot of Tennessee fans will tell you, if they connect on just one of those two or three they took deep to Jalin Hyatt that they didn’t connect on. … If they connect on one of those, it might change the ballgame, and it might put Georgia a little bit on their heels early,” PicKell said.

“They go to Neyland this year. And Neyland is not an easy place to play. So for Georgia, the same thing is true of what happened last year has to happen this year. You have to win 1-on-1 on the outside. And Tennessee, even though you lose Jalin Hyatt, even though you lose Cedric Tillman, I’m still very high on their receiving corps.”

While Hyatt and Tillman are gone, the Vols still do have some talent at receiver and a strong-armed quarterback in Joe Milton.

PicKell believes the Vols will give Georgia a tough test late in the season.

“Bru McCoy is going to be physical with you. Squirrel White … dude is fast. Dont’e Thornton, a transfer from Oregon, I think is going to have an elite season for Tennessee. I would not be surprised at all if Dont’e Thornton has the best season of the entire Tennessee wide receiving corps. I’ll just say it right now. He may lead the team in receiving – a unique blend of speed and size, so he’s tough to match up with,” PicKell said.

“Also for Georgia, I’m not down on any of their secondary, but I will say Kelee Ringo did a really good job 1-on-1 last year in this game. Who is it this year? Is it Malaki Starks? Probably. But I’m just saying, keep an eye on that for Georgia and for Tennessee. The 1-on-1 battle, Tennessee’s going to spread you out. They’re going to have a chance to take some of those shots. It’s going to require Georgia to be disciplined. That’s Georgia’s middle name, but still. Keep an eye on that one. Of all these games, I like this one the best, because it’s at Neyland. It’s not going to Athens.”