Tennessee vs. Georgia State fearless prediction and game preview.
Tennessee vs. Georgia State Broadcast
Date: Saturday, August 31
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Network: ESPNU
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Tennessee (0-0) vs. Georgia State (0-0) Game Preview
Jeremy Pruitt needed a year to try getting Tennessee up to speed again. Just when it seemed like everything was starting to come together, the season fizzled into a loser.
This Vol team has to take advantage of a relatively light non-conference schedule to get to 3-0 – BYU and UT Chattanooga come after this – to get the base needed to hope for three more to get bowling.
Georgia State is coming off an even worse season, going 2-10 with one of those wins a fight over Kennesaw State. It might be a paycheck game, but a good performance by former South Carolina head coach Shawn Elliott’s team would be a huge boost.
Why Georgia State Will Win
Is the Tennessee offensive line in place yet? The Vols have the veterans at the skill spots, but can anyone block for them? There’s a ton of talent coming in, but the line is likely going to throw freshmen Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright at the tackle spots to see what they can do.
Overall it’s a rebuilding group, and the Panther defensive line has to take advantage of it.
Georgia State didn’t do a thing to get behind the line – coming up with just 13 sacks – but nine of the top 11 tacklers return to a D that should be a whole lot better. On the other side, the Panthers are loaded at receiver with a passing game that should quietly become among the Sun Belt’s best.
Why Tennessee Will Win
Let’s not get too crazy here. Yeah, the Tennessee offensive line is undergoing a redo, but it’s going to be a whole lot better with a little bit of time.
The Georgia State defense really is experienced and it really should be stronger, but it doesn’t have the playmakers to get to QB Jarrett Guarantano and make him work.
The receivers are there. The Panther secondary might be full of veterans, but they didn’t make a whole lot of big plays last season and they won’t have the wheels to keep up with the Tennessee speed. New Vol passing game coordinator Tee Martin should be able to do what he wants as the offense starts to look the part.
What’s Going To Happen
Here’s all that matters – the Tennessee lines are going to be terrific.
The front three on the defensive side might be starting over, but it’s going to be a salty group that stuffs what should be a middling Georgia State ground game. It’s the other side that will get everyone fired up.
The young guys will look great, the O line will be terrific right away, and at least for this week, Tennessee will look like it’s supposed to.
Tennessee vs. Georgia State Prediction, Line
Tennessee 40, Georgia State 17
Line: Tennessee -26, o/u: 57.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released
Must See Rating: 2
5: Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
1: Christina on the Coast
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Georgia State Football Schedule
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5
2018 Record: 2-10
– 2019 Georgia State Preview
Aug. 31 at Tennessee L
Sept. 7 Furman W
Sept. 14 at Western Michigan L
Sept. 21 at Texas State W
Sept. 28 OPEN DATE
Oct. 5 Arkansas State L
Oct. 12 at Coastal Carolina L
Oct. 19 Army L
Oct. 26 Troy W
Nov. 2 OPEN DATE
Nov. 9 at ULM L
Nov. 16 Appalachian State L
Nov. 23 South Alabama W
Nov. 30 at Georgia Southern L
2019 Tennessee Football Schedule
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019 Preseason SEC Prediction: 3-5
2018 Record: 5-7
– 2019 Tennessee Preview
Aug. 31 Georgia State W
Sept. 7 BYU W
Sept. 14 UT Chattanooga W
Sept. 21 at Florida L
Sept. 28 OPEN DATE
Oct. 5 Georgia L
Oct. 12 Mississippi State W
Oct. 19 at Alabama L
Oct. 26 South Carolina W
Nov. 2 UAB W
Nov. 9 at Kentucky L
Nov. 16 OPEN DATE
Nov. 23 at Missouri L
Nov. 30 Vanderbilt W
