The Georgia Bulldogs are facing the Tennessee State Tigers in a non-conference matchup to begin the 2026 season. The game kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday in Athens, Georgia.
The Bulldogs are listed as 46.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 56.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for this Week 1 matchup.
Georgia vs. Tennessee State prediction, preview
Georgia Preview
The Georgia Bulldogs have been one of the best programs in college football over the past decade. Kirby Smart is arguably the best coach in the country and has made Georgia a winning machine. Over the past nine seasons, Georgia has won two national titles, won three SEC titles, made eight SEC title games and made five College Football Playoff appearances. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back SEC titles coming into this season and are the favorites to make it a three-peat. Gunner Stockton is now an experienced option at quarterback, and the defense will be one of the best in the country.
Tennessee State Preview
It was a rough 2025 season for Tennessee State. In the first season under Reggie Barlow, the Tigers went 2-10. They went winless in the OVC and need to improve in 2026. The Tigers already played in Week 0 and took a loss to Jackson State. Eddie George took this program to the FCS Playoffs in 2024, so Tennessee State is capable of building a winner. It will be on Barlow to try to get the Tigers back to that place with a new crop of talent. This game against Georgia is not one they can expect to win, but putting up a respectable effort could be something to build off.
Georgia vs. Tennessee State Pick
My best bet is for Tennessee State to cover as 46.5-point favorites. Kirby Smart is an elite head coach, but he does not really care about these games against vastly inferior opponents. Smart will use these games as a chance to work on very specific things he thinks his team needs to improve on, rather than treating them like a regular game. There are stories of Smart calling the same play multiple times in a row until it is run exactly how he wants it to be run.
Kirby Smart is conservative with pulling players early in these games. He won’t be very aggressive on offense and will prioritize keeping his team healthy. For those reasons, Kirby Smart is 0-10 ATS as a 40+-point favorite since taking over as Georgia head coach. That trend should continue in this game. Georgia could completely dominate, take their foot off the gas late and win this game 45-3. That would still result in a cover by the Tigers.
