This weekend, Georgia football is heading up to Knoxville for their last regular-season SEC matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers.
The Dawgs are a perfect 9-0 on the season while the Vols are 5-4, but don’t let that record fool you. This Tennessee squad is more confident than they should be.
Even though the Vols have gone 2-2 the last four games, they act like their 4-0 in them.
Tennessee has a solid offense that can cause problems, but they have never met a defense quite like this one. Georgia gives up 6.6 points a game, under 100 rushing yards and around 150 passing yards.
The Vols average 217 on the ground and 240 through the air, scoring 38 points on average. However, this team isn’t the first to put up numbers like that ahead of playing Georgia.
Here is why you can't judge teams on what they rank in scoring offense. Take #UGA game out for these teams. #Arkansas is ranked 36th nationally but would be 17th. #Missouri is 44th but would be 26th. #Auburn is 47th but would be 27th. #Florida is 56th but would be 38th.
— Trent Smallwood (@SmallwoodTrent) November 11, 2021
Most of the teams the Dawgs have played did, but that defense is that special — they halt any kind of offensive production for teams.
Georgia football is looking to go 10-0, and here are six bold predictions that could happen on Saturday.
With 141 quarterback hurries, 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles, 28 sacks and 31 pass breakups, this defense knows how to create havoc.
Tennessee is their next victim on the destruction path, and if the Vols aren’t careful, it could get ugly and fast. Georgia has an offense that can get the job done backed by a defense that isn’t afraid of any opponent — this team has a message, and the Vols will get their delivery by the end of Saturday night.
Whether it’s Stetson Bennett or JT Daniels at the helm, this Georgia offense has so many weapons they can look to make plays. Whoever wants to step up and lead that day can, and the same goes for the defense.
If this Georgia team remains focused, this game could be over in the first half.
It could get ugly for the Vols wearing their black uniforms against the Bulldogs, as one of the assistant coaches for Georgia said while at Alabama — they’re wearing them to their own funeral.
Scott Cochran became famous for that, and now the good guys have the opportunity to deliver a blow, kind of like Alabama did that day to Georgia.
Here are six things we expect to see the Dawgs accomplish against the Vols.
Georgia football rushes for 200-plus yards and sees multiple backs score
Georgia football hasn’t had the best results running the ball, but it’s more that it’s taking longer to wear out their opponents up front.
Through nine games, the Dawgs average 190 yards on the ground and 5.0 yards a touch. While the Vols average over 217 yards, Georgia hasn’t had to lean nearly as hard on their rush attack to get the job done as it has in the past.
We’ve seen Zamir White finally rush for 100 yards against Florida, and James Cook continues to grow as a back, but now it’s time for them to leave their mark on the Georgia program like Sony Michel and Nick Chubb did.
Georgia fans have gotten spoiled with many running backs stepping up and being dominant — Chubb, Michel, Todd Gurley, etc.
Now it’s not that White and Cook aren’t dominant. They have just shared the load more than the previous backs, making it hard to put up more significant numbers. Kendall Milton is working on staying healthy, and it’s just been kind of lackluster from this room.
They are a talented group of guys, but it’s past due to step up and show the world that Georgia is still RBU. Georgia’s offensive line needs to make a stand this week too.
The Dawgs need to win the battle up front against the Vols and establish a running game early. This week is the one where it busts wide open, and Georgia rushes for their fourth 200-yard game on the season.
White earns his second 100-plus yard game, and James Cook gets close. This week the Dawgs show the Vols who the better running team is, and this offensive line emerges from the ashes to eliminate the last known weakness Georgia may possess.
Stetson Bennett scores one rushing touchdown
Joining in on the rushing attack this week will be Stetson Bennett. Georgia football fans know he can use his legs to get out of sticky situations, and this week, he gets into the endzone with a quarterback keeper.
Georgia needs to get creative like it did last week against Missouri and give Bennett the call because he can get in the endzone and score.
He is twitchy and someone who can really hurt a defense if he needs to. Regardless of what anyone thinks, Bennett is a playmaker, and his legs are one of his weapons of choice.
It would be great to see offensive coordinator Todd Monken call a quarterback keeper, not directly on the goal line, but definitely during one of their red zone trips to really make Tennessee look silly.
Bennett is up for the former walk-on award, and if he continues to play as he has, then it should be a lock for the Mailman.
Georgia doesn’t have to depend on the black and white offensive style — throw some color in there and keep Tennessee on its toes because they think they’ve got the defense to stop the Dawgs.
Tennessee has a tough defense, but this offensive line will need to man up and play grown man football this weekend, giving Bennett a big enough lane to get into the endzone for his first rushing touchdown of the year.
He could be a big contributor to the 200-plus yard prediction because while the Vols have a quarterback that can run the football, so does Georgia.
Darnell Washington scores his first career touchdown as a Dawg
Another player that’ll get into the endzone for the first time this season and his career will be Darnell Washington.
The 6-7 265-pound tight end has six catches for 114 yards on the season but hasn’t quite found the end zone yet. Georgia changes that for him as Big O will get his number called.
Washington is the biggest mismatch in college football, and it’s time to target him more. While he has been getting back to 100% from his ankle injury, Brock Bowers emerged as the go-to tight end, but they can share the love.
Stetson Bennett or JT Daniels need to remember Big O is out there, and he towers over everyone that lines up against him. Throw that ball up and let him get it. He is so athletic and is pretty fast to be that big, so allow him to make the play.
Tennessee knows he is out there, but the Dawgs haven’t used the giant man because of injury and others stepping up, so let’s make Knoxville the place where Washington steps on his hobnail boot and helps the Dawgs to their 10th victory on the season.
It’s time for Georgia to feed the beast and let him be the leading receiver this week.
He needs to earn it, but target the big man and force Tennessee’s defense to put someone on him at all times. Washington has the capabilities, so Todd Monken and the quarterbacks need to trust him.
This week, he gets into the endzone with a big touchdown pass, which sparks a hot streak for Washington moving forward.
Georgia football holds Tennessee to under 100 rush yards for 5th straight meeting
Defensively, Georgia football needs to make another statement, and while they have made some form of a statement each week, it’s time to lay down the hammer.
Last week the Dawgs gave up over 100 rushing yards for the first time since Week 2 against UAB. Missouri was able to make plays on the ground, and the Dawgs looked sluggish against the Tigers.
However, those minor mistakes they made are in the past as this group went to the “doctor” on Monday, watched the film, and have worked all week on the perfect defensive game plan.
The last four meetings between Georgia and Tennesse have resulted in absolute dominance from the Dawgs in terms of rush defense. In 2017, Georgia allowed 62 yards on the ground, 2018 saw 66 yards, 2019 saw 70, and last year the Dawgs gave up -1 rushing yards to the Vols.
Head coach Kirby Smart and his defensive coordinator Dan Lanning have owned the Vols the last few years, so why would this matchup be any different? Hendon Hooker can use his legs to make plays, but the Dawgs need to shut him down on Saturday.
Yes, Tennessee has Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small, who average over five yards a touch, but Georgia has shut this group down before, and they will do it again on Saturday.
Whoever rushes for more yards will be the winner, so the Dawgs must stop the Vols rush attack in a dominating way. If they force the Vols to throw all night, it increases the chances for mistakes, and if this Georgia defense likes to do anything — it’s force mistakes.
Georgia makes it five straight meetings against the Vols where they hold them to under 100 yards and show Tennessee they aren’t on the same level.
Georgia football picks off Hendon Hooker twice
Tennessee’s quarterback Hendon Hooker has 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions through nine games, as he completes 69% of his passes and has thrown for 1,894 yards.
Georgia football doesn’t care if he completes 100% of his passes, their job on Saturday is to force mistakes, and Hooker has never seen a group like this.
The Dawgs will match his interceptions on the year as we predict they’ll pick off Hooker twice on Saturday, making Hooker question his sanity and demoralizing him.
Georgia has a way of knocking Tennessee quarterbacks down a few notches, and it’s overdue for that to happen to Hooker. While the young man is one of the nicest on and off the field, he is enemy No.1 this week, and the Dawgs need to rattle him.
Chris Smith, Kelee Ringo, Lewis Cine, maybe even Nolan Smith or Nakobe Dean need to have their eyes peeled on Saturday because if the front seven can get pressure, Hooker will make a mistake. He has gotten sacked 33 times this season, and Georgia needs to jump on that opportunity as well. If they put him on his butt a few times, they will force him to make questionable decisions.
Georgia needs to earn a few more tackles for loss, pass breakups, sacks, interceptions, and quarterback hurries on the year, and this week they will have a hay day.
That sluggish performance against Missouri last week bothered this defense more than anyone knows, so good luck Tennessee, this group is on a mission.
Georgia football sees their defense score at least one touchdown
Georgia football averages 38 points a game, but it isn’t just the offense putting up points, but the defense as well.
The Dawgs have three pick-sixes and one safety, so they’ve scored around 20 or so points themselves.
This week, Georgia’s defense adds another touchdown to their roster as one of those interceptions could result in a touchdown, or the Dawgs could force a fumble and score.
The Dawgs’ defense will find the end zone some way, somehow this Saturday, while they’re going to also prevent the Vols from scoring more than one touchdown. Tennessee may get into the endzone, but it won’t happen twice.
They may have an explosive offense, but Georgia has a fierce defense that hates when teams score more than six points. The Dawgs will have the same point goal as they did against Missouri, and that will be what Georgia strives to achieve.
Georgia wants teams to kick field goals, which will be what they try to do on Saturday. However, they will also look to score themselves because opposing offenses get into their heads more when they do that.
While Tennessee is feeling themselves right now, they won’t be nearly as confident if the Dawgs force a few mistakes and score a defensive touchdown.
The Dawgs are looking to make history on Saturday and finish perfect in SEC play for the first time in school history, and Georgia isn’t about to let Tennessee have bragging rights for the next 365 days.
Georgia makes their 10th statement of the year and once again shuts down an explosive offense while their offense puts up 40-plus points. Their win will solidify to the committee they are the undisputed No.1 team in the country, and Nos. 2-4 aren’t on the same level.