ESPN Matchup Predictor picks Tennessee to upset Georgia

Tennessee Football moved to 2-0 on the season with a record-breaking 72-17 win over ETSU on Saturday, helping the Vols jump up to No. 15 in the Week 2 update in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches Poll.

Up next is a showdown with No. 6 Georgia on Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC) in the SEC opener, with ESPN’s College GameDay in town.

Before that, though, here’s a look at the updated game-by-game picks for the Vols from ESPN’s Matchup Predictor:

Syracuse

Before Week 1: Tennessee 88.6% win | Result: Vols 45, Syracuse 26

Joey Aguilar threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in his Tennessee debut and the Vols rushed for 246 yards as a team in the season-opening win. Braylon Staley caught a 73-yard touchdown pass and all three Tennessee running backs — DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis and Star Thomas — had one touchdown each.

ETSU

Before Week 2: Tennessee 99.0% win | Result: Vols 72, ETSU 17

Tennessee broke modern-day program records for points scored (72) in its 72-17 and first downs (41) in the win. Tennessee completed 38 of 52 passes for 458 yards and four touchdowns in the win, with Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre all seeing action. Seven running backs combined for 259 yards and five rushing touchdowns on the day, while 13 receivers caught passes. 

Georgia

Before Week 2: Georgia 60.0% win | After Week 2: Tennessee 51.5% win

Georgia beat Marshall 45-7 in Week 1 at Sanford Stadium in Athens and beat Austin Peay 28-6 at home on Saturday. It’s Tennessee’s SEC opener on Saturday, a 3:30 p.m. ET start on ABC with ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasting live from Knoxville Saturday morning.

UAB

Before Week 2 Tennessee 98.3% win | After Week 2: Vols 98.4% win

Tennessee hosts UAB next Saturday in a 12:45 p.m. ET start on SEC Network. UAB had to rally to beat Alabama State 52-42 at home in Week 1 and lost 38-24 at Navy in Week 2. The Vols are 5-0 against UAB in a series that dates back to November 1998.

Mississippi State

Before Week 2: Tennessee 79.8% win | After Week 2: Vols 81.2% win

Mississippi State beat No. 12 Arizona State 24-20 Saturday night in Starkville and beat Southern Miss 34-17 in Week 1 in Hattiesburg. Tennessee goes to Mississippi State on September 27, with kickoff currently in the SEC’s flex window, meaning either between 3:30-4 p.m. ET or 6-8 p.m. ET.

Arkansas

Before Week 2: Tennessee 79.7% win | After Week 2: Vols 73.3% win

Arkansas beat Arkansas State 56-14 Saturday in Little Rock and beat Alabama A&M 52-7 in Week 1. Tennessee hosts Arkansas on October 11 in another flex kickoff window. The Razorbacks upset Tennessee 19-14 in Fayetteville last season. Arkansas won 24-20 in its last appearance at Neyland Stadium, in October 2015.

Alabama

Before Week 2: Tennessee 52.7% win | After Week 2: Alabama 63.0% win

Alabama responded to the 31-17 at Florida State in Week 1 with a 73-0 win over Louisiana Monroe on Saturday. Tennessee goes to Alabama on October 18 for the annual Third Saturday in October Rivalry. The Vols have won two of the last three, beating the Crimson Tide 24-17 at Neyland Stadium last season and 52-49 in Knoxville in 2022.

Kentucky

Before Week 2: Tennessee 78.7% win | After Week 2: Vols 78.0% win

Kentucky lost 30-23 at home against No. 20 Ole Miss on Saturday. The Wildcats beat Toledo 24-16 in Week 1 in Lexington, where Tennessee will head on October 25. The Vols are looking for a third straight road win over Kentucky during the Josh Heupel era, including a 45-42 at Kentucky in November 2021 and 33-27 road win in October 2023.

Oklahoma

Before Week 2: Tennessee 77.2% win | After Week 2: Vols 75.3% win

Oklahoma beat No. 15 Michigan 24-13 Saturday night in Norman and beat Illinois State 35-3 in Week 1. Tennessee hosts Oklahoma on November 1 after going to Norman last season and winning 25-15. It was the first win over Oklahoma for Tennessee since 1939, after the Sooners won three straight (1968, 2014 and 2015).

New Mexico State

Before Week 2: Tennessee 99.0% win | After Week 2: Vols 99.0% win

New Mexico State is 2-0 to start the season with a 19-3 win over Bryant in Week 1 and a 21-14 win over Tulsa on Saturday. The November 15 game will be the first meeting between the two teams and will be Homecoming Weekend for the Vols, as well as Salute to Service Weekend.

Florida

Before Week 2: Tennessee 51.3% win | After Week 2: Vols 64.1% win

Florida was stunned in an 18-16 home loss to South Florida Saturday night in Gainesville. The Gators opened with a 55-0 win over Long Island in Week 1. Tennessee goes Florida on November 22, the first game agains the Gators in November in program history. Kickoff is currently in the flex window.

Vanderbilt

Before Week 2: Tennessee 86.3% win | Vols 78.9% win

Vanderbilt won 44-20 at Virginia Tech Saturday night, shutting out the Hokies 24-0 in the second half. Vandy beat Charleston Southern 45-3 at home in Week 1. Tennessee will end the regular-season schedule on November 29 with Senior Day against Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium. The Vols were looking a seventh straight win in the annual in-state series, which dates back to 1892.