Tennessee Volunteers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Betting Odds, College Football Pick

Georgia owns five wins in its last six meetings with Tennessee, but the Volunteers beat the Bulldogs last year and have covered the spread in the last four games in this series. In the game that could eventually decide the SEC's East Division this season, Tennessee takes on Georgia on Saturday afternoon between the hedges down in Athens. 

Point spread: The Volunteers opened as 2.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 23-20.1, Volunteers (college football picks on every game)

Why the Tennessee Volunteers can cover the spread

The preseason favorites to win the SEC East are off to a 4-0 start this season, and they're 1-0 in SEC play, after bolting from behind to beat Florida last week 38-28, snapping an agonizing 11-game losing streak against the Gators.

Tennessee actually fell behind to Florida 21-0 early in the second quarter, and trailed 21-3 at the half. But the Vols battled back, took the lead for good on a 67-yard Josh Dobbs-to-Jauan Jennings touchdown connection two minutes into the fourth quarter and tacked on two more scores from there to secure the victory and the cash as four-point favorites.

In the end, Tennessee outgained the Gators, 498-402, and outrushed them, 179-106, while Dobbs threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns. The Vols now own a 10-game winning streak, stretching back to last season, going 6-4 ATS in the process.

Why the Georgia Bulldogs can cover the spread

Georgia owned an eight-game winning streak, with a 5-3 ATS run, until last week's 45-14 loss at Ole Miss. The Bulldogs just had one of those days when nothing goes right, falling behind 31-0 at the half and 45-0 before hitting the board. The best thing Georgia can do is put that game in the past and move on. A win this week is the only remedy.

The Bulldogs opened this season with a 33-24 victory over a now 3-1 North Carolina outfit, outgaining the Tar Heels that night, 474-315. Georgia then held off Nicholls State, then opened SEC play with a come-from-behind victory at Missouri. The Bulldogs can't let last week's loss get them down, because it might not even matter. A victory this week actually puts them in the driver's seat in the SEC East.

Smart pick

Tennessee exploded for its most important victory in three-plus seasons under head coach Butch Jones last week, while Georgia laid a huge egg against Ole Miss. But reversals of fortune occur every week in college football, and this game sets up for one. Also, how often can you get Georgia as a home dog? The smart money here likes the Bulldogs on the bounce-back.

Betting trends

Tennessee is 1-5 SU in its last six games against Georgia.

Tennessee is 4-0 ATS in its last four games against Georgia.

Tennessee is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games against its conference.

All college football betting lines and point-spread data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds-tracker app.