ESPN analyst has a different take on why Tennessee Vols lost to the Georgia Bulldogs
The Tennessee Vols' 27-13 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs has been dissected in just about every possible way this week. Everything from "Georgia has more talent" to "Tennessee's scheme doesn't work against elite teams" (obviously the scheme works, just ask Alabama or LSU) has been tossed out there as a reason for the Vols' loss. […]
The Tennessee Vols' 27-13 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs has been dissected in just about every possible way this week.
Everything from "Georgia has more talent" to "Tennessee's scheme doesn't work against elite teams" (obviously the scheme works, just ask Alabama or LSU) has been tossed out there as a reason for the Vols' loss.
ESPN analyst Max Starks, however, has a different theory for why Tennessee lost to the Bulldogs.
He thinks nerves may have gotten the best of the Volunteers.
Starks, a former Florida offensive lineman, joined 104.5 The Zone's "Ramon, Kayla, and Will" on Thursday to talk football.
104.5 The Zone's Will Boling specifically asked Starks if the Vols at their best are capable of beating Georgia.
"I think they can (beat Georgia)," said Starks. "It's not about the talent — I think the talent is there. And the defense was coming along….the defense had to catch up (early in the season) endurance-wise because of the pace with which Tennessee moves."
"I think it was a case of nerves more than anything else," explained Starks. "Going into Sanford Stadium, that crowd…that was the biggest thing that you just saw one team that hadn't been there before. And you saw another team that's been there [and] done that. And so there was more calm on their side (Georgia) and [they were] able to execute."
Starks also acknowledged that Georgia's defensive backs stepped up in a big way against Tennessee. He added, though, that the Vols having this game film to go over could lead to a different outcome if the Bulldogs play Tennessee again this season (which could happen in the playoff).
The narrative from the national media has been that UT's 14-point loss to Georgia was on par with Oregon's 46-point loss to the Bulldogs earlier this season.
Starks is one of the few ESPN employees that's pushed back against that narrative a bit.
The only way to know for sure who is right, of course, is if Tennessee and Georgia meet in the playoff for a rematch. I'm sure the Vols are eager to show that their loss in Athens isn't who they are as a team. And likewise, I have no doubt that the Bulldogs want to show they can handle the Vols again.
Hopefully, for college football's sake, we get a Tennessee/Georgia rematch in a semifinal game or the championship game.
I think every college football fan could appreciate that matchup.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
