For Georgia Tech, the opportunity on Saturday is as significant as the challenge.
Tennessee is the first ranked opponent the Yellow Jackets will face this season and one of two SEC opponents on the schedule, with Georgia waiting in the regular-season finale.
A victory would give the Jackets a signature win, erase some of the sting from the Colorado loss and provide an early indication that they can contend in the ACC and beyond.
Another loss would leave Georgia Tech 0-2 for the first time since 1989 and put significantly more pressure on the remainder of the season. After Tennessee, the Jackets face Mercer before traveling to Stanford for their ACC opener.
Tennessee, meanwhile, arrives 1-0 after a 56-9 victory over Furman. The Volunteers also have plenty ahead of them, with Texas, Alabama, LSU and other ranked opponents on their schedule. Saturday represents their first road test of the season.
For both teams, Saturday offers an early chance to find out whether their expectations are warranted.
“You can make too big a deal about it,” said Tech coach Brent Key. “You can act like the whole season is ahead of you, but like you’re trying to pull them out of a cliff or a ravine. But it’s pretty obvious we have a great opportunity for us this week with Tennessee coming in.”
Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee TV channel, streaming info, game time
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12
Location: Atlanta, Bobby Dodd Stadium (52,113 capacity)
TV: ESPN
Streaming: WatchESPN
Broadcast crew: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
Radio info for Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee
Georgia Tech Sports Network
Announcers: Andy Demetra (play-by-play), Andrew Gardner (analyst) and Chris Mooneyham (sideline)
Affiliates: 1230 AM, Xtra 106.3 FM in Atlanta
Satellite: SiriusXM 179 or 234
Mobile apps: GT Yellow Jackets, 680 The Fan, SiriusXM, Tunein
Online: RamblinWreck.com, 680TheFan.com
Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee odds, weather forecast, series history
Tennessee is a 12.5-point favorite, according to Vegas Insider. The over/under is 56.5.
Weather: 78 degrees at kickoff, 37% chance of rain, per AccuWeather.com.
Series history: Tennessee leads 25-17-2. The series began in 1902, with the Jackets and Volunteers meeting 44 times, including all but seven years from 1946-87. They have played just once since 1987, a double-overtime Tennessee victory in the 2017 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Saturday’s game is the first between the teams at Bobby Dodd Stadium since Tech won 14-13 in 1986.
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