SL’s Gameday Preview: Vanderbilt Edition

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SL’s Gameday Preview: Vanderbilt Edition

SL's Game Day Preview Photos By Greg Poole/Bulldawg Illustrated
SL’s Game Day Preview
Photos By Greg Poole/Bulldawg Illustrated

As you make your way to the Classic City, or if you’re relaxing on your couch, remember your manners, always say Go Dawgs, and always read SL’s gameday preview. Today, Georgia takes on the Vanderbilt Commodores for game six of the 2018 season! Below you can find out where to watch the game, what to expect, and a score prediction from Bulldawg Illustrated’s very own Savannah Leigh. Enjoy!

How to watch/listen to the Game

TV:

SECN @7:30 PM ET

Play-by-play: Tom Hart
Color Analyst: Jordan Rodgers
Sideline: Cole Cubelic

Radio:

WSB 95.5 FM/750AM

Sirius/XM Radio: 81

Play-by-Play: Scott Howard
Color Analyst: Eric Zeier
Sideline: Chuck Dowdle

 

 

 

 

3 Things Savannah Wants to See from Georgia

1: Defense Needs to Contain Vanderbilt’s Offensive Weapons And Cause Turnovers

One of Kyle Shurmur’s favorite targets is Kalija Lipscomb. The wide receiver has 43 catches for 480 yards and six touchdowns. He has 25 more catches than the second leading receiver. That next receiver for the Commodores is Jared Pinkney. The tight end has 18 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Vanderbilt averages 251 passing yards a game, and that’s how they will try to beat Georgia. However, if the Commodores want to win, they must establish a running game. Vanderbilt averages 163.2 yards on the ground, and the leading rusher is Ke’Shawn Vaughn. He has 56 carries for 360 yards and five touchdowns.

The Bulldogs needs to shut down Lipscomb and force Shurmur to pass to other receivers. He has the capability to as he’s completed 62.3 percent of his passes. He’s 99-159 for 1,231 yards nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Shurmur is a senior and beat Georgia the last time he played in Athens. The Bulldogs needs to cause havoc in  Vanderbilt’s backfield, and with D’Andre Walker and company, that will likely happen. Georgia must put pressure on Shurmur and force him to make mistakes. If the Bulldogs shut down Lipscomb, Pinkney, and others, the Commodores don’t stand a chance.

2: Come out Guns Blazing

Georgia’s offense needs to come out with a lot of energy and feed off of the crowd. In the last two weeks, the offense seems unmotivated in the opening half of games and cannot seem to get anything going. Well, if that continues, the Bulldogs will eventually get beat. Jake Fromm and his arsenal of weapons need to come out ready to score points and a lot of them. With a big road test in Baton Rouge, Louisianna next week, the Bulldogs have a great chance to turn up the volume.

 

 

 

 

Despite being a team that strives on running the ball, the Bulldogs have an almost balanced offense. Georgia averages 250.4 yards on the ground and 219.8 through the air. This balance needs to continue, if not swing a tad more towards the passing game. Jake Fromm is 66-91 for 924 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions and completes 66 percent of his passes. Fromm leads the country in passing efficiency at 166.28. Georgia has the receivers and two quarterbacks that can do it.

3: Don’t overlook Vanderbilt

Georgia seemed to have underestimated Missouri two weeks ago, or the Tigers are better than a lot of people, including me, think. The Bulldogs must treat this Vanderbilt game like they’re playing Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Last time Vanderbilt came to town, the Commodores walked away with a last-second field goal to give them a 17-16 victory. Vanderbilt is ready to ruin Georgia’s season and homecoming, so all three sides of the ball need to be prepared for war. So the Bulldogs need to avoid stupid penalties and mental mistakes.

Another thing Georgia needs to avoid is looking ahead to LSU. This distraction could be costly for the Bulldogs if they don’t focus entirely on Vanderbilt. Shurmur can hurt defenses, so Walker, Monty Rice, Deandre Baker, J.R. Reed, and the other defensive guys need to play with a chip on their shoulders. Georgia needs to come out playing physical, gritty and with a mindset of making the Commodores want to leave at halftime.

SL’s Score Prediction

I thought about this score prediction a lot this week. The Bulldogs average 43.2 points a game and hold opponents to around 13 points a game. Why would this week be any different? It wouldn’t. Georgia plays in its first night game of the season, and with a 27 point spread, I think the Bulldogs cover and then some.
The Bulldogs have far too many weapons on the offense for them not to be able to score points. Georgia has caused eight turnovers so far this season, and I think it adds a few more today. Baker and the other defensive backs are hungry for turnovers and shine Saturday night. If the Bulldogs can stop Lipscomb force turnovers and score over their average points, it’ll be hard not to respect Georgia.
Georgia improves to 6-0 on the season and demolishes Vanderbilt 48-10.

 

 

 

 

 

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Author /

Savannah Leigh is a recent graduate of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. She is an avid SEC, Dawgs, and college football fan. She also adores her four-year-old black lab, Champ Bailey.