TENNESSEE VS. GEORGIA STATE
3:30 p.m. at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville
VIDEO & RADIO
ESPNU & 106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
After the loss of senior Emmit Gooden to a torn ACL in the preseason, Tennessee doesn’t have a defensive lineman with a start for the Volunteers under his belt. That position group was bolstered by this week’s news that Michigan transfer Aubrey Solomon – who has appeared in 18 college games – was granted a waiver from the NCAA making him eligible immediately, but the line still doesn’t have much in the way of collegiate experience. The first challenge will be dealing with a Georgia State offense led by two 2018 All-Sun Belt Conference linemen – left tackle Hunter Atkinson (third team) and left guard Shamarious Gilmore (honorable mention) – and senior quarterback Dan Ellington, an honorable mention all-conference selection last fall after throwing for 2,119 yards and 12 touchdowns and leading the Panthers with 625 rushing yards.
ONE TO WATCH
With quarterbacks often criticized for their teams losing regardless of their individual performances, Jarrett Guarantano has had to take his licks during his Tennessee career – some justified, some not. The belief from many around the program is that the 6-foot-4, 213-pound junior with 18 starts in his Vols career is ready to take the next step as a leader on this team. He’ll be challenged some by a Georgia State defense that returns seven starters from a team that ranked inside the top 50 nationally in scoring defense and just outside the top 60 in yards allowed per game.
IN THE END
As of Friday afternoon, the biggest question entering this game was whether the Vols would cover the 27-point spread afforded to them by oddsmakers. Maybe the offense is where it needs to be; maybe the defense will be. There always will be things that need to be cleaned up after the first game, but having to watch video after a loss won’t be one of them. Jeremy Pruitt’s second season opener as Tennessee’s coach will go much better than his first, the rushing game will be a strong point and the Vols will get a big win to start the 2019 season.
PREDICTION
Tennessee 34, Georgia State 10
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.