1. Defensive Disruption – Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy are one of the top backfield combinations in college football. A dual threat quarterback and elite tailback, paired with a tremendous offensive line and fantastic pass catchers, these Rebels are incredibly tough to defend. They are going to move the ball. They are going to get points. Slowing them down is a must. That starts with disruption and forcing the Rebels’ hand. Easier said than done. In the first meeting in October, the Rebels scored touchdowns on their first five possessions. In the fourth quarter, Georgia came up with three stops, essential to the 43-35 comeback win.

2. Special Teams Superiority – Brett Thorson and Peyton Woodring are the top kicking duo in college football, and Beau Gardner won the Manley Award as the nation’s top snapper. Thorson, the Ray Guy Award winner, is one of Georgia’s best ever. He is particularly hungry. Last season, an injury sustained in the SEC Championship Game kept the Australian All-American out of the Sugar Bowl. It was a huge blow for the Bulldogs. Can this trio once again show the way in what could very well be another single digit, one possession nail-biter?

3. Capitalize – One of the most important factors in Georgia’s 28-7 Southeastern Conference Championship Game victory over Alabama was the Bulldogs ability to cash in on the biggest plays of the day. It was complimentary football personified. The blocked punt turned into a touchdown. The interception turned into a touchdown. The defensive stop on fourth and two from the 12 turned into a touchdown. When the opportunities are there, striking for seven would be huge for Georgia’s chances.

4. Rematch – Both teams are playing their second straight rematch games. Ole Miss beat Tulane for the second time this season in the first round of the College Football Playoff, now the Rebels try and avenge their lone loss of the season against the Bulldogs. Georgia lost in September to Alabama, but beat the Crimson Tide for the SEC Championship. Now the Bulldogs attempt the very difficult task of beating a great team twice in the same season.

5. Tears of 81 and 82 – Oh the pain from those Pitt and Penn State Sugar Bowl losses. Forever haunting. New Year’s Day 1982 and New Year’s Day 1983, heartbreak. The 1981 Bulldogs needed a win over Pitt and a Clemson loss to Nebraska to claim a second straight national championship. Dan Marino. From the edge of an all-time great victory to an all-time brutal heartbreak. Crying back in my room, my dad came back to console me, and said that Clemson had beaten Nebraska so we wouldn’t have won the national championship even if we had won the game. All I remember is yelling through the tears, “I don’t care.” That one hurt. On Christmas Day 1982 at my grandparents’ house in Savannah, I received my all-time favorite Christmas present – Sugar Bowl tickets for the Georgia-Penn State showdown. It was No. 1 vs. No. 2, winner take-all for the big enchilada. That 1982 season, I was 10 and didn’t miss a play, either in-person (BYU, Memphis State and Penn State), with the MIghty Munson or TV combined with Munson (Mississippi State and Florida). My love for that team. 11-0 in the regular season, a third straight SEC title, a shot at another national championship and Herschel Walker winning the Heisman. The drive to New Orleans, part of the Bulldog caravan was awesome. I had all the gear. From a 20-3 deficit with a two-for-none to make it 20-17. We couldn’t make it all the way back though and Penn State came out on top 27-23. I was in tears again. It was the worst loss ever. Until 1/8/18. There have been some amazing moments for Georgia in New Orleans, most notably the victory over Notre Dame for the 1980 national title. But that sting from those next two still hurts. And always will.