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    Tennessee vs. Georgia Week 10 college football odds, trends: Volunteers near-historic underdogs; Hendon Hooker could lock up Heisman with win

    Could Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker wrap up the Heisman Trophy with a big game Saturday at Georgia?
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    The biggest game of the regular season in the SEC -- if not in all of college football -- is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS as AP No. 1 Georgia hosts No. 2 Tennessee, with the winner almost surely representing the East Division in the SEC Championship Game. The Volunteers are 8-point underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook, and that's almost a historic number. Should Tennessee pull off the upset and quarterback Hendon Hooker have a big game against such a stellar defense, the Heisman Trophy likely will be his to lose. To no surprise, this is easily the most-wagered game of Week 10 at Caesars.

    This will be just the third time that a team ranked in the top 2 of the Associated Press poll has been an underdog of more than 7 points in the regular season. The last instance was in 2014, when No. 1 Mississippi State was a 9.5-point dog at No. 4 Alabama and lost 25-20. The other was in 2000, when No. 2 Virginia Tech lost 41-21 at No. 3 Miami as a 9.5-point dog.

    Tennessee's offense leads the country in scoring (49.4 points per game) and has scored 34 or more points in every game, including 40 or more in its past four. Georgia ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (10.5 PPG) and has held its first eight opponents to just seven total touchdowns.

    The UGA defense will be without one of its best players, however, as linebacker Nolan Smith – a sure-fire 2023 NFL first-round draft pick – is done for the season with a torn right pectoral muscle. The senior was hurt in the first half of the Bulldogs' 42-20 victory against Florida last Saturday and didn't return. Smith leads the Bulldogs with three sacks, seven tackles for losses and 16 quarterback hurries.

    Hooker took over the Heisman Trophy betting lead at Caesars following Week 9. He's now priced at -100 with Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud, who had been favored for several weeks, at +180. Hooker accounted for 268 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in last week's blowout of Kentucky. He has accounted for multiple touchdowns in 20 of his last 21 games and has thrown at least one touchdown pass in a school-record 20 straight games.

    The Virginia Tech transfer has 21 TD passes and just one pick on the year and has rushed for four scores. Heisman voters will take notice if Hooker torches Georgia. He had Heisman odds as high as +5000 in mid-September. No Tennessee player has won the Heisman.

    Tennessee is No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings and the Bulldogs No. 3. Only one team ranked No. 3 in the initial rankings -- Clemson in 2020 -- has made the playoff.

    One could argue that Georgia needs a win here more than UT does because the Vols already beat Alabama and UGA would have to face the Crimson Tide (presumably) in the SEC title game. What happens if the Dawgs lose that? If Tennessee wins on Saturday, it could lose to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and still finish in the top four.

    On the updated odds to make the playoff, Tennessee is -115 on Yes and -120 on No. Georgia is -550 for Yes and +400 for No. 

    Looking for the best picks against the spread, sharp plays on the total and props you can take straight to the pay window? Join Jonathan Coachman on The Early Edge as he speaks with SportsLine's top handicappers to preview the day's biggest games. We promise to keep it short and sweet and to put some green in your pocket. The Early Edge is in your feed every single day by 11 a.m. ET. Subscribe right here on YouTube to watch daily, plus don't miss The Early Edge specials and live shows!             

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