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The defending nationwide champion No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs host the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers in a marquee matchup that can probably have main implications on the SEC championship recreation and School Soccer Playoff.
Based on ESPN Analytics, the winner of this recreation will even have a 99% likelihood of profitable the SEC East.
This has been a lopsided sequence lately as Georgia enters the showdown using a five-game profitable streak — tied for its longest in sequence historical past — with all 5 wins by greater than 20 factors.
Tennessee will look to vary that with Heisman Trophy-favorite Hendon Hooker on the helm. Hooker has 21 landing passes this season, second to solely Peyton Manning (23) via eight video games in program historical past. Most of them have gone to Jalin Hyatt (14), who’s on tempo to turn into the third receiver in SEC historical past to catch 20 landing passes in a season.
Listed below are the most effective moments from Tennessee-Georgia:
What ought to you recognize concerning the Vols?
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel stated the Vols ought to be as wholesome as they have been all season at this time in opposition to Georgia.
Cedric Tillman, who led Tennessee in receiving final season, figures to offer a lift to an already potent receiving corps. He performed restricted snaps final week in opposition to Kentucky, and Heupel stated they’d him on a “pitch depend” after lacking the earlier 4 video games.
Heupel stated Tillman will likely be “able to roll” in opposition to the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-3 Tillman creates severe matchup issues together with his measurement and athleticism, notably with speedy Jalin Hyatt and his 14 touchdowns on the opposite facet.
Tillman has been practising full pace, however the Vols wished to verify he was 100% earlier than bringing him again for a recreation. Tillman had tightrope surgical procedure to restore a excessive ankle sprain in September. — Chris Low
How about them Dawgs?
There is no query that Georgia’s protection will miss senior exterior linebacker Nolan Smith, who led the Bulldogs in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hurries. He is a flexible defender that Georgia moved round loads, and he is one of many crew’s most skilled gamers.
However the Bulldogs have been going to battle to get strain on Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker regardless. Hooker removes the ball shortly in Tennessee’s fast-paced offense. He has great eye self-discipline and would not make many errors, which is why he has just one interception this season.
Georgia’s cornerbacks — Kelee Ringo and Kamari Lassiter — are going to must play effectively on the perimeter to gradual the Vols down. They’re going to face a monumental problem in attempting to include UT receivers Tillman, Bru McCoy and Hyatt.
Georgia coach Kirby Good stated the Bulldogs are going to have to regulate to UT’s tempo on the fly and do it effectively.
“They obtained a number of paces they use they usually can go as quick as anyone within the nation. They observe it, they preach it, they do a extremely good job researching themselves and determining how they will go quicker. And our job is to have the ability to match that conditioning stage.” — Mark Schlabach
It is on in Athens
What could be the most important recreation in Sanford Stadium historical past continues to be hours away, however hundreds of followers have flocked to Athens from each path.
Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is right here. So is former Georgia defensive again and NFL Corridor of Famer Champ Bailey. Nation music star Luke Bryan arrived for “School GameDay” by way of personal jet. PGA Tour golfers Kevin Kisner, a Georgia alum, and previous U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland have been anticipated to reach from Justin Thomas’ marriage ceremony in Nashville someday Saturday morning.
The Bulldogs have hosted loads of large video games in Sanford Stadium throughout the previous 93 years, however maybe none larger than Saturday’s, which is able to in all probability resolve the SEC East title and who will play within the SEC championship recreation. The winner will even have an inside monitor to the School Soccer Playoff, whereas the loser will need assistance from different groups to get into the highest 4.
It is the primary top-five matchup at Sanford Stadium since 1983, when Bo Jackson and No. 3 Auburn ended No. 4 Georgia’s 23-game SEC profitable streak with a 13-7 victory between the hedges.
“It is a large recreation, proper?” Georgia coach Kirby Good stated. “There’s nothing a few quantity being in entrance of it. It could be a giant recreation regardless as a result of each groups are within the East.” — Schlabach
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