Tennessee Volunteers at Georgia Bulldogs
Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 7:00 PM ET | Stegeman Coliseum (Athens, GA)
An SEC rivalry renews itself Wednesday night in Athens as Tennessee visits Georgia in a matchup that blends familiarity with urgency. While both programs know each other well, this meeting carries new stakes as conference positioning tightens and postseason resumes begin to take shape. Tennessee arrives battered by a gauntlet schedule but is coming off a statement road win at Alabama. Georgia, meanwhile, counters with one of the most dynamic offenses in the conference as the Bulldogs look to protect their home floor and secure a defining SEC victory.
Betting Lines
• ESPN Analytics Win Probability: Tennessee 54.1%, Georgia 45.9
The projection points to a narrow margin, reflecting Georgia’s home-court advantage and Tennessee’s slight edge in defensive consistency.
Resume Check
Tennessee
The Volunteers are powered by Ja’Kobi Gillespie (18.8 PPG, 5.5 APG), a guard capable of controlling games through both scoring and playmaking. Tennessee plays at an efficient pace, spreads the floor well, and generates offense from multiple sources. Despite navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country, the Vols remain a well-coached group that continues to defend at a high level.
Georgia
Georgia is led by Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.7 PPG), a shot-maker who thrives when the Bulldogs play downhill and find early rhythm. Somtochukwu Cyril provides rim protection and rebounding, anchoring Georgia’s interior defense. The Bulldogs are capable of scoring in bunches, particularly when the tempo increases, though defensive inconsistency has been an issue away from extended home stretches.
Players to Watch
Tennessee
• Ja’Kobi Gillespie (G): Offensive catalyst and primary decision-maker.
• Jaylen Carey (F): Physical rebounder who impacts both ends of the floor.
• Felix Okpara (F): Shot blocker who deters drives and anchors the paint.
Georgia
• Jeremiah Wilkinson (G): Must shoulder the scoring load and create off the dribble.
• Somtochukwu Cyril (C): Interior anchor and defensive tone-setter.
• Marcus Millender (G): Secondary creator who can swing momentum with timely shots.
How Tennessee Wins
Tennessee must control spacing and allow Gillespie to dictate tempo. Attacking Georgia’s interior defenders, forcing help rotations, and generating open perimeter looks will open the game. If the Vols limit turnovers and avoid prolonged scoring droughts, they can execute late and close this one out.
How Georgia Wins
Georgia needs to turn this into a fast-paced game. Winning the rebounding battle, protecting the paint, and forcing Tennessee into contested jumpers are critical. If Wilkinson gets hot and the Bulldogs defend without fouling, an upset becomes realistic in Athens.
Prediction
Both teams have shown inconsistency in SEC play, but this matchup ultimately comes down to defense. Tennessee’s ability to guard for 40 minutes gives the Vols a slight edge over a Georgia team that leans heavily on shot-making. In a tight, physical contest, Tennessee’s defensive discipline should be the difference late.
Pick: Tennessee 78, Georgia 74
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