NCAA Football Odds: The Georgia Bulldogs begin their march toward a possible third straight national championship on Saturday when the Skyhawks of UT-Martin come to Sanford Stadium. The Skyhawks are an FCS program, but they have put together a 17-7 record over the last two seasons, including a 10-1 record in Ohio Valley Conference play. UT-Martin has taken on such teams as Boise State and Tennessee in the recent past, and they even sat tied with Tennessee, 7-7, in the first quarter before the Volunteers shook their lethargy off and rolled to a 65-24 win. Dresser Winn threw for 301 yards and a pair of scores in the loss. What can UT-Martin do against a mighty foe like the Bulldogs? Read on to find our College Football betting thoughts on this Week 1 showdown.
NCAA Football Odds: Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Georgia Bulldogs | Bet College Football Betting Lines
When: Saturday, September 2, 2023, 6:00 pm ET
Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
TV: SEC ESPN Network
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: ESPN+
NCAAF Odds: Georgia -44.5
Why should you bet on the Skyhawks?
The Skyhawks have tremendous continuity in their coaching staff. Head coach Jason Simpson has led the team since 2006, making him one of the most successful constructors of a program in some time. His NFL coaching tree is one of the most impressive among FCS coaches. Simpson himself played quarterback for Mississippi State from 1990 to 1992; after that, he transferred to Southern Miss, where he will play baseball instead. Simpson’s longevity means that the offense will run the same system. The Skyahwks do have an offensive coordinator from last year, but the DC is new, which will lead to some tension in the early going.
Tennessee-Martin saw three players named preseason FCS All-American players: defensive end Daylan Dotson, offensive guard Gavin Olson, and tight end D.J. Nelson. Dotson led the Ohio Valley Conference with 9 ½ sacks, and he also had 11 ½ tackles for loss and 48 total tackles. He brings both speed and physicality and plays right to the ball.
NCAA Football Odds | Bet on the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks!
Why should you put your money on the Bulldogs?
Once Kirby Smart named Carson Beck as the starting quarterback after the departure of Stetson Bennett IV, the only real question left is the defense, as the Bulldogs lost so many starters on that side of the ball that we will see new contributors on all three levels. On offense, the Bulldogs still have tight end Brock Bowers, possibly the best player in the nation. Ladd McConkey returns at wide receiver, so Beck will have open targets down the field. Rara Thomas (Mississippi State) and Dominic Lovett (Missouri) came through the transfer portal and are expected to have an immediate impact. On the O-line, the Bulldogs have four first-string guys who have started games, and the team has about 10 offensive linemen who can come in and play to the same elite level as the last two championship-winning teams.
The defense actually went through rebuilding last season, so even with the large number of departures, there is also some veteran talent still on the team. Warren Brinson, Tramel Walthour, Zion Logue, and Nazir Stackhouse all return up front. Mykel Williams missed the majority of the spring after undergoing foot surgery, but he will return ready to dominate opposing passers. At outside linebacker, the Bulldogs are relying on youth, but Smael Mondon Jr and Jamon Dumas-Johnson return to start at the inside positions. Three starters return for the secondary, including Javon Bullard, who was the MVP of the Peach Bowl and the National Championship and who might move from STAR to safety.
NCAA Football Odds | Bet on the Georgia Bulldogs!
Final Score and Prediction
This is an immense line. Georgia can certainly hold the Skyhawks in single digits, but it would take just a couple of stalled drives to make covering a dicey proposition. I don’t really like to bet heavy on games with this size of a point spread, but if you insist on taking one side of the point spread, I would go with Georgia to win and cover.
NCAA Football Odds | AP Top 25
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (60) | 1,572 |
| 2 | Michigan (2) | 1,490 |
| 3 | Ohio State (1) | 1,400 |
| 4 | Alabama | 1,398 |
| 5 | LSU | 1,276 |
| 6 | Southern California | 1,245 |
| 7 | Penn State | 1,177 |
| 8 | Florida State | 1,147 |
| 9 | Clemson | 1,032 |
| 10 | Washington | 977 |
| 11 | Texas | 882 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 868 |
| 13 | Notre Dame | 863 |
| 14 | Utah | 811 |
| 15 | Oregon | 732 |
| 16 | Kansas State | 501 |
| 17 | TCU | 416 |
| 18 | Oregon State | 406 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 386 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 296 |
| 21 | North Carolina | 292 |
| 22 | Ole Miss | 281 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | 227 |
| 24 | Tulane | 224 |
| 25 | Iowa | 131 |
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