The Tennessee State Tigers (0-1) and the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (0-0) meet Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff in Athens, Georgia, is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (SEC Network+). Let's analyze college football odds around the Tennessee State vs. Georgia odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Tennessee State came up just short in its opener, falling 26-24 to the Jackson State Tigers, but they still cashed as 12.5-point home underdogs while the Over (49.5) hit. QB Daylin Lee kept things interesting, throwing for 265 yards and a TD while rushing for 40 yards and another score. WR Jayden Guy was his favorite target, hauling in 9 passes for 148 yards, while RB Brenton Paul chipped in with 38 rushing yards and a TD.
Georgia remained among college football’s elite in 2025, finishing 12-2 overall and 7-1 in SEC play, with its only regular-season loss coming against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs got their revenge when it mattered, dominating the Crimson Tide 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game to win their second straight conference title.
Offensively, QB Gunner Stockton (2,894 passing yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs, 462 rusing yards, 10 TDs) returns in 2026 after taking over the starting job and leading Georgia’s offense in 2025, while RB Nate Frazier (947 rushing yards, 6 TDs) is also back to give the Bulldogs an experienced weapon out of the backfield. Georgia does have to replace some important pieces, including WR Zachariah Branch, leaving Stockton to work with a reshuffled group of playmakers.
After earning the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, Georgia’s run ended in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal with a 39-34 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels, a team the Bulldogs had beaten 43-35 earlier in the season. The loss ended Georgia’s pursuit of a third national championship under Kirby Smart, but 2025 still produced 12 wins, an SEC championship and another CFP appearance.
This will be the first that time the Tigers and Bulldogs have met on the football field.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Tennessee State at Georgia odds
Provided by Fanduel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:14 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Tennessee State +7000 (bet $100 to win $7000) | Georgia (off the board)
- Against the spread (ATS): Tennessee State +47.5 (-110) | Georgia -47.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 54.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
Tennessee State at Georgia picks and predictions
Prediction
Georgia 47, Tennessee State 7
Moneyline
You can't, and wouldn't, bet Georgia on the moneyline, so turn to the spread.
Against the spread
Georgia should have little trouble winning Saturday, but covering nearly 7 touchdowns is asking the Bulldogs to keep their foot on the gas for 4 quarters. That’s not usually the plan in these early-season mismatches. Stockton and company should build a comfortable lead before Smart turns things over to the backups and starts thinking about getting everyone home healthy.
Tennessee State showed some fight in its 26-24 opener against Jackson State, with Lee accounting for 305 total yards and 2 TDs. The Tigers don’t need to make this competitive — they just need to hang around enough to avoid getting completely steamrolled.
A late touchdown against Georgia’s reserves could be all it takes to cash this ticket. The Bulldogs win big, empty the bench and move along, while Tennessee State sneaks inside this monster number. BET TENNESSEE STATE +47.5.
Over/Under
Georgia should control this one early, then hit cruise control. The Bulldogs allowed fewer than 18 points per game last season, while Tennessee State managed only 89 rushing yards in its opener. Once Georgia builds a big lead, expect Smart to empty the bench, pound the running game and burn some clock instead of chasing 60.
That’s a nice recipe for a sleepy second half. It will be a close call, but BET THE UNDER 54.5 (-108).
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Tennessee State Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs odds, picks and predictions
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