First, on yesterday’s poll, many of you thought the 1 foot rule should be the standard for a variety of reasons. Thanks for participating and throwing in the other rule changes you would like to see. Now to the real subject of the post … our first look.
Saturday night in Athens should be epic and is probably the most anticipated home game since Notre Dame in 2019. The Dawgs can virtually assure themselves of a CFP berth with a win while Texas has been playing with their backs against the wall for weeks now.
Series record
Texas leads the series 4-3 while Georgia has a 2 game winning streak in the series.
Last meeting
Georgia comes back to win the SEC championship 22-19 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in overtime. Texas dominates the first half, but penalties and kicking game woes keep Georgia in the game. Gunner Stockton comes off the bench to lead the Dawgs to a win after a season-ending elbow injury to Carson Beck. Trevor Etienne solidifies his Georgia legacy as the Longhorn killer in the 2 games these teams played last season.
Gambling degenerate facts
Georgia is a 6.5 point favorite in a game with a 48.5 point total. Georgia is a -215 favorite on the money line.
Interesting statistic: 2.41 (Texas defensive yards per attempt)
That statistic is eye-popping as no one has really run the ball effectively against the Texas defense. Florida is the only team to average more than 4 yards per attempt against the Horns defense this year. Given our success this year running the ball, this game sets up to be the irresistible force vs. the immovable object.
Early outlook
Both teams have been stout against the run while susceptible to the pass. One team has been effective running the ball while one has struggled to run the ball consistently. One has had an efficient passing game throughout the year while the other’s passing game has come on as of late. The team that plays the most complementary football is likely the one that walks out of Sanford on Saturday night as the winner.
One team has had a bye week to prepare. One team has a home field advantage on its side … that’s the team that gets it done.
Anyone who leaves Sanford without losing their voice didn’t yell enough. Time to be that home field advantage.
Mumme poll this week?
Last season going into Austin all the experts were anointing Texas the new King of the SEC. A year later those same experts are picking Georgia to win. For once I hope they’re right. ee I believe we all can agree with your last sentence. Time to show Texas what a real home field advantage is. Packing extra throat lozenges to keep my voice louder longer. I may not be drunk anymore I can still be that obnoxiously loud Georgia fan for Texas. GATA
Am I the only one who gets nervous when these so-called experts pick us?
Not everyone is picking the Bulldogs. McElroy has predicted Texas won’t just cover the points but win outright.
Also, I have seen a lot of we “probably” will win but it will be closer than the spread and A LOT of pundits are “predicting/hoping/wishing” this game will be the Arch Manning coming out party. They are expecting Arch to have the defining game of his career this far.
Time to test our bully ball capabilities. If we’re going to make a run, we gotta own the los against teams with good players, who are motivated and playing with their season on the line. We’ll see where we are on Saturday night.
Also, can we cover and/or pressure? If we’re going to affect the Julian Sayin’s and Ty Simpson’s of the world, well, show us.
I want to see 35+ minutes of possession, 5 yards plus a tote, and a positive TO margin.
Its time to go from resilient to dangerous. The team no one wants to see on their brackets.
I’m hoping Kirby and the defense keep this from becoming Arch’s coming out party. Georgia sometimes in the past has made some pretty pedestrian QB’s look better than they were. Munsoning, PTSD etc.
Not wishing ill on the kid but I hope they have to take him out in the third to keep him from getting killed ala 2017 Nick Fitzgerald. Go Dawgs!
10 of 33 for 87, 0 tds and 2 ints.
So excited for this matchup. Strength on strength (UGA offense vs UT defense); Dawgs have the edge in kicking but Texas has the best returner in the country; really interesting matchups when Texas has the ball. As always, turnovers will be key, and Georgia gets the advantage at home. Things to watch:
1) With a healthy OL and new scheme wrinkles, the Dawgs should be able to run on UT.
2) I have major concerns about Greene pass blocking vs Texas speed rushers (Simmons and Hill). Does Gaston end up outside more snaps than the last few weeks? Or does Bobo keep using TEs and RBs to chip and get the ball out fast?
3) Can Gunner outrun Texas’ speedy defenders enough for chunk gains?
4) I have a feeling the TEs will be quiet because of their need to block, but if they’re eating it’s a good sign.
5) Thorson’s punt hang time, distance and accuracy – and the coverage gunners – will be enormous vs Niblett. Also, this would be a good game to
kick everything through the end zone, Woodring.
6) Can the Dawgs’ pass rush continue to stay in their lanes and squeeze Manning? I think so. Manning’s fake it till you make it schtick is tiresome. Seems like he’s trying to build himself up for these last 2 big SEC games. Make him hurt.
7) On the other hand, can our secondary cover what has been an underwhelming WR group for Texas? They’ve got potential and we need for that not to shine through on Saturday.
8) I think the LBs can handle this TE group.
9) Also, Dawgs should hold UT to under 85 yards rushing.
Prediction: Georgia 26-20.
Bobo found some things that work last week. Still up to the players to execute but I like our chances of scoring 30 and winning the middle 8. Will Schumann & Kirby blitz early? My guess is no. The hate explosives so will see what the front 4 will do and try to keep everything in front of the safeties. Horns score 17 this way in the first half. Finally blitz in the 2nd half and Dawgs win 34-24…but on a late TD for another nail biter.
How (and whether) they affect their passing game is going to be a big thing to watch in this game. I haven’t watched ut since they played OSU but it seemed like arch could be confused and made hesitant without sending extra guys and risking an explosive. But perhaps he’s improved.
It would be nice to get pressure with 4, but I think we can give up on that.
We should also remember that Archie’s biggest name in an away stadium vs a top was still an L.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7099289/college-football-first-major-primetime-game-stands-out
And what was unc’s record vs. florida again?
Allegedly Sark has made a big change on offense from asking Arch to evaluate what the defense is doing. To just calling plays that he only has to react to. Sarks says it’s allowed Arch to play more relaxed.
We can’t allow him to play comfortable and expect a good outcome. We need to keep that lost deer in the headlights look on him.
In my uneducated opinion, I think it will be important to hit Manning early and often on blitzes even if it burns us. I think he rattles easy and still has trouble throwing his receivers open. Need him hearing footsteps.
pound the rock to victory
I doubt the coaches have been holding back – we have what we have by this point in the season – but I hope we throw the kitchen sink at them defensively. We’ve broken several opposing QBs since Kirby took the reigns and I’d like to see Saturday continue that tradition.
Agreed. I say our defense cancels Arch Manning for good and sends Sarkisian running to the NFL. A’right. A’right. A’right.
They have been missing their AA safety Taffe quit a bit since his injury so I like out TE’s and WR matchups over the middle and deep. Being physical at the second level , RB need to truck their Db ala Hershel thru bates. Shorthorns have not been as physical on the road or been an offense to fear. BRING the BARK on Saturday night.