Sports

ATLANTA, Ga — It’s Saturday in Atlanta and it is time for some clean, old fashioned hate as the Georgia Bullodgs take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium

The Bulldogs (9-2) enter this game on a nine-game winning streak and have already clinched a berth in the SEC Championship game next a week from today in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets (8-3) began the season 6-0, but lost three of their next four games before beating Duke last Saturday.

You can read the rest of my prediction here

1st Quarter: Notes, Stats and Analysis

Georgia won the toss and defered the option to the second half. With its first drive, the Georgia Tech offense went three and out headlined by a 15 yard chop block penalty that put DeAngelo Tyson out of the game with an ankle injury.

Georgia took over at the 11 yard line, and was able to gain a couple of first downs. Murray threw an interception on a play where he got hit and WR Chris Conley didn’t realize it and overran the route.

Overal, Georgia’s defense has done a good job running on the outside, but has struggled containing the run on the outside.

On the offensive side of the ball, Georgia has been able to move the ball through the air and Murray has looked good. The sophomore quarterback is 6-for-8, 93 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Lone touchdown was to WR Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett, Tavarres King, Orson Charles and Malcolm Mitchell all have one reception. Branden Smith has two receptions for 13 yards. Mitchell is the leading rusher with 20 yards on 1 carry. Smith has 1 carry for 6 yards. Murray has one rush for 5 yards (QB sneak on fourth down).

Ken Malcome, the lone running back with a carry, lost three yards on the first offensive play of the game. Crowell has not played yet, and although he is dressed out, it appears he will not play.

Bennett isn’t the fastest receiver, isn’t the quickest, or biggest. but he makes plays and runs great routes.

Georgia 7, Georgia Tech 0

2nd Quarter: Notes, Stats and Analysis

This is Aaron Murray’s day, and we’re all just along for the ride.

Maybe it’s because Georgia Tech runs the ball so much in practice, or maybe it’s because Tech just doesn’t have the athletes. Whatever the reason, no one can stop Aaron Murray.

Outside of the interception (where he was hit), the sophomore quarterback hasn’t really missed any receiver and hasn’t really been hit (outside of scrambling).

Murray is 13-for-18, 193 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Charles is the leading receiver with 67 yards on four receptions. Mitchell, King, and Smith all have two receptions. Bennett and Conley have caught the two touchdowns.

If that isn’t enough, Murray is the leading rusher for the Bulldog with 35 yards on three carries. Which brings me to the next thing of note. Georgia has no rushing attack at all.

Of players with the listed position of running back, Georgia has rushed for 1 yard on 5 carries. Malcome rushed 1 time for -3 yards and Thomas rushed 2 times for 2 yards. Although Georgia has 61 yards listed on the stat sheet, 35 are from Murray and 20 are from WR Malcolm Mitchell.

On the other side of the ball, the Georgia defense has played fairly well and has held the Georgia Tech offense to 10 points.

The problem for Todd Grantham’s unit has been the outside and the “pitch” part of the triple option. There has been little success up the middle because of Jon Jenkins and Kwame Geathers.

Stat-wise, Georgia Tech has rushed for 164 yards on 30 carries and has held the ball for 17:36.

Alec Ogletree leads the Georgia defense with 6 tackles.

Georgia 17, Georgia Tech 10

3rd Quarter: Notes, Stats and Analysis

Another quarter is in the books, and the Georgia Bulldogs have continued to impress.

Earlier, I focused on Murray, and although he added two more touchdowns in the opening frame of the second half, the story of the 3rd quarter was the defense and it has played phenomenal.

Georgia Tech has been able to run the ball, but when it starts to pass, it’s absolute comedy.

It just can’t be done. Teven Washington threw two interceptions in that frame, one that was all-but-gift-wrapped to Michael Gilliard. The other, a phenomenal play by Shawn Williams.

This matchup featured both the second ranked rush defense (Georgia) and rush defense (Georgia Tech).

Through three quarters, the advantage goes to Todd Grantham and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 10

ATLANTA, Ga — It’s Saturday in Atlanta and it is time for some clean, old fashioned hate as the Georgia Bullodgs take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium

The Bulldogs (9-2) enter this game on a nine-game winning streak and have already clinched a berth in the SEC Championship game next a week from today in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets (8-3) began the season 6-0, but lost three of their next four games before beating Duke last Saturday.

A year ago, the Bulldogs came out with a 42-34 victory. The Jackets held the ball for more than 38 minutes, gained over 500 yards of total offense (411 rushing yards), and had 32 first downs.

The problem. Four turnovers.

And that’s the thing about the triple option offense. Even on a bad day, you will rush for 250 yards, but turning over the ball will hurt you and cost you the game.

For Georgia to win, it’s simple. Play assignment football. Whether it is the nose reading the dive, the linebacker reading the quarterback, or the defensive back with the pitch. Every single defender needs to play his assignment every single play.

But chances are, that won’t happen, because players make mistakes and Georgia Tech will be able to move the ball.

Or will they?

The biggest difference between last years game and this one. Jarvis Jones, Jon Jenkins, Kwame Geathers and Alec Ogletree (at inside linebacker).

Geathers and Jenkins have the size to maintain their ground and not allow Georgia Tech’s linemen to get the linebackers.

Jones is an absolute beast. His speed, size and talent is NFL-ready, right now. (Even though he says he isn’t and Richt says he still has room to grow)

Ogletree, along with the other inside linebackers (Christian Robinson and Michael Gilliard) have the size

The biggest advantage Georgia has in today’s game isn’t necessarily the talent of the starters, but the overall depth at every position.

When Alex Ogletree and Christian Robinson went down early in the season, many Bulldog fans panicked. But their injuries allowed other players to step up, and Michael Gilliard and Amarlo Herrera did.

As for the Georgia offense, it also comes down to the running game. Isaiah Crowell should be able to play, but how effective he will be and how many snaps he will take will be determined this afternoon.

Carlton Thomas will return from a(nother) one-game suspension and should get a fair number of carries, in addition to Ken Malcome and Brandon Harton.

As for the quarterback, Aaron Murray has to have a better game than he did against Kentucky. The sophomore quarterback seemed out of rhythm with his receivers.

Georgia has won nine straight games, and the defense under Todd Grantham is playing as well as it ever has.

The nation’s second best rushing attack meets the nation’s second best rushing defense in what should be a great matchup. Something has to give and whoever wins that battle will win the game.

That unit will be Grantham’s 3-4 scheme. His defense has a certain swagger to it that will result in a couple of personal foul penalties, but it also will contain the triple option attack.

Even though it’s easy to look ahead to another game in Atlanta next Saturday, the Bulldogs are the better team in Atlanta today.

Dawgs win 31-17 and will enter the SEC Championship game on a 10 game winning streak.

For live updates and analysis of today’ s game, follow me on Twitter @Mike_Reiter