4 reasons Tennessee will upset Georgia in 2024

The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Georgia Bulldogs in their annual rivalry in Athens this season. The game will be played on week 12 which falls on Saturday, November 16th. Despite a loss in Knoxville of 38-10 in 2023, do not be surprised if the Vols take down the Bulldogs in Athens this year.

Why will the Tennessee Volunteers beat the Georgia Bulldogs?

Nico Iamaleava will have experience

Much like Bulldogs’ first year starting quarterback Carson Beck in 2023, the Vols will have the same happening with Iamaleava this year. Iamaleava was a five-star recruit and the number three quarterback in the country in the class of 2023 according to On3.

Entering the 2023 season, Iamaleava has one career start to his credit against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 Citrus Bowl. Although his numbers were not overly impressive, his ability to take off and run and poise show promise of what is to come in 2024. While I expect Iamaleava and the Vols to get off to a modest start in 2024 as most first year starting quarterbacks would, by the time the Georgia game happens, he should be supremely confident and emerging as an elite SEC quarterback.

Yes Iamaleava is a freshman, but keep in mind that he has been on campus since spring practice in 2022. That means he has had mentorship from not just Joe Milton, but Hendon Hooker as well. And oh yea- let us not forget his head coach who was a sensational college quarterback in his own right, Josh Heupel.

By the time the Georgia game happens, Iamaleava will have been part of a college football program for nearly two full calendar years. That hardly makes him a freshman in my eyes. And his play should show it.

Chemistry meets experience

With one of the question marks for the Vols being the secondary in 2024, they should be well-versed on defensive coordinator, Tim Banks’ scheme. The Vols bring back James Pearce Jr. on the defensive line who emerged in 2023 with 10 sacks. The leader at the linebacker position comes with experience as well in sixth year player, Keenan Pili.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Vols return wide receivers Squirrel White, Bru McCoy and Don’te Thornton. This experience on the outside should help Iamaleava to feel less pressure throwing, easing him into the offense. Incoming transfer Chris Brazzell Jr. and five-star freshman Mike Matthews will also be welcomed additions in a deep 2024 receiver room for the Vols.

On the offensive line, the Vols also added offensive tackle, Lance Heard who should help to protect Iamaleava and bring back experienced center Cooper Mays as well. These pieces should also help the Vols to stay balanced in the run game behind Dylan Sampson and Cam Seldon who figure to lead the room.

Most of these pieces are now experienced, which the Vols did not have the luxury of in 2023. This should help them bring along the newcomers mentioned above that figure to be key pieces for the Vols in 2024 and should help them matchup much better with the Bulldogs.

Motivation of 2023

A loss of 38-10 to one of your rivals at home does not sit well for any team, and the Vols are no exception. Before the arrival of Heupel, the Vols have fallen on hard times over the last decade. Heupel however has the program headed in the right direction going 20-6 in his last two seasons in Knoxville.

The Vol train has signs of momentum it has not seen since the Phil Fulmer era, which combined with the bad taste of a loss should serve them well heading into Athens to return the favor.

Georgia’s tough schedule

SEC schedules are tough for each team no matter how you slice it. Each team is playing individual talent that makes more NFL rosters than any other conference in college football. With that being said, strength of schedule matters here. Georgia’s strength of schedule heading into 2024 is the ninth most difficult in the country according to College Football Network. The Vols on the other hand have the 52nd most difficult schedule.

Do not get me wrong, like I said any SEC schedule is difficult. But the difference in presumed difficulty between the two is wide. The Bulldogs have road games against the Ole Miss Rebels, Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide before they host the Vols. These are three teams that figure to be near the top of the SEC by years end. Of these three opponents, the Vols play one (Alabama). This should serve them well heading into the matchup with the Bulldogs.

While the Volunteers have only beaten the Bulldogs twice since 2010, this will change in 2024. The Bulldogs will still be a great team under head coach Kirby Smart, but the discrepancy and talent combined with the factors above give the Vols a much better chance than years past at knocking off their rival.