If you put a bug inside of the Georgia Bulldogs’ locker room this week, you’d probably hear head coach Kirby Smart telling his team that everyone in the country is picking the Tennessee Vols to win on Saturday.

Smart loves finding ways to motivate his team — and it doesn’t matter if it’s total fiction or reality.

It’s certainly true that some folks are picking Tennessee to beat Georgia on Saturday in Knoxville. But most analysts are in “I’ll believe it when I see it mode” when it comes to the idea of the Vols beating the Bulldogs.

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt is one of those analysts.

Joel Klatt doesn’t see Tennessee or Georgia scoring more than 21 points on Saturday

Klatt said on his show this week that he doesn’t expect either team to score more than 21 points in this weekend’s matchup.

“I do believe that this is going to be a low scoring affair,” said Klatt. “I think that it’s going to be difficult on Tennessee, and because of the road environment, it’s going to be difficult on Georgia. I don’t see either of these teams getting past 21 [points].”

As for who comes out on top?

Klatt is rolling with the Bulldogs.

“Georgia’s defense is uniquely built — through both structure and talent — with their personnel to stop an offense like Tennessee’s,” said Klatt. “I wanted to take Tennessee in this game. I can’t do it. I’ve got to go with Georgia. And just think of this, too. And I know that this is an intangible, but it’s it’s correct. One of these teams has been told how good they are for two weeks. That’s Tennessee. The other team has Kirby Smart absolutely killing them this week after a poor performance in a win over Austin Peay.

“You are going to get, and I promise you this, the absolutely most focused version, physical version, and intense version of Georgia that you can possibly get because of the week of practice that they just had under Kirby Smart. We know that. So I’ve got to go Georgia here. I wanted to take Tennessee. I can’t do it. I do think it’s going to be low scoring. I like Georgia, and I think that they cover the three and a half (point spread). I see a game like 21-17. I think it could be close. I was tempted to take the points. I’m not going to do it. I’ll take the Bulldogs 21-17. They get the win on the road at Tennessee.”

I understand where Klatt’s coming from with his pick — it’s hard to pick against Georgia in this rivalry until Tennessee shows they can get a win. But I think Klatt may be overlooking how the Vols practice. I don’t think anyone in Knoxville is taking it easy this week because they beat East Tennessee State by 55 points last Saturday.

Vols head coach Josh Heupel, in fact, was absolutely livid at halftime of the East Tennessee State game because of the way his team played in the first half. Heupel will have his team focused.

There’s been plenty of intensity in Knoxville this week ahead of the game against Georgia. It should be a fun one on Saturday.

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