1. Stuff the Run – Georgia’s defense can take control of this game by shutting down, or at least slowing down Tennessee’s run game. Do that, and Tennessee is forced into passing situations behind the chains. A pretty simple key to success in football is throwing when you want on offense, not when you have to. Reverse that on the defensive side of the ball. Georgia’s D-line and linebacking corps may not have the All-American great like last year with Roquan Smith, but there is depth, talent, size and speed. Tennessee will try and run behind standout sophomore tackle Trey Smith, one of the SEC’s best, and for the Dogs to come out on top, that run defense must win the battle up front.
2. Air Strikes – Georgia’s passing game has had success spreading the ball around, throwing short, throwing long and keeping opposing defenses off balance. Whether Tennessee loads up to slow down the run or plays more coverage based schemes, Jake Fromm and Justin Fields will be tested. The sky’s the limit for how good these two can be. The Bulldogs grow more and more confident putting more responsibility on the shoulders of these young signal callers, particularly the sophomore Fromm, as the freshman Fields is on a fast-track learning curve as the former was in 2017.
3. Fourth Quarter Run Game – Georgia has had success using the pass to set up the run. We’ll see if that’s the formula again on Saturday. But that big and strong and deep Bulldogs offensive front will be hungry to move the Volunteers defense in the fourth quarter as Georgia tries to win it and finish the Volunteers off. Sam Pittman will have his big troops ready to go, and those Bulldog backs will be hungry behind these talented behemoths at winning time.
4. Control the Kick Game – Special Teams can make all the difference, and the favored Bulldogs certainly need to win this facet of the contest. Big plays in the kicking game can swing things the underdog’s way, especially when combined with turnovers. For the Georgia faithful, it’s been exciting to watch special teams go from a constant source of angst to a strength and a weapon. That trend is a must against the Vols Saturday afternoon.
5. Sanford Energy – Georgia and Tennessee have had an interesting history since the league split into divisions and the Bulldogs and Volunteers began playing every year in 1992. The series has had dominant runs, significant momentum shifts. Georgia can make it two straight and also even the all-time record between the two at 23-23-2. The Bulldog faithful will be excited, and making Sanford Stadium shake for the red and black will make for a valuable 12th man. The Georgia people will be hungry Saturday.