Author: Max McClean

Of the six games covered in the QSAO “Game of the Week" series this will be the fourth time we cover a game from the SEC. The SEC has always been the pinnacle of college football, but with all the division realignment and drama with NIL and the transfer portal the SEC has been transformed into a hotbed for elite competition. This Saturday No. 7 Tennessee is hitting the road to play No.12 Georgia under the lights at Sanford Stadium in Athens.

It was almost a year ago to the day that Georgia smoked Tennessee 38-10 where Georgia's defense played phenomenal, ending the Volunteers playoff hopes. Fast forward one year and the situation has completely flipped. After their week one win against No.17 Clemson no one would have expected that College Football’s up and coming dynasty would have their backs against the wall, fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Tennessee on the other hand finds themselves in a great position, a win here all but guarantees them a spot in the College Football Playoffs and puts them in a great position to

secure a first round bye and win the SEC.

Tennessee No.7 (8-1, 1st in SEC)

The 2024 SEC season has been full of surprises, with Tennessee emerging as the unexpected frontrunner, currently sitting atop the SEC standings and ranked sixth nationally. Many anticipated a "building year" for the Volunteers, largely due to the inexperience of redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. However, his impressive development, combined with solid coaching from Josh Heupel and his staff has propelled Tennessee to success. Despite the added competition from powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, Tennessee has risen to the challenge, proving critics wrong.

Coach Josh Heupel announced that the Vols expect quarterback Nico Iamaleava to be available for Saturday's game, despite his recent injury in last week’s win over Mississippi State. Iamaleava has had a rocky season as the starter for Tennessee, highlighted by their 19-14 loss to Arkansas where he completed 58.6% of his passes for 158 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. Frustration had been mounting as Iamaleava completed just 62.9% of his passes for 736 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in the first half of the season, leading some Vols fans to call for a change. However, Heupel stuck with Iamaleava, who has since stepped up his game, completing 63.5% of his passes for 829 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions in his last four. His performance against Kentucky, where he completed 73.7% of his passes for 292 yards and a touchdown, has given Vols fans renewed hope in their highly recruited quarterback. The Volunteers will need Iamaleava in the lineup Saturday as they look to continue on this roll and make it five straight wins.

Many have argued that Tennessee’s defense hasn’t seen elite offenses as of yet but that's simply not true. James Pearce Jr. is known to be the best rusher in the 2025 class, his flexibility, burst, and finish make him one of the best in the nation. Pearce has racked up 5.5 sacks, good enough for eighth in the SEC, and 12th in the SEC in total tackles among defensive linemen. Tennessee is great on the defensive side of the ball, 6th in the FBS and 2nd in the SEC in total defense, allowing just 255.9 yards per game. Against the run they are particularly dominant, ranking 9th nationally and 1st in the SEC, allowing only 100.0 rushing yards per game. The Vols were able to hold Alabama to 17 points and Oklahoma to 15, they must do the same this Saturday against Georgia, control the game with their strong rush defense and minimize scoring opportunities against an explosive Carson Beck led attack.

After a rocky start to the season, Iamaleava has steadily improved, leading the Vols to four straight wins hoping to add a fifth this weekend. The defense has been a constant force, shutting down powerful offenses and dominating in the run game. As the Vols prepare for a crucial game against Georgia, they will look to that strong defense and Iamaleava's continued growth to maintain their momentum and secure another divisional win to cement themselves in the College Football Playoff.

Georgia No. 12 (7-2, 4th in SEC)

Georgia was ranked No.1 in the pre-season AP and it has really not gone as planned for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs to this point but all is not lost. Georgia comes in 7-2, you may remember their first loss in week four, in what will be remembered down the road as Ryan Williams' coming out party where they lost 41-34 in a classic SEC shootout. Their second loss came last week when Ole Miss dismantled them, they looked flat out uninspired on both sides of the ball. Georgia is looking to regain their confidence, the confidence that saw them beat down on Texas in a 30-15 blowout

Georgia's defense has experienced a noticeable slip in the 2024 season. While still respectable, ranking 14th in college football and sixth in the SEC in total defense, they've allowed 306 yards per game, below their usual standards. Last year, they averaged 289.1 yards per game, ranking fifth nationally and first in the SEC. Their run defense has remained steady, ranking 21st nationally this year compared to 20th in 2023, this rush defense will have to be huge as they face off against Dylan Sampson, though Ashton Jeanty and Ollie Gordon II take all the headlines, Sampson is the best running back in the SEC and one of the best in the Nation. The issue with Georgia's defense is the pass, they now rank 32nd in the FBS and sixth in the SEC, allowing 178.3 yards per game, whereas they were ninth in the nation last season. This overall decline has contributed to their defensive ranking slipping to 16th in points allowed per game at 18.4, compared to 15.6 last year. Since their 2022 National Championship win, Georgia has been known for their strong defense and dynamic players like Jalen Carter and Mykel Williams, under watch of defensive mastermind Kirby Smart. However, the defensive struggles they've faced in 2024 are uncharacteristic. They will need to tighten up as they face a high-powered Tennessee offense this weekend that ranks eighth in the nation in total offense.

Last week Carson Beck passed for only 186 yards while taking five sacks against Ole Miss. It won’t get easier against an elite Tennessee pass rush, but back at home, Beck will look to get going through the air. Per Pro Football Focus Beck hasn’t had a big-time throw since the Mississippi State game and has looked flustered, which is odd for a four year SEC quarterback. Beck will have to channel some magic of seasons past and prove why he was a Heisman favourite entering 2024 play.

The Bulldogs have not played well this season, the only advantage they really have is they've won 30 straight games at home, we have to look all the way back to 2019 to see the last time they lost at home to an unranked South Carolina. The Bulldogs must hope to find some of that Sanford Stadium magic if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive on Saturday night.

Players to Watch

Carson Beck

So far in 2024, Beck has completed 65.4% of his passes for 2,488 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In his standout 2023 season he posted a 72.4% completion rate, 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions.

Malaki Starks

Malaki Starks was ranked as the No. 10 player in all of college football according to ESPN’s preseason rankings and the third-best defensive back behind Will Johnson and Travis Hunter, Starks was an All-American last year with 52 total tackles and three interceptions.

Mykel Williams

Mykel Williams came into this season as a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but an ankle injury kept him off the field for much of the first half of the year. Williams will look to regain his footing and get to Nico Iamaleava Saturday night.

Dylan Sampson

Dylan Sampson has been exceptional this season, rushing for 1,129 yards and 20 touchdowns, ranking in the top 3 in both categories across all Power Four conferences. His explosive playmaking make him a crucial player to watch.

Nico Iamaleva

Nico Iamaleava has faced challenges this season but has shown significant improvement, completing 63.5% of his passes for 829 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions in recent weeks. His strong performance against Kentucky has renewed hope for Vols fans going into this week's matchup.

The Stakes

In a crucial Week 12 matchup, No. 7 Tennessee (8-1) visits No. 12 Georgia (7-2) with major playoff implications on the line. Tennessee has emerged as a surprise frontrunner in the SEC, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava showing significant improvement in recent weeks, leading the Vols to four straight wins. Their defense, ranked 6th nationally, has been dominant, particularly against the run, and will be key against Georgia's offense. Meanwhile, Georgia has struggled in 2024, with a defense that has slipped from its usual elite status, particularly in pass defense, and quarterback Carson Beck’s inconsistent play.

With Tennessee riding high and Nico Iamaleava expected to play combined with Georgia’s recent slip in form, especially on defense, combined with the inconsistency of Beck’s play, makes it difficult to pick them for this matchup. Tennessee wins 30-17.