Know Your Enemy: Georgia Bulldogs
By Zach Ragan
Sep 7, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs mascot Hairy Dawg goes past the fans during the Dawgwalk prior to the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Who: Georgia Bulldogs — Athens, GA
Distance From Knoxville: 235 miles
Head coach: Mark Richt (13th year — 120-41)
Conference: SEC
2013 Record: 3-1 (2-0)
Ranking: AP #6/USA Today #6
All time series: Tennessee leads 21-19-2
Last meeting: Georgia won in Athens last season 51-44
Leading Passer: Aaron Murray — 1,338 yards, 11 TD
Leading Rusher: Todd Gurley — 450 yards, 4 TD
Leading Receiver: Justin Scott-Wesley — 14 rec, 289 yards, 2 TD
Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs have been a model of consistency over the past decade.
Richt has wont at least 10 games in 8-of-12 seasons coming into 2013.
The Bulldogs are currently riding a three-game winning streak, after opening the season with a 38-35 loss at Clemson. Since then, Georgia has defeated two top-ten teams: South Carolina and LSU.
Last Saturday’s win over LSU eschewed old-fashioned SEC defense for a Big-12 type shootout. The Bulldogs’ defense hasn’t been able to provide many stops this season, but their offense has more than made up for it.
Georgia could be missing a major player, however, this Saturday.
Todd Gurley, a sophomore running back from Tarboro, NC, missed the second half of Georgia’s win over LSU last weekend. Gurley has not practiced all week and his status for Saturday against the Vols is up in the air.
Not having Gurley would be a major blow for Georgia. The talented running back is averaging 6.3 yards a carry and has a knack for creating big plays. His long run of the season is a 75 yard rushing touchdown in the season opening loss to Clemson.
If Gurley is unable to go, the Bulldogs will feature Keith Marshall.
Marshall is no pushover, he’s averaging 4.2 yards a carry and racked up 96 yards in relief of Gurley against LSU.
Regardless of who’s in the backfield for Georgia, the Vols will have to find a way to contain Georgia’s lethal running game.