Paul Finebaum explains why he is picking Georgia to beat Tennessee despite concerns about Gunner Stockton

Paul Finebaum sees an advantage at quarterback for the Volunteers tomorrow, come kickoff of No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 15 Tennessee. That said, in his opinion, it still may not lead to a different result on Rocky Top.

On ‘SportsCenter’ on Friday, Finebaum previewed the Top 15 matchup in the SEC from Knoxville. He noted the edge he’s seeing at QB1 between the two teams, with Joey Aguilar for Tennessee and Gunner Stockton for Georgia, as the reason why many are seeing this latest edition as being as close as they do, especially with the game being in Neyland Stadium.

“Well, they have the best quarterback, and that’s the first time you can say that maybe in a while,” Finebaum said. “The reason is Joey Aguilar – came over, went from Appalachian State, then to UCLA, and then to Tennessee during the Nico controversy. He is really playing at a high level. He looked great against Syracuse in the opening game.

“The other side of the coin here, though, and really the problem for Georgia, and why so many Georgia fans are nervous and maybe Tennessee fans are most optimistic they’ve been in the series? Gunner Stockton has been very pedestrian with the ‘Dawgs. He filled in last year in the SEC Championship for Carson Beck. He acquitted himself, but then, in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, he was very average and, so far this year, he has not looked very good at all. That’s why there’s a lot of push and pull. The line is very narrow. Georgia is a 3.5-point favorite. This game is in Knoxville, though, where Tennessee rarely, if ever, loses.”

Through his first two games at Tennessee, Aguilar has exceeded all expectations so far, especially as he didn’t even join the team until after the spring, by posting 66.1% completion for 535 yards, five passing touchdowns, and no interceptions with just one turnover. Meanwhile, now as the starter for Georgia, Stockton has put up 69% completion for 417 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers, while also rushing for 86 yards and two more scores.

Both quarterbacks have been what their team has needed through two weeks, and each will need to be just that or more for their team to win on Saturday. However, as for his pick, and despite the plus at quarterback that he laid out, Finebaum still went with Georgia to win tomorrow over Tennessee. T

“You’re going to make a Tennessee graduate very unpopular right now,” Finebaum said. “I am picking the ‘Dawgs to do what they always do – beat Tennessee.”

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