1 – Score:
That’s right, score. These kinds of hot takes can take one to the forefront of journalism. Away from home this season, Georgia scored 30 – with touchdowns on each of the first three possessions – at Vanderbilt, 43 at Tennessee, 24 in Jacksonville against the Gators and 21 on the plains versus Auburn. Georgia won all four of those, but the Bulldogs would like to crank up the point total and create some margin for error. Tech has a solid defense and it will be a challenge.
2 – Break a Long One, Hit a Big One:
A big key to scoring big on The Flats will be – if you want to get greedy – a long touchdown run and deep passing strike for a score. Speaking of the last two games away from home, Jake Fromm threw deep TDs to Lawrence Cager and Dominick Blaylock in the wins over Florida and Auburn, respectively. D’Andre Swift’s 38-yard touchdown run in the rain against Kentucky got the Bulldogs going in a 21-0 victory in Athens over the Wildcats. Tech’s defense will surely load up the front, can the Dogs cash in?
3 – Kicking Game Conquest:
It’s a good bet that few, if any teams, have faced as many outstanding punters as the Bulldogs have this season. Well, Georgia will see another one on Saturday afternoon. Pressley Harvin III isn’t built like your standard punter, he goes 6-0, 245. But he can boom punts and is an excellent athlete. His fake punt long touchdown pass against Miami was the biggest play in the Jackets’ 28-21 upset of the Hurricanes. Georgia will have to be en guarde for anything and everything in the kicking game. Nothing can trigger an upset like turnovers and special teams.
4 – Run D:
Go back once again to Georgia’s last two wins away from home, the run defense against Florida and Auburn were absolutely vital to the Bulldogs’ success. It’s a must again on Saturday. Georgia’s defense must rise to the moment again, stuff the run and pressure the passer. Tech will pull out all the stops, so expect a trick play or four. Discipline, controlled fury, it’s all being preached for Saturday’s showdown.
5 – Bring the Fire:
An upset of Georgia would make Tech’s season and give a huge boost to Geoff Collins’ program. Their whole season is pointing to this. Georgia is playing a fifth straight enormous November game, the toughest slate this month in America and has the SEC Championship Game on deck. The Bulldogs may be worn down, and of course, we all know what’s next. But the Dogs have to really, really want it. Tech sure does. This is the state championship, the biggest game of them all.