Saturday Blitz
Fansided

SEC Football: 5 most important SEC East games for 2017

By Erich Hilkert

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Head coaches Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Head coaches Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 1: Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers is sacked by Natrez Patrick #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 1: Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers is sacked by Natrez Patrick #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 2 – Georgia at Tennessee (Sept. 30)

The Georgia-Tennessee game last season was probably the most exciting finish of any SEC game (although you could at least make an argument for South Carolina-Vanderbilt). Tennessee’s Jauan Jennings made a spectacular catch on a Hail Mary with just four seconds left in the game for the win.

While this rivalry has featured brief periods of domination by one team, the last four contests have been decided by a combined 16 points. The last three contests at Neyland Stadium have been decided by a combined 18 points. Georgia won in overtime in 2013, while Tennessee won 38-31 in 2015.

Tennessee will feature a new quarterback this season and Joshua Dobbs won’t be easy to replace. Junior Quinten Dormady appears to be the early favorite, but Georgia returns last season’s starter Jacob Eason. Eason will be tested by a deep Tennessee secondary. However, Eason is fortunate to have one of the best backfield in the SEC with Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and incoming freshman speedster D’Andre Swift. The Tennessee defense faces a major test.

Home/SEC