Toughest non-conference game for each SEC football team
By Matt Green
Tennessee: Sept. 4 vs. Georgia Tech (Atlanta)
Just when you think the opening weekend of college football is over, Georgia Tech and Tennessee will face-off in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Labor Day night. Georgia Tech had a surprising 9-4 season in 2016. The Yellow Jackets went 3-0 against SEC football teams last season with wins over Vanderbilt and Georgia in the regular season, and then Kentucky in the Taxslayer Bowl.
Tennessee opened last season at home with Appalachian State and nearly got upset, winning 20-13 in overtime. Georgia Tech should provide a tougher test than the Mountaineers.
Each team will be breaking in a new starting quarterback in this game with Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs going to the NFL and Georgia Tech’s four-year starter Justin Thomas graduating.
Junior Quinten Dormady has the most experience for the Volunteers, but many people think redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano will be the guy. Meanwhile for Georgia Tech, junior Taquon Marshall was the starter coming out of spring but they have yet to make a call on who the starter will be.
These two teams haven’t played since 1987. Tennessee owns the all-time series 24-17-2.