Well, folks, Georgia football did it — the Dawgs are officially 12-0.
Georgia destroyed Georgia Tech 45-0 on Saturday during the final regular-season week of the year, and the Dawgs didn’t disappoint. They made the 12th statement in a row and earned their third shutout of the year.
The Dawgs traveled to Atlanta and handled their business. Was it a perfect game for the Dawgs? No, but Georgia didn’t have to be perfect. They just needed to win big, and 45 points are plenty.
Georgia amassed 463 offensive yards on 51 plays, averaging 9.1 yards. The Dawgs let it air out a bit against the Yellow Jackets as they threw for 255 yards. However, it was a pretty balanced effort on paper, as the Dawgs tallied 208 rushing yards.
Georgia football destroyed Tech, and these are 12 things we took away from the game.
There wasn’t much Georgia couldn’t do on Saturday, and that goes for both sides of the ball. Georgia’s defense did a great job forcing seven punts and two turnovers on downs. They’ve now given up 83 points through 12 games, which means they give up 6.9 points a game on average.
The Yellow Jackets did convert 35% of third downs against the Dawgs as they went 5-of-14 on the day. That number is likely the only positive takeaway on Georgia Tech.
From top to bottom, Georgia looked like they were on a mission to finish the game as fast as possible, and well, it was over as soon as Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton caught that 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to make it 10-0.
Once the Dawgs got a little rhythm, they ran away with it. The second quarter saw a bit of a lazy streak, resulting in the Dawgs one punt of the game, but head coach Kirby Smart adjusted at halftime.
Georgia never took their foot off the throttle, and they didn’t need to. Clean Old Fashioned hate was pretty laid back this year, but the Dawgs reminded Georgia Tech who runs this state and who their big brother is.
With it being the 12th victory of the year, here are 12 takeaways from the game.
12. Georgia football sees their third shutout at the right time
Georgia football has shut out three teams this season — Vanderbilt, Arkansas and now Georgia Tech.
The Dawgs have given up 83 points through 12 games, meaning opposing teams average 6.92 points a game. Records differ, but this kind of dominance is rare and something that hasn’t happened a lot in the last 40-plus years of college football.
This shutout comes at the perfect time, though, after giving up more than their point goal allotted in three of the last four games.
Georiga’s defense demands perfection, and when they don’t make that happen, they don’t like it. The Dawgs needed this shutout because they need all the confidence they can get ahead of next week. Alabama may not be as strong this season, but they have Georgia’s number, so the Dawgs must play with a vengeance.
By seeing they can avoid giving up points adds to their confidence. The Dawgs can beat Alabama if the last 12 games tell us anything. Georgia has already put their names in the history books by allowing these few points, but they don’t want to stop there.
This shutout is a statement that this defense is strong and playing as a unit. No one can break them, and no one should try because it could just end up really ugly for the opposing team. Plus, shutting out your rival is a big deal.
11. Away field advantage for Georgia football
Georgia football fans are some of the best in the country at traveling with their team, and they made Bobby Dodd Stadium their home away from home on Saturday.
The Dawgs showed up, got loud, and helped Georgia keep the Yellow Jackets scoreless on the day. Georgia Tech’s stadium had to be 80% red and 20% gold.
It almost looked like a home game for Georgia, but Bobby Dodd Stadium isn’t nearly as big as Sanford Stadium. Georgia fans did their 12th Dawg job, getting loud on third down and giving the team home-field advantage.
Away field advantage has a nice ring to it, and that is what Georgia fans do. This crowd even caused Tech to jump, resulting in a false start penalty. An away fanbase made the home team jump because it was so loud. If that doesn’t tell you what kind of fans Georiga has, I’m not sure what else could.
Having your crowd help on big downs is so beneficial because it causes mistakes that usually don’t happen when a team plays at home. Dawg fans need to keep this energy up next Saturday as this next trip to Atlanta is big for Georgia. There is plenty to cheer about, so Georgia fans should have no problem with being loud for the Tide matchup.
10. George Pickens makes a return at the right moment
After 10 long months, Georgia football wide receiver George Pickens is back on the field. The Dawgs put the junior in a few times against Georgia Tech, and the fans loved it. Twitter and social media went nuts talking about how Pickens was back.
He got a massive cheer when he stepped on the field, and that had to feel good after being on the sidelines all season.
Pickens finished the day with one catch for five yards, but that is a big win for having someone like him back in the rotation. His return is coming at the right moment for Georgia because Pickens is a game-changing wideout who can make explosive plays. Teams know when he is on the field because he is that talented.
While there have been guys who stepped up in his absence, having a guy like Pickens for the deep balls is always a good feeling. This week seemed to be about implementing him back in slowly to see what he could do. Pickens looked ready to go and hungry to be out there.
The return of Georiga’s top wide receiver could be a big advantage for the Dawgs moving forward into this postseason, so welcome back Pickens, we can’t wait to see what you do.
9. Georgia football’s third-down numbers are slightly deceiving
Even though Georgia football went 2-of-5 on third down, those numbers are somewhat misleading. The Dawgs didn’t need third down often because they were able to find success on the first two downs.
Georgia earned 21 total first downs during the game against Georgia Tech, and among those 21, six came on 1st-and-10, and 11 came on second down. The last few weeks have seen the Dawgs find more and more success on those first two plays, which means offensive coordinator Todd Monken is making the right calls.
The Dawgs are executing them, but Monken is doing a fantastic job and being just creative enough to trick opponents, allowing success on that first or second down.
We’ve talked about this before, but it is still really something that stands out. The Dawgs converted 40% of their third downs against Georgia Tech, and that isn’t a terrible day. Most teams would take that instead of their third-down conversion rate, so the Dawgs are doing something right.
Monken needs to keep it up because this strategy works for Georgia. They have less pressure on them because they know they could possibly get the 10-plus yards on first or second down instead of depending on converting a lot of third downs to sustain drives.
8. Dawgs defense cruises through the Yellow Jackets
Georgia football’s defense didn’t seem nearly as crisp on Saturday despite putting up another dominant performance.
They went through the motions during the first half, and while they made plays, something seemed different. It was subtle and not something to worry about, but they were cruising. Then again, when the talent gap is this wide, Georgia didn’t have to be 100% present to demoralize Tech.
The Dawgs held Georgia Tech to 171 yards on 51 plays, as the Yellow Jackets averaged 3.4 yards a play. It was another strong performance from the rush attack as they held Georgia Tech to 98 rushing yards.
Georgia even shut down a team that averaged 221 yards through the air to just 73 yards.
The Dawgs were able to rest starters and put the backups in, and even the third-stringers dominated the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia finished the game with at least and not limited to three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, eight tackles for loss and three sacks, giving them at least 15 havoc-type plays.
So while the Dawgs cruised, they were still able to create some havoc and shut down another opponent. This group is so special and continues to get stronger and stronger as the season proceeds.
Now comes the real fun as the postseason begins, and up first is the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship game on Dec. 4.
7. Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett had himself a day
Georgia football starting quarterback Stetson Bennett put on a clinic Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. He was feeling himself, and anyone watching the game could tell that.
The senior went 14-of-20 for 255 yards and three touchdowns against the Yellow Jackets, including a 77-yard touchdown pass to Brock Bowers, a 25-yard score to Jermaine Burton and a nine-yarder to Bowers again.
Bennett completed 70% of his passes, and there may have been one or two tops that weren’t on the money. His pass to Burton was beautiful and perfectly thrown. Bennett tried to connect with AD Mitchell a few times but only connected once for nine yards.
Of the 14 completions, eight of them went for at least 11 yards. Bennett gained even more confidence by having this kind of game ahead of what will be the biggest start of his career. The Mailman delivered and led the Dawgs to another victory and a 12-0 finish to the regular season.
Bennett continues to prove each week why he is the man for the job and why the coaching staff trusts he can get the job done and take the Bulldogs all the way. His performance from Saturday should eliminate any worry fans have in him because the guy managed the offense like he was supposed to and threw dimes all day.
He has what it takes to win it all, and it’s finally time for him to show everyone.
6. Dawgs speed on defense is unmatched
Georgia football has one of the most elite defenses in the country, and one of the reasons is their speed. Georgia Tech couldn’t get anything going because the Dawgs stopped it.
The Dawgs are quick on the defensive line. The linebackers and the secondary have fast guys too. That quickness gives them an advantage, plus you throw in their ability to stay disciplined, and the Dawgs are lethal.
Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall aren’t humans because no linebacker should be that quick. Their horizontal speed is unmatched and is something they weren’t taught but was born with — talk about superpowers because this is one. Dean is one of the best linebackers in the country, and it shows. Tindall has stepped up in Adam Anderson’s place in the last few weeks, and well, it’s resulted in some big plays, which were in part to him being able to get to the quarterback so fast.
Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Devonte Wyatt can cover some ground as well. To be as big as they are, they can run down a quarterback.
Georgia’s speed is unmatched. While there are quick defenses out there, the Dawgs can smother opponents because they’re in their face extremely fast. Teams cannot get a rhythm going because Georgia gets to them and stops them from doing much. Georgia gives up 6.92 points a game, and their speed helps them keep teams out of the endzone.
5. Georgia football saw an explosive offensive performance
On Saturday, Georgia football had seven explosive offensive plays against the Yellow Jackets, with five of them being explosive pass plays.
According to Georiga offensive coordinator Todd Monken, his definition of an explosive play is a 12-plus yard runs or a 16-plus yard pass.
The Dawgs had two passes go for 11 yards, and one pass go for 15 yards, so in all, Georgia had 10 plays go 11-plus yards. It’s a pretty fantastic day when a team does that on offense, and the statistics proved that.
They connected on a 77-yard touchdown pass, a 30-yard reception, a 25-yard touchdown pass, an 18-yard reception, and a 16-yarder.
Georgia saw 208 yards on the ground and 255 through the air, scoring six touchdowns and one field goal. They scored when they wanted to, and it seemed like they were testing a few things out on offense for future matchups.
Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett ensured everyone got their hands on the ball as he connected at least once with 10 wideouts. Once again, the Dawgs made it a point to get the ball into the hands of multiple playmakers, and they saw three guys score because of that.
The two explosive runs went for touchdowns on the ground as runningbacks Daijun Edwards recorded a 23-yard run and Kenny McIntosh toted one 59 yards.
Georgia did what they wanted to on offense, resulting in a 45-point win and their 16th straight win.
4. No penalties for Georgia football
Another thing that makes Georgia football so special is its discipline. These Dawgs hate making mistakes, and thankfully they are one of the most disciplined teams in college football.
Georgia finished the game against Georgia Tech with zero penalties, which puts their average at 4.66 penalties a game. The Dawgs have 56 penalties on the season, which shows they are one of the least penalized groups in college football.
That discipline is a big reason Georgia has been so successful this year. You are what you preach, and Georgia football preaches perfection. This group strives to be the best they can be every week, and the coaching staff doesn’t have to coach them up to do so. They do it on their own because they know to be elite. It starts from within, not from their coaches.
Georgia didn’t have any silly penalties allowing Tech to sustain drives or anything like that. The Dawgs played hard-nosed football. Among the rest of the top seven teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Dawgs rank better than the other six in terms of average flags a game.
Head coach Kirby Smart continues to preach about how this team practices, and it seems like that high standard they set themselves is paying off and showing results on the football field.
3. Georgia football never took its foot off the throttle
One of the best things Georgia football did was keep their foot on the throttle until the game finished.
While the Yellow Jackets had a bit of success toward the end of the second quarter, Georgia still kept their foot on the gas.
After the Dawgs settled for a field goal on the opening drive, Georgia turned it up and let the offense have some fun. Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett had a great day, and so did his wideouts. Completing 70% of his passes is always a good sign that the air game was where you needed it to be.
This wideout group made a big statement on Saturday against the Yellow Jackets, showing they could put up points.
The Dawgs average 40.67 points a game through 12 games, and have been able to score at will most of the season. However, as the season continues, it’s clear there is no mercy against opponents anymore, and it’s all about staying aggressive until time runs out.
Georgia doesn’t need to show any mercy on its opponents. The Dawgs need to enforce their will and suffocate teams. When the Dawgs put down the throttle, it gets ugly fast, so now is the time to keep it down because it’s now or never for Georgia.
2. Brock Bowers flexed his muscles
Brock Bowers had three catches against Georgia Tech, and he went for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He put on a show and proved to the world who the best tight end in college football is.
The true freshman may not be a John Mackey Award finalist, but he doesn’t need to be either. Bowers can just put together one of the best seasons a Georgia tight end has ever seen before and potentially win something the three finalists won’t have a chance to.
Bowers’ first touchdown was a 77-yard speed race as he outran the entire Georgia Tech defense. No one could get him down, and that speed isn’t tight end like at all. He hits another gear, and it’s hard for anyone to catch him.
His second touchdown was a 9-yard beauty that he had to go up, catch and get a foot into the endzone. Bowers’ ability to do all of that shows how incredibly talented and versatile he is. Most tight ends are big guys who have good hands, but this young man has it all. There isn’t anything Bowers can’t do.
His 100-yard performance puts him at 37 catches for 652 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. That number breaks Orson Charles’ single-season receiving yard record from 2011 when the former Dawg finished with 574 yards on 45 receptions.
Anything the true freshman does now is making school history. There has only been one player at Georgia to finish with a 1,000-yard receiving season, and that was Terrence Edwards in 2002 when he finished with 1,004 yards.
Bowers would need 116 yards each of the following three games to achieve that record, so while it’s obtainable, he will have to work for it. However, being a true freshman, his ceiling is still high because he has three more opportunities to make it happen.
1. Historic season secured for Georgia football, but far from over
On Saturday, Georgia broke a 41-year record by going a perfect 12-0 in the regular season, something only the 1980 team accomplished.
While the 1942 and 1982 teams finished undefeated, these two squads didn’t play 12 games. The 1982 squad was the last to finish perfect until now, so Saturday’s win was a special one.
This 2021 squad is forever in the Georgia football history books and is paving the way at this point.
Whether it’s the defense suffocating programs or the offense proving to the world that a former walk-on can lead a team to a perfect regular season, this group is showing what dedication and hard work can do for a program.
So many Dawg fans have never seen their favorite team at 12-0, much less see a squad this dominant. This success has been a long time coming, so it’s time to enjoy this ride.
Whatever happens next to Georgia is icing on the cake because this squad officially joined greatness after their 45-0 win over Tech. Two of the three teams to finish undefeated earned national titles, so history seems to be in the Dawgs’ favor.
Hope has hovered around Georgia fans week after week, but now she is on the front porch banging on the door. It’s time to let Hope in and believe in this Georgia team.
Making history doesn’t happen every day, so when it does, it should get celebrated.
Georgia football did its job and scratched off goal after goal during this regular season. Now it’s time for the biggest hump of them all — Alabama. The Dawgs finished the season a lot more dominant compared to Alabama, the Dawgs just need to keep focus, and they should finally do it.