Tennessee’s Week 2 trip to Georgia Tech opened with the oddsmakers showing plenty of respect for the Volunteers.
The Vols are listed as 13.5-point road favorites for their matchup with the Yellow Jackets, a number that stands out even before a deeper look at what both teams did in Week 1.
Georgia Tech had a chance to beat Colorado on Thursday night, but it let that game slip away in stunning fashion. The Yellow Jackets carried a 10-7 lead and had the ball deep in Colorado territory, first-and-10, with two minutes left.
Instead of closing it out, Tech wound up losing 14-13 when a field goal was blocked at the gun. For most of the night, it looked like the Yellow Jackets had the game under control.
Tennessee, meanwhile, handled Furman with ease. That result came with plenty to like, but it wasn’t perfect. The offensive line had some early issues in the run game, even as the Vols piled up enough good moments to leave plenty of optimism on the table.
There’s also a contrast in what each defense allowed on the ground. Colorado ran for more than 180 yards against Georgia Tech, while the Yellow Jackets managed just 51 rushing yards against a Colorado defense many viewed as undersized. Tennessee’s defensive front was dominant against Furman, and even allowing for the level of competition, that unit looks like a real strength right now.
The Week 1 performances may have nudged the line a bit, and that kind of movement isn’t unusual. Still, 13.5 points is a hefty number to lay on the road in a non-conference game.
If Tennessee can walk into Bobby Dodd Stadium and control the game, it would be a strong early indicator for a team that has Texas coming up two weeks later.
In Other News...
Tennessee Fans Still Found A Way To Keep Game Day Tradition Alive
Rain may have knocked out the full Tennessee Vol Walk before the Furman game at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, but it did not shut down one of the programs most familiar pregame traditions. With inclement weather forcing a cancellation, the scene outside the stadium still had the feel of a normal Saturday in Knoxville, only with ponchos, fans and a little more improvisation than usual.
Players and fans found a way to make the most of it with a modified walk that still brought both sides together before kickoff. The details were different, but the point of the tradition held up anyway, and for a fan base that treats game day as more than just the four quarters on the field, even a weather delay could not fully interrupt the ritual. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Found An Unexpected Defensive Tone-Setter In Its Debut Win
Xavier Gilliam made a memorable first impression in Tennessees opener, turning his debut into the kind of defensive spark that can change the tone of a season. The redshirt sophomore defensive lineman, a transfer from Penn State, finished with three sacks against Furman, giving the Volunteers a disruptive edge up front and immediately injecting some life into a unit looking for a tone-setter.
It was the most sacks by a Tennessee player in a single game since 2018, a noteworthy marker even against an overmatched opponent. More importantly for the Volunteers, Gilliams arrival added a new layer to the defensive line conversation and hinted at what kind of identity Jim Knowles may be trying to build on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has An Early O-Line Concern Before Georgia Tech
Tennessee got through its season opener against Furman with a little less certainty in the middle of the line than it expected. Sam Pendleton, the Vols returning starting center, was held out after an injury was discovered following warm-ups, leaving the offense to make a quick adjustment before kickoff. Sophomore Nic Moore stepped into the spot and handled the assignment well, giving Tennessee a usable answer in a pinch.
Josh Heupel said Pendleton is expected to be ready for the next game against Georgia Tech, which should ease the immediate concern for a line that needs stability early in the year. Even with Moores solid outing, the Vols will be watching closely to see how quickly Pendleton gets back into rhythm, because center is one of the spots where timing and communication matter as much as raw talent. [Read more 🡒]