After losing to Ole Miss, Georgia hopes to rebound against Tennessee (8-1, 5-1) this Saturday at home in Sanford Stadium.
The Volunteers come to Athens on a four-game winning streak, hoping to advance to the SEC Championship and then the College Football Playoff. However, the Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2) will try to spoil those plans as their postseason ambitions hang in the balance.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is eager to see his team take the field following this past week’s loss.
“I’m excited for this matchup. Two top teams in the country, getting ready to play. Thank goodness it’s at our place. We get to come home and play a night game. It should be an electric atmosphere; it is every time we play them,” Smart said on Monday. “They’ve got a tremendous team. Josh [Heupel] has done an unbelievable job with this team. They’re playing at a high level.”
However, Tennessee and Heupel’s offense may present Georgia’s defense with some problems. The Vols are led by Nico Iamaleava, a prolific passer, and running back Dylan Sampson, the SEC’s leading rusher.
However, Iamaleava’s status is questionable due to a recent injury suffered, but the Bulldogs must be prepared. If the former five-star quarterback plays, his ability to stretch the field with his arm is lethal.
“Nico is playing really well in terms of athleticism, and he’s got great arm talent,” Smart said.
Tennessee’s fast-paced offensive attack revolves around Sampson, who has rushed for 1,129 yards and 20 touchdowns. Through nine games this year, Sampson is averaging 5.6 yards per rush. His ability to gain tough yards on the ground makes defenses load the box, trying to stop him.
However, Heupel lets Iamaleava go over the top with his passing game when that happens.
“[Tennessee has] an extremely explosive offense and an extremely physical offense,” Smart said.
On the flip side, Tennessee’s defensive unit is stout, too, and will face a struggling Georgia offense this week. The Vols rank in the top 15 nationally in several defensive categories, including total defense (fifth), scoring defense (fifth), team passing efficiency defense (eleventh), and rush defense (fifth) this year.
Tennessee will try to get after Bulldog quarterback Carson Beck and force him to make mistakes. The Vols’ front seven plays hungry and has totaled 71 tackles for loss and 22 sacks this year.
“They do pressure, and they pressure well, but they don’t have to,” Smart said of Tennessee’s defensive front. “They get after people with four guys rushing. They’ve got elite rushers on the edge, which we all know about, but nobody talks about how hard they play internally. I think Coach [Rodney] Garner’s done a tremendous job with the physicality they play with across the board on the defensive line is tremendous, and they play really hard.”
Georgia’s offensive line needs to play much better against Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., Omarr Norman-Lott, Bryson Eason, and others. The Bulldogs’ front five was dominated last week by Ole Miss.
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild said a lack of fundamentals led to last week’s unit’s meltdown.
“Fundamentals are key in offensive line play. When you lack fundamentals, you lack those habits that will keep you on that right course during the game,” Fairchild said. “It is not what you want. You got to go back to work, you got to get better, you got to get the basics of things, and just get better.”
Georgia and Tennessee will kick off at Sanford Stadium in Athens this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.