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VFL Players’ Lounge: Jayson Swain & Jonathan Wade preview Vols & Bulldogs

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•11/04/22•

_Cainer

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Credit: On3 staff

As Tennessee embarks on an undefeated collision course with Georgia on Saturday, former Vols Jayson Swain & Jonathan Wade join Volquest for this edition of the VFL Players’ Lounge. Tennessee and Georgia will kick at 3:30 pm eastern time as the game will be televised on CBS.

The former wide receiver and defensive back preview the Bulldogs and the challenges of stopping All-American tight end Brock Bowers and underrated quarterback Stetson Bennett – as well as another solid defense under head coach Kirby Smart.

How will Tennessee pull off the ‘upset’? Find out on the VFL Players’ Lounge.

What’s at stake for the Vols?

Saturday’s matchup marks just the third regular season meeting between AP No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in SEC history. The road team won the previous two, both being LSU over Alabama in 2011 and 2019. The game will also be just the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 ranked matchup in Tennessee history, as the Vols topped the second-ranked Florida State Seminoles for the national championship win back in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee is seeking its first win over a No. 1 ranked team since defeating No. 1 Auburn in 1985. The Vols and the Bulldogs have never squared off in a top-five meeting. Georgia has won 16-straight at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee hasn’t won at the venue since the 2016 Dobbs-Jennings Hail Mary. Georgia leads the all-time series over Tennessee 26-23-2 and have won the past five meetings.

Vols looking to move to 3-0 on the road

This season the Vols are 6-0 at home and 2-0 on the road, with the toughest — and loudest — road test coming Saturday. 

“We’ll find out on game day,” Heupel said Thursday when asked about dealing with the soldout crowd at Sanford Stadium. “At the end of the day, there have been times since we’ve gotten here that we’ve handled being on the road extremely well. There are other times where we haven’t handled it. A lot of that is us. You know, the communication and playing smart football will be important on Saturday. I anticipate us handling it well.”

Vols not changing mindset as No. 1 team in CFP Top 25

Heupel told his team to enjoy the journey its on, instead of blocking out the noise, the same message he’s had all season. Being No. 1 in the CFP Top 25 didn’t change that

“I’m absolutely proud of what we’ve done up until this point, from the time we’ve gotten here until now,” Heupel said. “There are a lot of things we need to continue to get better at. But the reality is that’s the first show, the first rankings. Everybody remembers what you do in November. The only one that matters is the last one. 

“The reason we’ve gotten to the point that this is a big football game is because we’ve handled things the right way. Coaches and players alike. Preparation and practice and understanding the type of football team. It’s a really good football team and they’ve been winning for a while. Great opportunity for us.”

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