Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers: Betting Odds, Preview and Prediction

The Georgia Bulldogs, already 2-0 in SEC play this season, look to make that 3-0 when they host the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday afternoon down in Athens (3:30 pm ET, CBS).

Are the 'Dawgs headed for an East Division championship? Or can the Vols throw a wrench in those plans?

And is Georgia headed for its fifth straight OVER bet in 2012?

"Tennessee gets 14 points here, but the total is attracting lots of wagering interest and a majority of it is on the UNDER 59," Jack Randall of OddsShark.com stated, in pointing to the Vols-Dawgs matchup report.

"And six of eight meetings here since 1995 have gone UNDER the posted total of sportsbooks."

Georgia, with 16 starters back from a team that went 10-4 last season, opened this year with a 45-23 victory over Buffalo. But the Bulldogs could not cover the spread that day as 38-point favorites.

Georgia then stepped into SEC play and beat conference newcomer Missouri 41-20 in Columbia, covering as one-point favorites on the road. The Bulldogs then went back out of conference to beat Florida Atlantic 56-20, only missing out on the cover as 42-point chalk when they had an interception returned for a score in the fourth quarter.

Then last week UGA stepped back into SEC play and bombed Vanderbilt 48-3, rushing for 302 yards and covering as two-touchdown favorites.

On the other side of this matchup, Tennessee, with 19 starters back from a team that went 5-7 last year, opened this season with a 35-21 victory over North Carolina State on a neutral field at the Georgia Dome. The Vols outrushed the Pack that night 191-119 and covered the spread as three-point favorites.

Tennessee then beat Georgia State (FCS) 51-13, but couldn't quite cover as 46-point chalk.

The Vols then opened SEC play with a 37-20 loss at home to Florida, losing outright as three-point favorites. Then last week Tennessee defeated Akron 47-26. However, that game was tied at 23 well into the third quarter before the Vols, who were favored by 31 points, pulled away.

Georgia might get a boost on defense Saturday with the expected returns of LB Alec Ogletree and safety Bacarri Rambo, both of whom sat out the first four games serving suspensions.

Last year the Bulldogs beat the Vols 20-12 in Knoxville. Georgia outrushed Tennessee that day 139-22.

This game opened earlier this week with Georgia favored by 14 points, with a total of 61. As of Thursday afternoon the 'Dawgs were favored by 13.5 points at most CFB betting shops, and the total had fallen to 58. 

Free Pick: Georgia looks like the better team, but two touchdowns seems like a lot for this matchup. We'll take the points with Tennessee. (courtesy of PickShark.com)