Tennessee’s 56-9 demolition of Furman introduced the SEC to freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 68 yards and two scores.
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Now comes the important part: his first real road test.
Georgia Tech enters under pressure after losing 14-13 to Colorado. The Yellow Jackets managed only 51 rushing yards and had a potential game-winning field goal blocked as time expired.
That inability to run is particularly concerning against Tennessee. The Volunteers recorded seven sacks against Furman and now get linebacker Arion Carter back after his one-game suspension.
Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza completed 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards in the opener, but Tennessee will try to make him one-dimensional. If the Vols shut down the running game, their pass rush can attack obvious passing situations.
For Tennessee, the question is how Brandon responds when things don’t go perfectly. Furman never put him under sustained pressure. Georgia Tech will disguise looks, bring pressure and feed off a home crowd desperate for a response.
Josh Heupel doesn’t need Brandon to win this game by himself. Tennessee’s running game and defense can carry much of the burden while the freshman takes calculated shots.
I expect Georgia Tech to make this uncomfortable early. But Tennessee appears substantially more explosive offensively, and its defensive front presents a serious problem for the Jackets.
Brandon passes his first road examination.
Prediction: Tennessee 31, Georgia Tech 17
