ATHENS, GA. — Georgia is a 45.5-point favorite over Tennessee State for their Week 1 game at DraftKings Sportsbook. Georgia hosts Tennessee State on Saturday in Athens.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 entering the 2026 season. Georgia finished the previous season with a 12-2 record, won the SEC Championship, and lost to Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals (Sugar Bowl). Georgia is 0-10 against the spread when favored by at least 40 points under Kirby Smart, according to Bet Labs data.

In the 2025 season, Georgia was favored by 38.5 points against Marshall, 48.5 points against Austin Peay, and 53.5 points against Charlotte, but they failed to cover the spread in all three games, according to dawnofthedawg.com. The official record states that Georgia was a 45.5-point favorite against Tennessee State in their 2026 season opener, according to si.com.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said he knows the players are ready to play someone other than beating up on themselves in practice and that they are going against a formidable opponent every day they go out there in practice.

Smart said all the things the team has done so far leave him no doubt that they will go out and respond in game-type situations. The Bulldogs have not lost a season opener since 2013 against Clemson. Gunner Stockton is Georgia's quarterback, and Nate Frazier is the team's leading rusher.

Tennessee State is a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program. The Tigers lost 26-24 to Jackson State in Week 0 of the 2026 season. Reggie Barlow is the head coach of Tennessee State. Tennessee State has never played against Georgia.

Barlow said he thought the coaches did a good job of preparing the players for competition and that there were some positives to take away. Tennessee State allowed over 400 total yards in Week 0, including 180 rushing yards. The Tigers did not force any turnovers and allowed Jackson State to convert six of 13 third downs.

Daylin Lee is a transfer from Winston-Salem State who serves as Tennessee State's quarterback. Lee threw for 265 yards in the loss to Jackson State. He passed and rushed for a touchdown and did not throw any interceptions. Lee had 13 carries for 40 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Kirby Smart holds a 117-21 record as Georgia head coach. Smart has led Georgia to two national championships, four SEC championships, and five College Football Playoff appearances. Georgia defeated TCU 65-7 in the national title game four seasons ago. The Bulldogs have reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons.

Georgia allowed 17.6 points per game on defense in the previous season. The defense allowed 81.5 rushing yards per game, ranking fourth nationally. Georgia's offense ranked 51st nationally in the previous season.

Timeline

On Sept. 16, 2017, Georgia defeated Samford 42-14 as a 44.0-point favorite, resulting in an against-the-spread loss. On Nov. 17, 2018, Georgia defeated UMass 66-27 as a 42.0-point favorite, resulting in an against-the-spread loss.

On Sept. 7, 2019, Georgia defeated Murray State 63-17 as a 49.5-point favorite, resulting in an against-the-spread loss. On Nov. 20, 2021, Georgia defeated Charleston Southern 56-7 as a 54.5-point favorite, resulting in an against-the-spread loss.

On Sept. 7, 2024, Georgia defeated Tennessee Tech 48-3 as a 54.5-point favorite, resulting in an against-the-spread loss. On Nov. 23, 2024, Georgia defeated UMass 59-21 as a 42.5-point favorite, resulting in an against-the-spread loss.

Why It Matters

Georgia enters the 2026 season as a heavy favorite but faces a historical pattern of failing to cover large spreads under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs are 0-10 against the spread when favored by at least 40 points, a statistic that includes ten specific games where the margin of victory did not meet betting expectations. This trend persisted through the 2025 season, where Georgia failed to cover spreads of 38.5, 48.5, and 53.5 points against Marshall, Austin Peay, and Charlotte respectively.

Tennessee State arrives in Athens following a difficult 2-10 season in 2025 and a narrow 26-24 loss to Jackson State in Week 0 of the 2026 season. The Tigers allowed over 400 total yards and 180 rushing yards in their opener while failing to force any turnovers. Despite the mismatch, Georgia coaches have emphasized respect for Tennessee State's effort and the performance of quarterback Daylin Lee, who threw for 265 yards without an interception in the season-opening loss.