Tennessee fans don’t have to wait until next week to start sizing up Georgia Tech.
The Vols are set to play Furman on Saturday, but Thursday night brings a useful preview of Tennessee’s Week 2 opponent. Georgia Tech will host Colorado in a nationally televised matchup that kicks off at 8:00 pm Eastern Time on ESPN from Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
There’s already a clear lean from the oddsmakers. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Georgia Tech as a 6.5-point favorite, down a half-point from the original 7-point opening line. The over-under has held steady at 51.5 points.
The numbers at ESPN point the same way. The Yellow Jackets are given a 58.5% chance to win, making the ACC side the projected edge in the matchup.
For Tennessee, the timing makes this game especially relevant. Georgia Tech is the Vols’ Week 2 opponent, so Thursday night gives fans - and the staff - an early chance to watch the Yellow Jackets against another Power 4 team.
Colorado may not be projected as a strong opponent, but the game still offers a look at Georgia Tech in a major-conference setting. In a sport where every edge matters, that kind of tape can tell you plenty before Tennessee gets there next week.
That said, the Vols still have business to handle first. Furman is the task in front of them, and no one inside the program can afford to look past Saturday.
But once that game is over, Georgia Tech vs. Colorado will have a lot more meaning for Tennessee fans eager to see what the Vols’ first Power 4 test of the season might look like.
In Other News...
Former Tennessee Transfers Are Turning Up In Some Awkward Places
When Tennessee turned over so much of its roster through the portal, the next step was always going to be seeing where all those former Volunteers landed. A sizable chunk stayed in the Power Four, and a notable number remained in the SEC, which is part of what makes the offseason so oddly familiar around Knoxville. The programs departures are scattered across the country now, and for Tennessee fans, the connections do not disappear just because the jerseys changed.
Peyton Lewis added another layer to that familiar feeling by showing up in a Week Zero game for Virginia, a reminder that the portal rarely keeps old ties at a distance for long. For Tennessee, the broader picture is bigger than any single move, with former players popping up in places that can feel a little awkward when the new season starts and old opponents suddenly include faces that once wore orange. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Has A Huge Recruiting Opportunity This Weekend
Tennessee is turning a football weekend into a full-court recruiting showcase, with the mens basketball staff set to host several elite prospects on official visits while the Vols have the campus spotlight. Among the visitors are five-star point guard Cayden Daughtry and four-star point guard Micah Gordon from the 2027 class, along with five-star forward Bentley Lusakueno from the 2028 class, giving Rick Barnes and his staff a chance to put the program in front of some of the nations most intriguing young talents.
The timing matters because these trips line up with football game weekends, when Knoxville is at its liveliest and the athletic department can lean into the atmosphere. Tennessee is not the only program trying to make an impression, but the Vols will also have the Lady Vols welcoming five-star point guard Cece Dennis, adding another notable recruiting stop to what could be a busy and important stretch for the school across both programs. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Is Already Chasing A Massive Lineman For Its Future
Tennessee is already looking well down the road in its offensive line recruiting, and the latest name on the board is Rex George-Taylor, a 2028 prospect from Darlington, Ga. The Volunteers extended a scholarship offer to the towering junior, who checks in at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, adding him to a growing early list that also includes offers from Cincinnati, Mississippi State and Connecticut.
George-Taylors reaction to the Tennessee offer was part of the story, but the bigger takeaway for Vols fans is how aggressively the staff is approaching future line prospects this far out. Recruiting for players still years away from signing day is all about getting in early and staying present, and Tennessee appears to have done just that, with more developments expected as his recruitment continues to build. [Read more 🡒]