Tennessee's Stunning Upset at Hands of Georgia State Was No Fluke
By Scott Rogust
It didn't take long for NCAA football fans to witness their first upset of the season.
On the first Saturday of the college football season, the Jeremy Pruitt-led Tennessee Vols lost to the Georgia State Panthers by the score of 38-30 on their home turf. Yes, you read that correctly, and no, it wasn't a fluke.
Let's get to the historical aspect of it. The Panthers handed the Vols their first home loss in the season opener since 1983. Oh, and the Tennessee football squad was favored to win by 25 points.
Georgia State hands Tennessee its first loss in a home season opener since 1983.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 31, 2019
The Vols were 25-pt favorites.
Entering today, SEC teams had won 82 straight as a favorite of 25 or more pts.
It's the largest loss by an SEC team in the last 40 seasons when favored by 25+ pts. pic.twitter.com/AfextntO5o
This is a Georgia State team that won only two games last year, and they looked like the stronger team throughout.
The Panthers took advantage of Tennessee's rather weak defensive line, as they rushed for 213 yards on 53 carries. Georgia State's biggest run came on quarterback Dan Ellington's 22-yard, game-clinching score.
Georgia State QB Dan Ellington with the shifty moves on his way to the endzone ? pic.twitter.com/1zGQRwaD4W
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 31, 2019
If Tennessee seemed weakest in one area, it was the offensive line. Georgia State's defense feasted at the line of scrimmage, as they sacked quarterback Jarrett Guarantano four times on Saturday. In fact, Evan Jones' sack fumble on Guarantano set up Ellington's game-ending touchdown.
Speaking of offensive line weakness, Tennessee's offense only accumulated 93 rushing yards the entire game, putting all the pressure on Guarantano.
While yes, this is an upset, but don't act so shocked as you determine why the Tennessee Vols lost.
They just got outplayed. They were worse. End of story.