1 – Hinder Hooker – Tennessee senior signal caller Hendon Hooker is a Heisman trophy front-runner in the midst of a spectacular season. A transfer from Virginia Tech prior to last season, he didn’t even start center in 2021. But since winning the job, Hooker has performed as well as any quarterback in the country. He is an accurate passer – threads the needle – with a big arm, touch and poise. His touchdown to interception ratio is spectacular. Hooker is also a tremendous runner. Defending him and one of the nation’s best offenses is a chore no team has been able to successfully undertake thus far this season. It starts with making Hooker uncomfortable. Georgia must get pressure, while also keeping containment and not over-rushing and over-pursuing. Sounds easy doesn’t it … it won’t be!
2 – Make Plays on Balls in Air – Hooker will put the ball in the air, and the Volunteers have a slew of top flight wide receivers, led by Jalin Hyatt, who caught five touchdown passes in Tennessee’s 52-49 win over Alabama. A healthy Cedric Tillman, Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton headline a fleet receiving corps. If there’s a chance at an interception, the Dawgs have to make the play. Flip side, Georgia’s pass catchers will have to be at their best and cash in for the Bulldogs to pull it off Between the Hedges Saturday afternoon.
3 – Let’s Get Physical – For all of the talent on the perimeter and at the skill positions for both of these teams, this is still the Southeastern Conference and it starts up front. Georgia MUST MUST MUST be the more physical team and win what promises to be a fierce battle at the line of scrimmage. After falling behind in Knoxville a year ago, Georgia steadily came back, took and then extended the lead in a 41-17 victory over the Vols. Tennessee is much more equipped this season. And on offense, Hooker doesn’t need much time or space to make the big play.
4 – Red Zone End Zone – It will be hard for any team to beat Tennessee by relying too heavily on field goals. The Volunteers offense is just too explosive. As a caveat, of course if things bog down, it’s essential to get the three. But… it will take a high touchdown success rate in the red zone to topple Tennessee. In a game that figures to be extremely tight and tough, that one play, particularly in close, that can turn a touchdown into a field goal attempt can make the difference. So can that play-maker make that play on third down with the chips down.
5 – Sanford Supremacy – Bulldogs Head Coach Kirby Smart is asking for difference-making early, loud and all 60 – at least – minutes for this monster match-up. Bulldog players and fans love to feed off one another. Can the Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium make the noise that leads to a false start? Third and two becomes third and seven. Thinking back to Arkansas on the national championship run of 2021 and the victory over Notre Dame in 2019 in particular in recent history, the Bulldog faithful have had a hand in some memorable triumphs.