Tennessee @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2011 ) Georgia 20, Tennessee 12

High-powered offenses collide in Athens on Saturday when No. 5 Georgia, boasting its highest ranking since 2008, hosts Tennessee. The Bulldogs are on pace to set a school scoring record after posting at least 40 points in all four games this season. The Volunteers are looking for their first win over a ranked opponent under third-year coach Derek Dooley. To pull off the upset, they’ll need a monster performance from Tyler Bray, who leads the Southeastern Conference in passing yards (1,301) and passing touchdowns (12).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Georgia -13.5

ABOUT TENNESSEE (3-1, 0-1 SEC East): In an ominous sign, the Volunteers couldn’t put away Akron until the fourth quarter last Saturday. But Tennessee has a strong cast of playmakers led by Bray and wideouts Justin Hunter (410 receiving yards) and Cordarrelle Patterson. Tailback Rajion Neal ran for a career-high 151 yards last week. Middle linebacker A.J. Johnson (team-high 31 tackles) leads a defense that ranks 11th in the SEC in yards allowed (392.2). Tennessee has the talent to knock off a top-tier team, as it showed by leading Florida 20-13 midway through the third quarter two weeks ago. The Volunteers ultimately collapsed, losing 37-20.

ABOUT GEORGIA (4-0, 2-0 SEC East): Quarterback Aaron Murray hit his first 12 passes in last week’s home rout of Vanderbilt as the Bulldogs rolled up 567 total yards. Murray is the SEC’s leading active player in completions (516), TD passes (69) and passing yards (7,290). The Bulldogs bring tremendous balance thanks to a ground game averaging 242.5 yards, third-most in the SEC. Freshman Todd Gurley leads the SEC in rushing (101.5) and averages a whopping 9.2 yards per carry. Another freshman, Keith Marshall, has run for 264 yards and three scores. The defense could get a lift with the possible return from suspension of safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree.

EXTRA POINTS

1. It has been eight years since Tennessee defeated a team ranked fifth or higher. The upset came against LSU.

2. Georgia has won three of the past four meetings, including 20-12 in Knoxville last year. Tennessee leads the all-time series 21-18-2.

3. Georgia All-American outside linebacker Jarvis Jones has 17.5 sacks over his last 17 games.

PREDICTION: Georgia 41, Tennessee 27