The Dawgs are back in Athens, as Princess Anna would say, for the first time in forever to face the hated Hillbillies at Sanford Stadium. After last weekend, this game shapes up to be a winner-take-all and a loser-go-home showdown between the hedges. Saturday night should be intense, and Georgia fans have the chance to be a difference maker to get the Dawgs over the finish line. Let’s get to the first look.
Series Record: Georgia leads 28-23-2 and is riding high on a 7 game winning streak in the series with the closest game in that streak the 14 point beatdown in the Athens rain in 2022 and the largest victory being a 41-0 whitewashing of the Volunteers at Kneeland.
Last Meeting: After giving up an early 75-yard TD run that lit Neyland Stadium, Georgia plays its likely best version of murder ball in 2023 over the next 59:00 leading to a 38-10 win that sent the hillbilly faithful to the exits. Carson Beck plays arguably his best game to date with 298 yards passing on 30 attempts with 3 TDs. The Georgia defense holds Tennessee to 202 yards and 3 points after the long TD run.
Gambling Degenerate Facts: Georgia is a 10 point favorite, and the point total sits at 48.5.
Interesting Statistic: 12.6 – Tennessee’s points per game allowed
The Tennessee defense has yet to give up 20 points in a game this season. They have been particularly stout against the run and have generated plenty of pass rush to make it difficult for opponents to sustain drives to generate points. The Tennessee defensive front is tough with edge rusher James Pearce leading the way with 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. The defense has caused a lot of havoc over the season generating almost 8 tackles for loss per game.
Early Outlook
That prior paragraph has me worried after last week’s showing in Oxford. Of course, that has been with a lot of home cooking as the Volunteers have played away from Knoxville only 3 times this season and 1 of those was in Charlotte in a neutral site game. In their 2 true roads games, they beat an overrated at the time Oklahoma team by 10 in Norman and lost in ugly fashion in Fayetteville to Arkansas. A night game in Athens is a little different from those other trips where Georgia hasn’t lost in 5 seasons.
Nico Iamaleava is currently listed as questionable for Saturday night after suffering a concussion last Saturday against Mississippi State. If Tennessee has to go to their 2nd team quarterback, that likely spells trouble for the Volunteers and may be the reason the point spread has continued to rise throughout the week. This game has the potential to be a game played in the 20s where an explosive play or a turnover becomes the difference if Nico plays. I don’t like that one bit given where our team is right now.
What’s your thought on Saturday at this point? I’ll be back later this week with a full scope preview. Let us know in the comments below.
Although our team has given me no reason for it, I feel at peace about this one. At this point, I am not sure if it is confidence or I have lost some interest. Go Dawgs, I don’t want to face gleeful Hillbillies next week.
Yeah, I’m at ease too but not because of the normal “I can’t wait to see us win”. This team is not fun to watch like it has been the last few years.
What makes it worse is that from my SectionHD the people that call the game don’t have much else to talk about other than mistakes and turnovers so we have to listen to that all game. It’s very frustrating.
ESPN skycast is the way to go at home…
Skycast is your friend where the announcers are concerned. I agree that this team isn’t fun to watch but I don’t mean that the way some might think. Everything this team does seems like it’s hard to do. Even simple stuff. And as much of a pass as the HAB (Humans Against Bobo) love to give the defense, I’m talking about the defense too. It’s like everything takes an absolute Herculean effort. I almost feel tired after watching this team play.
Mr. Mike,
With the Vols giving up 12.5 points per game, and our O problems, this could get ugly really quick. Let’s just hope and pray our OL and RB’s all got well on Tues. or Wednesday. GO DAWGS
I got you MC. When you’re watching and have to hold your breath on every play, you’re slap ass tired by the end of the game.
After last week, I think I’ve reverted to my pre-Kirby attitude. I’m going into this game assuming we will lose. That way, if we win I’ll be happy and feel good, but if we lose I won’t be as disappointed because I’ve already prepared myself. It’s all about mental and emotional self preservation.
Lol…but same.
UTk is 6th in the conference at getting INTs 3 of the 5 ahead of them played Beck.
My guess…Nico plays but with the night lights, loud crowd and UGA D pressure he’ll be ineffective from his post-concussion symptoms. Etienne will be recovered enough to keep our running game respectable and Bobo will dialup a couple of plays for our receivers to drop or score. So Dawgs win by 9 or by 20 depending on turnovers and catches.
FlyingPeakDawg,
I like your comment much more than mine.
Nico is playing. He’s practiced all week. The “questionable” bullshit is a smoke screen.
How much of a cushion do we have on leading the nation in drops? Can we not a drop a ball this week and still lead over #2? I would like to be #1 in something this year.
Actually, I guess we have the #1 strength of schedule, but that is not considered by this group on the CFP Committee this season.
If UT has to play their 2nd string QB and you’re excited, you’re not a UGA fan. Not sure how but we seem to make backup QB’s Heisman contenders!
I will admit to saying “This ain’t good.” out loud when Dart went down last week and the backup came in. You could just feel it coming. And while I’m on that subject, Ole Miss must have had something magical in their locker room because when players went out of the game and in the tunnel they came back better than ever. Dart and that fat ass defensive tackle that acted like he could barely get off the field under his own power both did it.
I think it’s a bad sign when people start asking for a blackout. Feels like fake juice. And it feels desperate. Last year this team was denied an opportunity to keep playing after losing the SECCG. I hope that memory motivates them this weekend. For most of the season Georgia has looked like a bunch of talented individuals who struggle to play as a team. Based on the way the Playoff Committee spoke about them, we need a convincing win. I don’t think an ugly win, a surprise win or a one point win does that much for us. If, God forbid, we should lose, Kirby needs to let next year’s quarterback start the rest of the games. We’re not getting in with three loses. Let whoever is next get some experience. We’re playing this same schedule next year, although with more of our difficult opponents at home.
Pretty sure the students requested the blackout. Not the team and they will be wearing red jerseys. If the blackout amps up the atmosphere then I am all for it.
If we lose, I plan to be blackout drunk. Does that count?
Yes. Yes it does.
I understand that but I don’t even like the fact that the Spike Squad and some students are grasping at that straw. It shows they’re even more worried about this team than we are. That’s not good.
This is probably the best defense we’ll face, and they thrive at stopping the run. We can’t run anyway, so it’ll be on beck and his receivers. That’s not good. Their running game is great. Also, I saw somewhere that it’s a blackout game? I’m not looking forward to this game.