Three crucial games for Tennessee in 2015: Georgia

Though Tennessee’s recent string of losses to Georgia is not quite as long as the streak against Florida, the Vols’ five straight losses to the Bulldogs are not something that UT fans are accustomed to.

The last time that Georgia possessed a streak of five wins in a row over the Vols was 1924.

During those five wins though, the final score has been close in the last four meetings, something that cannot be said about losing streaks to some of Tennessee’s other SEC foes.

Tennessee’s last four losses to Georgia have been by an average of 5.25 points, compared to an average of 27.75 points against Alabama in that same time span.

This year’s matchup will play a huge part in determining the winner of the SEC East, and could even be considered the SEC East Championship Game, since Georgia and Tennessee will likely be the top two teams in the eastern division.

This game comes at an interesting point on the schedule for both teams.

Georgia will be coming off of a home matchup with Alabama one week earlier, and will have to face Missouri the week after the road trip to Knoxville.

If the Bulldogs pull off the upset at home against Alabama, which is not far fetched, then Georgia could be due for a let down performance against the Vols.

This was the case in 2013, when Georgia beat sixth-ranked LSU at home in a huge game, and then almost lost to an upset-minded UT team on the road seven days later.

For Tennessee, this game comes the week after they face a run heavy Arkansas team, which could serve as preparation for star Georgia running back Nick Chubb.

Chubb is undoubtedly Georgia’s best weapon heading into the 2015 season, as he rushed for 1,547 yards last season while only serving as the starter for a portion of the season.

Chubb will definitely be a factor in this game, but the key to the game for Georgia will be how their quarterback performs.

2014 starter Hutson Mason graduated after last season, and the Bulldogs will be breaking in a new signal caller this season, presumably sophomore Brice Ramsey, who has seen limited action.

The trip to Knoxville on Oct. 10 will be the first hostile environment that Ramsey (or whoever takes the starting job) will face.

The only road trip before this one for Georgia will be a game at Vanderbilt.

A raucous crowd of 102,455 screaming Tennessee fans is not exactly an ideal atmosphere for any opposing quarterback, especially a first year starter.

Don’t be surprised if those close UT losses from the past five seasons transform into a win this time around.

#georgia #tennessee #sec #seceast