It’s time for the biggest game of them all, as Tech heads to Georgia for another edition of “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate.” Though if you polled the fan bases, players, alumni and all the diehards in red and black and old gold and white, there’s nothing very clean about it.
Georgia is in the picture for everything, but any national championship dreams would dissipate if Tech heads into Sanford Stadium and beats the Bulldogs. Kirby Smart’s program was in a similar spot last season and rolled to a 38-7 win at Grant Field. Georgia would go on to win the Southeastern Conference Championship Game over Auburn and advance to the College Football Playoff. At 10-1 after a blowout of UMass, the stakes are the same.
Tech too is riding high, winners of six of its last seven, including a thrilling 30-27 overtime victory over Virginia this past weekend, which boosted the Yellow Jackets record to 7-4. Riding a typically powerful rushing attack, the Yellow Jackets aim to spoil Georgia’s dreams and boost their bowl stock. The Bulldogs rush defense has had its struggles this season, and the stop unit will have to be at its best against arguably the most dangerous and explosive offense Georgia has faced this season. The Bulldogs will aim for a performance akin to a stout effort at Kentucky, as they shut down the SEC’s leading rusher Benny Snell and held the Wildcats to 84 yards on the ground. But this triple option that Tech coach Paul Johnson has mastered is an entirely different beast to defend.
And then there is this. Tech has won its last two games against Georgia in Sanford Stadium. Both of those contests were excruciating for the Georgia faithful. The images of Tech’s players and fans celebrating with pieces of the hedges certainly burned the Bulldogs.
Coming off a blowout win over Massachusetts, the Dogs are 10-1 and ranked fifth. This marks the first time since 1981 (10-1) and 1982 (11-0) that the Bulldogs have had at least 10 wins through 11 games in back to back seasons. Georgia has won four straight since falling in Baton Rouge to LSU on October 13, with three of those wins against ranked foes, including top-10 triumphs over Florida in Jacksonville and Kentucky in Lexington.
Both teams are playing their best football of the season, and above all else, that in-state pride and those bragging rights are on the line. Georgia has won the SEC East, now it’s the state championship that is up for grabs at high noon between the hedges Saturday.
It’s time for the biggest game of them all, as Tech heads to Georgia for another edition of “Clean Old Fashioned Hate.” Though if you polled the fan bases, players, alumni and all the diehards in red and black and old gold and white, there’s nothing very clean about it.
Georgia is in the picture for everything, but any national championship dreams would dissipate if Tech heads into Sanford Stadium and beats the Bulldogs. Kirby Smart’s program was in a similar spot last season and rolled to a 38-7 win at Grant Field. Georgia would go on to win the Southeastern Conference Championship Game over Auburn and advance to the College Football Playoff. At 10-1 after a blowout of UMass, the stakes are the same.
Tech, too is riding high, winners of six of its last seven, including a thrilling 30-27 overtime victory over Virginia this past weekend, which boosted the Yellow Jackets record to 7-4. Riding a typically powerful rushing attack, the Yellow Jackets aim to spoil Georgia’s dreams and boost their bowl stock. The Bulldogs rush defense has had its struggles this season, and the stop unit will have to be at its best against arguably the most dangerous and explosive offense Georgia has faced this season. The Bulldogs will aim for a performance akin to a stout effort at Kentucky, as they shut down the SEC’s leading rusher Benny Snell and held the Wildcats to 84 yards on the ground. But this triple option that Tech coach Paul Johnson has mastered is an entirely different beast to defend.
And then there is this. Tech has won its last two games against Georgia in Sanford Stadium. Both of those contests were excruciating for the Georgia faithful. The images of Tech’s players and fans celebrating with pieces of the hedges certainly burned the Bulldogs.
Coming off a blowout win over Massachusetts, the Dogs are 10-1 and ranked fifth. This marks the first time since 1981 (10-1) and 1982 (11-0) that the Bulldogs have had at least 10 wins through 11 games in back to back seasons. Georgia has won four straight since falling in Baton Rouge to LSU on October 13, with three of those wins against ranked foes, including top-10 triumphs over Florida in Jacksonville and Kentucky in Lexington.
Both teams are playing their best football of the season, and above all else, that in-state pride and those bragging rights are on the line. Georgia has won the SEC East, now it’s the state championship that is up for grabs at high noon between the hedges Saturday.