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Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava after a game against Kentucky, and we offer our top Tennessee vs. Georgia prediction.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava after a game against Kentucky. Photo by Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images.

The 12th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs host the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in a massive SEC showdown featuring two teams among the contenders by the college football championship odds.

Will the status of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava actually impact the best Tennessee vs. Georgia prediction? The Bulldogs were destroyed last week by the Ole Miss Rebels, but they’re back at Sanford Field for a 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+) game, and our best sports betting sites have them favored by 9.5 points.

While Iamaleava is obviously key to the Volunteers’ attack, the offense hasn’t looked sharp in recent weeks, even with him, scoring 25 or fewer points in four of their last six.

If Iamaleava plays, can the Volunteers keep this close? We look at this game and much more as part of our college football Week 12 predictions.

Best Tennessee vs. Georgia picks

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: Georgia -9.5 (-110 via Caesars) vs. Tennessee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • My best bet: Dylan Sampson Under 92.5 rushing yards (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Tennessee vs. Georgia against the spread prediction: Week 12

Georgia to cover the spread: -9.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tennessee vs. Georgia opening odds:

  • Tennessee: +17.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
  • Georgia: -17.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

Bulldogs’ defense stifles Volunteers

Entering Saturday’s contest, Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson has run for 1,129 yards. He’s topped 100 in all but one game, and in that contest, he ran for 92. Yet, on Saturday, his total is set at 91.5 at the majority of the best sports betting apps. This speaks to how good the Bulldogs’ run defense is.

The Bulldogs are allowing just 110.3 rushing yards per game, the 17th-best mark in the nation. While the Volunteers’ rushing attack is top-10 in the nation, they’ve yet to face a run defense this good.

If the Bulldogs have the edge, like I think they do, then the game will fall squarely on the shoulders of the battered Iamaleava. That’s bad news for the Volunteers.

For the Bulldogs, this all comes down to Carson Beck securing the football. The quarterback has 12 interceptions this season, and he’s thrown multiple in three of his last four weeks. And while the Volunteers are averaging one interception per game this season, one turnover won’t be enough. After all, Beck threw three picks against the Texas Longhorns, and his team won by 15.

It seems that most of the best sportsbooks expect Iamaleava to play, as the number has settled at 9.5. Earlier this week, some sportsbooks had the spread north of 14 points when it looked like Iamaleava may miss the game. Because of that, there isn’t much of an advantage to be gained by wagering at one sportsbook over another.

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

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Tennessee vs. Georgia best bet

Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Dylan Sampson Under 92.5 rushing yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐

I already outlined why this is such a fishy line. When the sites with the best sportsbook promos present bettors with something that seems like a lock it very rarely is. And yet, the public is playing right into oddsmakers’ hands.

Sampson is averaging 125 rushing yards per game, and he’s yet to rush for fewer than 92 yards in a game this season. Yet, when sportsbooks first released this total, they actually had the number listed at 89.5. Since then, the public has shown support for the Over, which has caused this line to climb by two or three yards.

The Bulldogs’ run defense has been great all season, and it's yet to allow a running back to run for 100 yards against it.

In a game that the best live betting sites believe the Bulldogs will win, the Volunteers will need to rely more on Iamaleava and the passing attack to keep pace. This means Sampson won’t get enough carries against a defense allowing just 3.4 yards per attempt to hit this Over.

Sampson might not rack up yardage, but our Gabe Henderson thinks he'll reach pay dirt in his Tennessee vs. Georgia player prop bets.

Best odds: -114 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.27%

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Tennessee vs. Georgia odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Tennessee vs. Georgia game info

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 16
  • Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Sanford Stadium (Athens, Ga.)
  • How to watch: ABC/ESPN+
  • Weather: 54 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind 2 mph S
  • Favorite: Georgia -9.5 (-110 via Caesars)

College football betting odds pages

Here are our best college football betting sites:

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