Now that the disappointing showing against Austin Peay is in the rear-view mirror, Georgia fans can focus in on the three reasons why the Bulldogs will leave Neyland Stadium with a win on Saturday. Let's get to the breakdown.
1. Kirby Smart dominates this rival
With Smart at the helm, the Bulldogs are 8-1 against the Volunteers, with a winning streak of eight in a row. So, even though Tennessee coach Josh Heupel is 25-3 at home, two of those losses in Knoxville are at the hands of Georgia and Kirby Smart, and the games weren't even close. Whatever he faces, Coach Smart always finds a way to win against the Vols.
2. Tennessee's O line is overmatched against Georgia's stout defense
Sure, putting up 72 points against ETSU looks good for the Tennessee offense's stat line, but this week they are facing the Georgia defense with the likes of Christen Miller and Elijah Griffin stuffing the middle of defense, backed up by CJ Allen at linebacker and KJ Bolden in the secondary. Expect plenty of quarterback sacks, pressures, and the running game to be shut down.
3. Gunner Stockton will rise to the level of the competition
Just as he did in the SEC championship game last year, Gunner Stockton's confidence will meet the challenge in front of him. So, when he takes the field at Neyland Stadium this Saturday, expect to see more fire and passion than you did versus Austin Peay. He faced up to the postgame criticism and now knows what to focus on in practice this week. As well, the play calls from Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo will match up accordingly.
Pressure will be good for the Georgia team and not being able to coast like they did on Saturday can serve as a wake up call for the hungry Bulldogs. They are young and far removed from the championship seasons of a few years ago, so they want their own rings, their own legacy and their own contribution to the Bulldog lore.