As the game began to unfold and UMass drove down the field, I experienced a brief sensation of déjà vu, recalling the slow starts from earlier this season. However, it turned out to be a false alarm. UMass took an early lead, but there was no panic on the sidelines. With an injury list as long as Georgia’s and UMass having parted ways with their head coach, one might assume that the Minutemen would be disorganized and lack spirit. Georgia might have been looking ahead to Georgia Tech with the contest in Athens this Friday, but the Dawgs rallied from their early malaise to quiet the visitors. While UMass managed to move the ball and played a spirited game, Georgia, even with a battered group of Bulldogs, asserted its dominance as the game progressed.

Coach Smart would certainly never admit to looking ahead to the next edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, but it seemed the Dawgs didn’t have the same intensity against the visitors from Massachusetts. Georgia showcased its superior athleticism, size, and talent, comfortably defeating UMass in a warm-up for the imminent game against Tech.

Brent Key has the Yellow Jackets performing at a level not seen by a Tech team in years. They will arrive in Athens feeling confident, well rested, and ready to challenge the Dawgs. Tech has the potential to upset Georgia’s season. Georgia has repeatedly struggled with slow starts this season, which could result in disaster against a motivated rival like Tech.

After Munsoning through that previous paragraph, let’s talk about what is likely on Friday in Athens. Tech is a dangerous team, but they do not have the quality depth to win if both teams play their best games, but that rarely happens. This game will likely come down to which team is ready to gut out a bloody victory. The game may not be a nail-biter, but this is going to be a physical battle that I expect the Dawgs to win.

Let’s hope the injury gods are benevolent with the SEC Championship Game looming just a week later.