The Tennessee Volunteer Football Program returned to the national scene, as did trash-talk.
Tennessee’s No. 1 travels to Sanford Stadium to face Georgia #3 Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, in a game that will go a long way in determining the college football playoffs.
A general view of the Georgia Bulldogs helmets during the game between the UAB Blazers and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 11, 2021 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
(Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
For the first time in the program’s history, Tennessee is the highest ranked team in the CFP standings after beating five top-25 ranked teams in an 8-0 start to the season.
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It’s Tennessee’s best start since 1998, and fans and veterans alike are feeling great as the “Between the Hedges” game looms.
Former Tennessee quarterback and current radio host Erik Ainge is not concerned about the match against the Bulldogs, saying that the atmosphere in Athens never scared him.
“Playing between the hurdles is overrated”, Ainge said in a tweet earlier in the week. “Not that loud and certainly not intimidating. It’s nothing like playing Neyland. The Vols will go down very well in Athens!”
During his four years at Tennessee, Ainge played twice at Georgia, according to CBS Sports.
Quaarterback Erik Ainge, #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers, calls a play against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2008 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. The Volunteers won 21-17.
(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
The Vols have good reason to be confident as they bring an offense to Georgia that has been rolling all season.
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Tennessee’s offense leads the nation in points per game (49.4), yards per game (553.0), passing efficiency (198.52) and yards per pass attempt (11.3). Their running game also averages 199.6 yards per game, which is good for 24th in the nation.
Heisman favorite Hendon Hooker played brilliantly under center, throwing for 21 touchdowns and just one interception while completing 71.2 percent of his passes.
Josh Heupel and his attack will face their toughest test of the season, however, as Kirby Smart’s Defense dominates again a year after having constituted a great historic unit.
A view of the Georgia Bulldogs flag after a score in the game between the UAB Blazers and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 11, 2021 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
(Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It’s a talented defense, fourth in the nation in yards allowed per game (262.6) and 13th in the nation in passing yards (177.1).
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The Georgia defense suffered a major blow earlier in the week when outside linebacker Nolan Smith underwent surgery to repair a torn chest sustained in last week’s game against Florida.
Smith, a potential first-round NFL draft pick, leads the Bulldogs in sacks (3), tackles for loss (7) and quarterback dispatches (16).