Is Georgia that good? Is Tennessee that bad?

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Posted 5:27AM on Wednesday, October 6, 2004

ATLANTA - If ever a game looked like a blowout waiting to happen, it's the Tennessee-Georgia game in Athens on Saturday. The third-ranked Bulldogs played like national championship contenders in demolishing LSU 45-16 last week. The 17th-ranked Vols played giveaway with Auburn as the Tigers used six turnovers in a 34-10 rout at Tennessee. Add to that Georgia's four victories in a row in the series, capped by last year's 41-14 shelling in Knoxville. Tennessee had won nine in a row in the series it leads 17-14-2 before Georgia began its run of four. Two questions remain: is Georgia that good? Is Tennessee that bad? The answers are apparent. Georgia may be that good. Tennessee definitely isn't that bad. Forget about any blowout in Athens Saturday. There won't be one. The oddmakers don't expect a rout, but they do make the Bulldogs a substantial 12.5-point favorite. Coach Mark Richt expressed concern about a different Tennessee team showing up at Sanford Stadium this week. ``The psychology of the game is not really in our favor,'' the Georgia coach said. ``It's dangerous when you have a big victory and the other team had a tough game because it just usually lends itself to a letdown.'' Richt said he hopes his players won't let that happen, ``but I think our guys understand as big as last week's game was, this one is bigger without a doubt.'' This game is bigger because its a division game. The Vols already hold a victory over Florida, which along with Georgia and Tennessee generally figure to be the contenders for the division title. ``If they (Tennessee) beat us, they are clearly in the driver's seat,'' Richt said. It also goes the other way. If Georgia wins, the Bulldogs will definitely be in the driver's seat, even with tough games against Florida and Auburn remaining. This will be the first road game for Tennessee's freshmen tandem at quarterback, Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer. They will need all the help they can get from their mates, but it won't be enough. Georgia 24-10. Elsewhere around the SEC this week, with Arkansas enjoying an open date: Alabama (minus 5) at Kentucky: Both teams are strugging with two-game losing streaks. History gives a decided edge to Bama, which is 32-2-1 against the Wildcats, who won in overtime two years ago in Lexington. Go with history. Alabama 21-17. Louisiana Tech (plus 25) at No. 6 Auburn: The Bulldogs have an outstanding running back in Ryan Moats. Auburn goes the Bulldogs one better, with a pair Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown. Auburn 42-10. No. 24 LSU (plus 3.5) at No. 12 Florida: LSU's only loss last year came at home against the Gators. The Tigers already have lost two road games this year and this will be No. 3. Chris Leak and his mates keep rolling. Florida 24-17. Mississippi (plus 17) at No. 25 South Carolina: Lou Holtz puts a pretty solid defense on the field for the Gamecocks, who have climbed into the national rankings with their 4-1 start. South Carolina 21-7. UAB (minus 10.5) at Mississippi State: Watson Brown's alma mater Vanderbilt beat the Bulldogs last week. Now its time for Brown to match that as a coach, and his Blazers will do just that. UAB 21-14. Rutgers (plus 6) at Vanderbilt: The Commodores are going for a two-game winning streak, something that hasn't happened at Vandy since 1999 when successive victories were posted over Northern Illinois, Ole Miss and Duke. The 'Dores will win two weeks in a row, but forget about three. Georgia is next. Vanderbilt 28-24. Last week's totals: 6-1 straight, 3-4 vs. spread; for year, 34-7 straight, 15-21 vs. spread.