We’ve officially made it to a real, live game week. Just seven days from now the Tennessee Volunteers will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Volunteers come into this one ranked 24th and 25th in the two main polls. Despite the top 25 rankings, Vegas isn’t all that high on the Volunteers in 2017. A win total of 7.5 was set for Tennessee early in the summer.
Georgia Tech’s total is slightly lower, however. After a nine win season in 2016, Georgia Tech’s over/under was set at 6.5. You’ve probably heard by now that the Yellow Jackets went 3-0 against the SEC East.
Here’s how everything currently sits, as of Monday, August 28th
Odds: Tennessee -185, Georgia Tech +165
Spread: Tennessee -4
Total: 56
Movement
For the entirety of the summer, the public has held the initial -3.5 (Tennessee) line in check. Just this past week though we’ve seen the line move more in Tennessee’s favor. It currently sits at -4.
The game total has moved down from 57 to 56. This development makes sense when you consider that both teams want to run the ball. Tennessee will be breaking in a new quarterback, too. Running the ball will be the goal of both teams here.
The pick
It’s pretty tough to take the pulse of Tennessee right now. Butch Jones has been stressing the fact that his football team is making too many mental mistakes in practices and scrimmages right now. Add that to the fact that new faces are set to play key roles for Tennessee and you’ve got a pile of unknown.
I think we’ll see a close game next week. After the reported injury to Darrin Kirkland Jr., I’d probably have to take Georgia Tech +4. That injury just muddies up a front seven that is already going to have their hands full with Tech’s flexbone attack.