Vanderbilt @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2009 ) Georgia 34, Vanderbilt 10

Georgia wants to prove the real Bulldogs were the ones that emerged in last Saturday's 41-14 rout of Tennessee. Vanderbilt wants to remind their hosts that the Commodores are not always easy homecoming pickings.

While the Bulldogs have an 18-3 record against Vandy in their homecoming games, it's the 2006 classic that should serve as a caution. On the way to a 4-8 season, Vandy stunned Georgia with one of its four losses, 24-22.

Georgia (2-4, 1-3 SEC) could be on track to salvage the season after losing four straight games for the first time in two decades. The skid came amid a costly series of player suspensions and dismissals. There was another setback this week when second-leading rusher Caleb King was suspended two games following charges of failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket.

Vandy (2-3, 1-1) is a clear underdog, but Georgia can't afford to lose many key weapons in a running game that has struggled. The offensive line has not lived up to its promise, though a shuffled lineup found success against Tennessee. Georgia is averaging just 136.8 yards a game on the ground and has given up 14 sacks.

The passing of redshirt freshman Aaron Murray to a set of star receivers has been the Bulldogs' offensive staple. He was named SEC freshman of the week for his play against Tennessee, the best game of his career (17 of 26, 160 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, plus two rushing TDs). He ranks third in the SEC in total offense with 248 yards a game and has 10 touchdown passes to just three interceptions.

Georgia's offense was devastated in the first four games by the absence of receiver A.J. Green, who was suspended by the NCAA. In his two games, he has he has 13 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns. With Green out, Kris Durham became the key target and has 18 catches for 341 yards.

Georgia may be looking for some balance against a Vandy defense that ranks second in the SEC in pass defense (161.4 yards per game) and 11th in rushing defense (183.8).

Vanderbilt ran up 558 yards total offense while beating winless Eastern Michigan 52-6 last Saturday.

Vandy quarterback Larry Smith has completed 56.3 percent of his passes for 793 yards and five touchdowns. Warren Norman, last year's SEC freshman of the year, leads the Commodores in rushing (65.4 yards per game) and is fifth in the SEC in all-purpose yardage (142.8 per game).

The leading Vanderbilt tackler, linebacker Chris Marve (9.8 tackles per game, second in the SEC), could be back after sitting out a week for arthroscopic surgery on an injured knee. Defensive tackle Adam Smotherman, who has been out since the spring with an ACL injury, is expected to play for the first time this season. He had 23 consecutive starts through the end of 2009.

Vanderbilt junior cornerback Casey Hayward shares the NCAA lead with four interceptions and has defensed seven passes. Junior defensive end Tim Fugger has forced four fumbles.