The Vols' BIG Opportunity

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Nico’s status… and what gives Tennessee confidence at Georgia

• The CFB Playoff updated rankings… and how much they matter

• Free-flowing thoughts ahead of UT’s huge game against UGA

• Why Alabama fans are once against not happy with Tennessee

TENNESSEE’S SHOT AT THE UPSET

Let’s start with the biggest question of the week for the Tennessee-Georgia game.

Will Nico Iamaleava play?

As of this writing, yes.

At least that’s the expectation.

Austin Price of Volquest told us on Wednesday’s show that Iamaleava was “trending in the right direction” after participating in team activity during practice that morning.

On Thursday, Chris Low of ESPN told us he expects Iamaleava to play as long as he doesn’t experience a setback before the team travels to Athens — noting the importance of following protocol for head injuries.

“He’s certainly on track to play and I think he will play,” Low said on Thursday afternoon.

That means Tennessee is preparing to have its starting quarterback on the field against Georgia.

📍 Athens, Ga.
⏰ 7:30 p.m. ET
📺 ABC
📻 99.1 The Sports Animal/WIVK

So what does that mean for Tennessee’s chance to pull off the upset in Athens, where Georgia sits as a 9.5-point favorite?

Tennessee has a real shot to win.

The No. 1 reason: the Vols’ defensive front.

Ole Miss dominated Georgia’s offensive line last week.

Tennessee’s defensive line, which has both elite talent and legit depth, has to be confident it can win against Georgia’s offensive line.

College football analyst Booger McFarland, a former All-American defensive lineman at LSU, pointed to that matchup during ESPN’s playoff ranking broadcast on Tuesday.

Tennessee is a big underdog in this game — but not as big as we’ve seen in recent years.

Georgia has struggled on offense, at least by its elite standard.

The Bulldogs have the No. 15 rushing offense in the SEC.

And on Thursday night, Georgia ruled leading rusher Trevor Etienne OUT due to injury.

That leaves a struggling UGA rushing attack thin at running back.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has also dealt with turnover issues this season.

Beck, a preseason first-team All-SEC selection, has more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10) in SEC games this season.

Georgia couldn’t protect Beck last week, and Tennessee believes it can pressure UGA’s quarterback this weekend.

That’s where Tennessee’s confidence has to start.

There are also reasons to be concerned.

This is a Georgia program that has proven it can respond when doubted or facing pressure.

As an underdog at Texas on Oct. 19, Georgia controlled the game and won 30-15.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart is a master motivator; he knows how to get his team to dial in.

The Bulldogs will also have a home crowd behind them.

The last time Tennessee entered a night game on the road, the Vols lost 19-14 at Arkansas.

Tennessee has to expect Georgia’s best punch knowing the Bulldogs view this as a College Football Playoff elimination game.

Will Tennessee be up to the task?

Let’s see how Nico — and Tennessee’s offense — looks early in the game.

Two years ago when Tennessee went to Athens, Georgia made it clear which team was better.

If Tennessee can hang in there for the first 30 minutes, the second half might lead to Tennessee’s biggest victory under Josh Heupel.

PLAYOFF SPECULATION

The updated College Football Playoff rankings came out on Tuesday.

And they sure drew a reaction.

One of the biggest talking points: BYU and Indiana jumping Tennessee from the previous week’s ranking.

Two unbeaten teams being ahead of a one-loss team isn’t a big deal.

But the timing was odd; Tennessee ranked ahead of BYU and Indiana last week.

On Saturday, Tennessee beat Mississippi State 33-14 while BYU edged out Utah 22-21 and Indiana held off Michigan 17-15.

Utah (4-5 record) and Michigan (5-5) have been two of the most disappointing teams from the preseason Top 25.

So why did BYU and Indiana jump in front of Tennessee this week?

Here’s what College Football Playoff committee chairman Warde Manuel, who’s also the AD at Michigan, said Tuesday night:

Neither Michigan nor Utah rank near the Top 25, so describing those close wins as “big” seems like a stretch.

Manuel was also asked if the questionable injury status of Iamaleava affected their view of Tennessee, and Manuel said no — that “it had nothing to do with it.”

There’s this possibility: the committee decided the two undefeated teams deserved to be higher and, in hindsight, should have been the previous week.

Manuel wouldn’t say that out loud if that was a factor, but it’s a possibility.

There’s also this reality: a bunch of games will be played in the next four weekends to shape the actual 12-team field.

If Tennessee wins at Georgia on Saturday, UT won’t have to worry about it’s ranking this past Tuesday.

If BYU gets upset against Kansas this weekend or Indiana loses at Ohio State next week, those teams will drop, too.

Also, if BYU continues to win, it will receive a top-4 seed as a conference title winner… making its ranking less relevant.

The explanation from Manuel on Tennessee’s placement (and other subjects) can be frustrating.

It’s difficult to know what, if anything, it means for how the playoff field will be selected.

That’s because there are so many games to go.

That should be the focus — not the made-for-TV rankings update we receive on a Tuesday night.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Here’s a look at how UGA will handle the running back position without Etienne. Talented freshman Nate Frazier looks like the first man up (watch out for Dillon Bell, too).

🏈 Wondering what’s up with UGA quarterback Carson Beck’s down performances? Bruce Feldman spoke to NFL people for their opinions. (Athletic subscription required)

🏈 Michigan reportedly has an $11.5 million offer for five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who’s committed to LSU.

🏈 Expect a bumpy road as colleges begin issuing contracts to athletes during the transition to sharing revenue with athletes.

🏈 Here’s another story on the ACC and Big 12 planning to meet with leaders of two big projects: the “College Student Football League” and “Project Rudy.”

🏀 Something to feel good about: Tennessee fans have helped raise money for the family of Montana basketball player Money Williams, whose father and mother both passed away in the last year.

🏀 See where Tennessee lands in the CBS Sports Power Poll following an impressive road win at Louisville last weekend.

⚾ Former Tennessee pitcher Garrett Crochet won MLB’s Comeback Player of the Year award on the American League side.

RUNNING THOUGHTS ON UT-UGA

There will be a lot of factors that decide this Tennessee-Georgia game.

We covered a few earlier — the status of Nico, Tennessee’s defensive line, and Georgia’s home field advantage.

How about a few more thoughts on some keys to the biggest game of the weekend.

🟠 Tennessee's big plays

Wide receiver Dont'e Thornton is questionable for the Georgia game after leaving the Mississippi State game due to an “upper body injury.”

Thornton has been Tennessee’s best big-play threat in the passing game this season; his status will be important to watch.

Will someone else step up and make a big play?

Squirrel White scored on a long touchdown catch last week.

What about Bru McCoy? Chris Brazzell?

(Freshman Mike Matthews is a Georgia native…)

The Vols will need to hit some deep shots against Georgia.

⚫ Can Sampson do it again?

Dylan Sampson is having one of the best individual seasons in Tennessee history.

He already holds UT’s single-season record for rushing touchdowns.

He has a shot to break Travis Stephens’ single-season rushing yardage record — Sampson is 335 yards behind Stephens’ 2001 record (1,464 yards).

Sampson has carried the ball 26+ times in each of the last four games; he had 30 carries last week.

DeSean Bishop is out again this week, leaving sophomore Cam Seldon and freshman Peyton Lewis as backup options.

Expect Sampson to handle as much as he can on Saturday night.

🟠 Georgia’s home success

One more thing on trying to beat Georgia on the road…

The last time Georgia lost at Sanford Stadium: Oct. 12, 2019.

That’s when South Carolina beat Georgia 20-17 in double overtime.

Georgia turned the ball over four times that day. South Carolina had zero turnovers.

Tennessee shouldn’t need a 4-0 turnover advantage to win this game.

But Georgia’s home winning streak offers a reminder of how good they’ve been in Athens.

⚫ Special teams plays

Boo Carter looked electric as Tennessee’s punt returner last week.

But will he get any opportunities on Saturday?

Georgia has only allowed five punt returns all season.

Those five returns have produced negative-8 yards.

Max Gilbert bounced back in a big way last week.

Tennessee’s placekicker made all four field goal attempts, including a career-best 51-yarder.

Gilbert might need to do it again on Saturday.

🟠 The last time Tennessee beat Georgia...

was 2016 when Jauan Jennings caught a Hail Mary to beat the Bulldogs.

The previous week, Georgia had lost at Ole Miss.

This week, Georgia is coming off a loss at Ole Miss.

Will history repeat itself this weekend?

➡️ Did you know?

Tennessee is trying to beat Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the same season for the first time since 2004?

Another streak UT fans are ready to see end.

CHECK(ER) THIS OUT

Tennessee has added a second win against Alabama.

Word started to travel this week about a unique-looking water tower in Calera, Ala.

As you can see above, it has a Tennessee-style checkerboard design.

This has NOT set well with a number of local residents who pull for Alabama… and pull against Tennessee.

This led to an official post for clarification from the City of Calera. Via Facebook:

Tennessee fans love to brag about the Big Orange being everywhere.

Add this story to the list of evidence.

NEVER miss an episode of Josh and Swain. Here are a few ways to listen to the podcast:

• Apple

• Spotify

• Amazon

• Stitcher

• iHeart

And watch on YouTube!

If you haven’t subscribed to the newsletter, please do so below to receive a free weekly email.

If you ARE subscribed and enjoy the newsletter, please share it with someone else you think might enjoy it, too.

Thank you for reading!