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Joel Klatt predicts Georgia over Tennessee

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh09/11/25griffin_mcveigh
Kirby Smart
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel and Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart talk at mid field before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-Imagn Images

Both Georgia and Tennessee start out their SEC schedules with a banger. Neyland Stadium should be rocking on Saturday afternoon, welcoming the Bulldogs to Knoxville. A series dominated in recent years by Kirby Smart, Josh Heupel is still on the search for his first win against UGA.

Unfortunately for Heupel, FOX’s Joel Klatt believes he will have to wait at least one more season. Klatt picked Georgia to emerge victorious in a low-scoring showdown. He may have wanted to go with Tennessee but going up against a Smart defense is a tough task.

“I don’t see either of these teams getting past 21,” Klatt said. “If you just boil it all the way down, with the history of what Georgia and Tennessee do against each other, and the fact that Georgia’s defense is uniquely built through both structure and talent with their personnel to stop an offense like Tennessee’s — I wanted to take Tennessee in this game. I can’t do it, I can’t do it. I’ve got to go with Georgia.”

Explaining his decision, one “intangible” tips the scale in favor of Georgia for Klatt. It ties together with the way both teams have played through two weeks. Tennessee started out hot, taking down Syracuse and East Tennessee State. New quarterback Joey Aguilar is the program’s new darling, loving his performances after enduring the Nico Iamaleava drama this offseason.

Georgia, in Klatt’s mind, has gone through a completely different narrative. Two sleepers of opponents mean not many people are discussing the Bulldogs. And if they are, it’s not in a positive light. Only beating Austin Peay by three touchdowns possibly made a few ears perk.

Klatt says this is exactly what Smart wants entering a big-time game. Georgia should be ready to rock, wanting to prove everyone out there wrong.

“You are going to get the absolute most focused version, physical version, and intense version of Georgia you could possibly get because of the week of practice that they just had under Kirby Smart,” Klatt said. “We know that. So, I’ve got to go Georgia here. I wanted to take Tennessee here, I can’t do it.”

No matter who Klatt picks, a fun one should unfold in front of our eyes on Rocky Top. ABC will broadcast the game, with kick-off slated to take place around 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN College GameDay will be in town for the festivities as well.