Saturday Blitz
Fansided

The best college football game for each week in November

By Austin Lloyd

ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 5: Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs knocks the ball out of the hand of Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game between Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 5: Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs knocks the ball out of the hand of Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game between Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – NOVEMBER 05: Kenny McIntosh #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs rushes as Jaylen McCollough #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers attempts a tackle in the first half at Sanford Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – NOVEMBER 05: Kenny McIntosh #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs rushes as Jaylen McCollough #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers attempts a tackle in the first half at Sanford Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Week 12: Georgia at Tennessee (Nov. 18)

Right on cue, boys.

In Week 10, we mentioned LSU at Alabama—which I explicitly said will not be the SEC’s biggest game—while covering Washington at USC—which will likely be the Pac-12’s biggest game. Then, in Week 11, we covered Michigan at Penn State—which will likely be the Big Ten’s biggest game. What better way to follow that trio up than with what is officially the top regular-season game in the mighty Southeastern Conference? Enter Week 12’s Georgia at Tennessee.

The Bulldogs are actually a pleasant surprise to have on today’s list, as this is their first time making an appearance in any of them (thanks to a relatively weak schedule). With that said, we had to take advantage of their biggest threat finally showing up.

Especially when held next to Georgia’s other opponents, the Volunteers are inarguably the toughest adversaries that the Dawgs are set to face in their 2023 regular season. But just for fun, let’s argue the point anyway.

Last year, the Bulldogs entered the postseason with only three wins decided by under three scores (all of which were in league play); they beat Missouri by four points, Tennessee by 14, and Kentucky by 10. Of those three foes, only Tennessee faced them in Athens.

That means two things: Firstly, it means the Volunteers gave them trouble that no other team could, and that speaks volumes about what could ride on the 2023 meeting from a postseason standpoint; secondly, it means the Volunteers will be at home for said meeting. Those factors would make things tricky for Georgia no matter what, but to me, it’s the uniqueness of Tennessee’s stadium that puts it all over the top.

With the ability to hold around 102,000 people, Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium is not only amongst the largest sports venues in the SEC, but also in college football, America, and the world. Combining two passionate fanbases in there for a rivalry game of this magnitude is going to make for one of the most chaotic atmospheres of the entire college football season.

When you put the biggest matchup from the best conference in one of the biggest stadiums ever built, it produces the exact reason as to why college football is so beloved. If this game turns out to be even remotely competitive, it’ll have been worth every second we spent watching it.

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