Georgia-Tennessee: Fulmer Hopes to "Avoid Losing"

-Tennessee's Kenny O'Neal (transfer from FSU and NCAA All-American sprinter) could begin seeing more playing time at receiver, where he gives Erik Ainge a legitimate deep threat.  O'Neal reportedly runs a 4.26 40-yard dash.

-Fulmer said Tuesday that he doesn't know of any team that has played a tougher schedule than his Vols, and that he hopes their early tests will help now that SEC play is upon them. 

While I agree that UT has played two quality teams in Cal and Florida, Washington has played a solid schedule as well (Ohio State, USC, and a win over Boise State). 

It's worth noting that Boise State beat Southern Miss—one of only two teams Tennessee has beaten thus far.  The Broncos beat USM 38-16; the Vols won 39-19.  Take it as it is.

-Richt and Fulmer both spoke this week about the importance of maintaining offensive balance in SEC play.  Both also said it will be imperative that their running games show up Saturday. 

UGA has two very solid backs in Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno (each averaging over 75 YPG this season), while UT uses up to four—Arian Foster, LaMarcus Coker, Montario Hardesty, and even freshman Lennon Creer. 

I'm quite impressed with's Moreno, as I wrote in an earlier article.

-Don't be fooled by the records—the three squads UGA and UT have lost to are a combined 13-2. Cal, South Carolina, and Florida are all very successful using the spread offense—something that both Georgia and Tennessee have had difficulty stopping in the recent past. 

Don't expect much trickery from Saturday's contest in Knoxville.  Richt and Fulmer each want to get their teams back to basics, focusing on field position, lack of turnovers, running the ball, and clock control.

-Both UGA and UT have much more than bragging rights to play for in this weekend's rivalry game. 

With South Carolina (UGA's lone SEC loss) and Florida (UT's lone SEC loss) both playing top-10 teams (Kentucy and LSU, respectively), the 'Dawgs and Vols are hoping to play catchup on Saturday. 

If South Carolina and Florida both lose, the winner of the UGA-UT game will control their own destiny in the SEC East.  Technically, Kentucky will have the lead in the standings, but will still have remaining games against UGA and UT. 

Needless to say, the loser of the UGA-UT matchup will most likely be rule out of SEC Championship talk.

Extra Point

Former Tennessee QB Todd Helton achieved a career milestone when his Rockies made the MLB playoffs this week. 

Colorado won a single-game playoff in the 13th inning over the Padres to clinch the NL wild card spot.  

The Rockies won 13 out of their final 14 games to force the playoff. The Vols will look for similar success as they hope to avoid losing—I mean,"improve on their record"—this weekend against Georgia.

The UGA-UT game will be played in Knoxville, TN and will be televised on CBS. Kickoff is set for 3:34 pm EST.

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