Georgia vs. UT Martin

Saturday, September 2^nd, 2023 6:00 PM EST

            UT Martin is a very solid FCS program who has shared/ won outright back to back Ohio Valley Conference titles. They will be replacing their QB, Dresser Winn, who graded out at 76.8 according to PFF in 2022. While the Skyhawks will be at a disadvantage in terms of team talent, they are not new to playing FBS opponents. In 2022, UT Martin went on the road to Boise State and Tennessee, losing those contests 7-30 and 24-65 respectively. The Skyhawks amassed 392 yards of offense, including 301 through the air against the Volunteers last year.

            Offensively, Jason Simpson’s squad runs a lot of spread concepts predicated on WR and RB motion. They are likely going to attack the perimeter early and often. UTM is also breaking in a new quarterback with Ole Miss transfer Kinkead Dent. Kinkead is a graduate transfer who appeared in 17 games for the Rebels in his career. Dent only saw 19 snaps last year, posting a PFF grade of 64.3 in very limited action.

            On defense, the Skyhawks run a 3 man front where the LB’s and secondary members are the primary tacklers. To put it nicely, Georgia should be able to cut through the Skyhawk front like a hot knife through butter. Tennessee ran for 201 yards on 46 carries against UTM. Georgia returns one of the best offensive lines in CFB and should not have any trouble moving the ball on the ground, no matter who is carrying it.

UT Martin Impact Players to Watch:

Daylan Dotson (DE) – All-OVC 1^st Team 2022, FCS All American 2^nd Team 2022. 48 total tackles, 14.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 5 FF, 15 QB hurries last season. 75.5 PFF Grade on 613 snaps in ’22. Dotson is a Georgia native, hailing from Savannah. Don’t let the team or level of football fool you, Daylan is a legit pass rusher who will be a good test for Amarius Mims and Earnest Greene.

Gavin Olson (OT) – All-OVC 1^st Team 2022, FCS All American 2^nd Team 2022. 39 games played in career. Gave up only 2 sacks on 401 pass blocking reps in ’22. 60.8 PFF Grade on 761 snaps last year. Can Georgia’s pass rush get home? UT Martin’s line ranked 6^th in FCS on sacks allowed last year. Olson anchors a solid group at LT, and it will be interesting to see if Georgia’s edge rushers can rack up QB pressures/sacks.

DJ Nelson (TE) – All-OVC 1^st Team 2022, FCS Freshman All American 2022. 21 receptions, 267 yards, 6 TDs in 11 games last year. The Skyhawks are replacing their QB1 and WR1 from last season, but they still have a weapon to use in Nelson. I am interested to see how the young ILB’s handle covering the TE’s after JDJ and Mondon/Sorey exit the game.

Betting Trends

There has yet to be an official spread released, but I would put the number somewhere in the low 40’s in Georgia’s favor. Same deal for the game total, but I would put that number in the mid to low 50’s. The Over is 5-1 in Georgia’s last 6 games. The Under is 5-0 in Georgia’s last 5 week 1 games. Georgia is 20-0 SU in their last 20 games in September. UT Martin has gone 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games. The total has gone Over in 4 out of UTM’s last 6 games.