Georgia and Vanderbilt meet Saturday Between the Hedges in the final game at Sanford Stadium in 2020.
The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 45-16 win at South Carolina, which bumps Georgia to 6-2 on the year. A week after JT Daniels threw for four touchdowns in his red and black debut and the Dogs ran for just eight yards in a 31-24 victory over Mississippi State in Athens, it was back to leading with the ground attack. Georgia ran for 332 yards on 46 attempts, averaging 7.2 per clip, as James Cook and Zamir both scored two touchdowns. Cook averaged 17.3 yards per attempt, gaining 104 yards on six carries for an average of 17.3. White had 13 carries for 84 yards. He has scored in seven of Georgia’s eight games. Kenny McIntosh ran for 79 yards, and Daijun Edwards 77. Daniels threw for a pair of touchdowns. Georgia’s offensive line was outstanding, led by left tackle Jamaree Salyer. The defense was paced by freshman tackle Jalen Carter, who wreaked havoc throughout the game and blocked an extra point.
Vanderbilt fell to 0-8 last Saturday in a 41-0 loss to Missouri. This was the largest margin of victory all season. Vandy has been right there for the most part this season, including a season – opening 17-12 loss to Texas A&M. Vanderbilt also lost to Mississippi State 24-17 and fell to Kentucky 38-35. So that’s three setbacks that have been decided by seven or fewer points.
This will be the 81st all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Commodores, with Georgia leading the all-time series 58-20-2. In Kirby Smart’s first season at the helm in Athens, the Commodores upset Georgia on a short week with a noon kickoff 17-16 Between the Hedges (Georgia beat South Carolina the previous Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew). It marked Vanderbilt’s second win in four years, and fourth in the previous 11 seasons over the Bulldogs.
Since then, Smart’s Bulldogs have been very impressive against the Commodores. Georgia’s Southeastern Conference champions of 2017 won in Nashville 45-14. The Bulldogs put up big numbers in a 41-13 victory over Vandy in Athens in 2018. Last season, Georgia scored touchdowns on its first three drives, but didn’t strike paydirt again, winning 30-6.
Dating back to 2017, the Bulldogs have lost just once at Sanford Stadium, to South Carolina last year.