Georgia Tech @ Georgia preview
Sanford Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2009 ) Georgia 30, Georgia Tech 24
One of the nation’s most intense rivalries resumes Saturday night in Athens, Ga., when the Georgia Bulldogs host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Both teams have had disappointing seasons. Still, the stakes are high.
Georgia (5-6, 3-5 SEC) needs a win to become bowl eligible. Georgia Tech (6-5, 4-4 ACC) can send its hated rival home for the holidays while ensuring itself a winning season.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 60-39-5, including last year’s 30-24 win in Atlanta. UGA has won eight of the last nine meetings. Tech’s lone victory came in 2008 when the Jackets overcame a 28-12 halftime deficit to win 45-42.
Five of the last six meetings have been decided by seven or fewer points.
Georgia had a week off to prepare following its 49-31 loss at No. 2 Auburn. The Bulldogs bring a dynamic passing attack led by freshman quarterback Aaron Murray (234.5 passing yards per game) and star wideout A.J. Green (16.4 yards per catch, nine TDs). Murray is dealing with knee and sternum bruises but is expected to start.
Running backs Washaun Ealey and Caleb King will try to repeat their 2009 performance against Tech, when they combined for 349 yards on the ground.
Georgia also is dangerous on returns, with Branden Smith (16.1 yards per punt return) and Brandon Boykin (25.7 yards per kick return).
Under first-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, the Bulldogs are allowing 22.1 points per game, which ranks 40th nationally. End Justin Houston has been a force off the edge, registering 10.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The Bulldogs should benefit from the extra time they had to prepare for Tech’s option offense, which leads the nation in rushing (319.4 yards per game). Sophomore quarterback Tevin Washington will make his third start in place of the injured Joshua Nesbitt, who’s recovering from a broken forearm.
Tech is coming off a 30-20 home win over Duke that snapped a three-game skid and made the Jackets bowl-eligible for the 14th straight year. In the second half, senior corner Mario Butler returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown and enigmatic sophomore wideout Stephen Hill had a 79-yard touchdown catch.
Defensively, the Jackets struggle to get off blocks against powerful offensive lines like Georgia’s. So they’ll likely try to control the ball and play keepaway using B-back Anthony Allen, who’s averaging 122.3 rushing yards the last three games, and the shifty Washington, who’s run for 216 yards in his two starts.