Tennessee vs. Georgia: Complete Game Preview

Both the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs hope to gain momentum in SEC play with a win on Saturday.  

For the Vols, a win puts the team at 1-0 in conference play.  For Georgia, a victory moves the Dawgs to 1-1 and starts a stretch of seven straight SEC games on a positive note.

Here's what you need to know about Saturday's game: 

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
• Place: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network, The Vol Network
• Spread: Georgia (-18), per OddsShark.com

Georgia Keys to Victory

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Run the Ball

Georgia fans want one thing and one thing only: A heavy reliance on the running game.  While yielding to a fanbase is undoubtedly an unruly offensive strategy, it's hard to argue with the benefits of a stout ground attack in this contest.

To date, no opponent has been able to slow down the Bulldogs' rushing prowess.  Todd Gurley stole headlines with his 198 yards against Clemson, but the team ran for 328 total yards in the season opener.  Georgia ran for 217 yards against conference foe South Carolina—even while playing catch-up.  Most recently, the Dawgs burned Troy for 367 rushing yards on just 39 carries.

The Bulldogs currently rank 13th nationally in rushing yards per game and second in yards per attempt.  Relying on that strength will lead to productive offensive possessions and also stifle the efforts of the upset-minded Vols.

Take Away the Deep Ball

Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley would not typically strike fear in the hearts of opposing defenses.  Unfortunately for Georgia, every quarterback the Bulldogs have faced this season has been able to connect on a deep pass or two.

Georgia must commit—before all else—to taking away the deep threats.  Defensive backs need to focus on eliminating wide-open options and forcing Worley to throw perfect balls when he goes deep.  

So far this year, Worley has connected on nearly 60 percent of his passes, but most of his work has come on short completions.  The Dawgs need to make sure that trend continues.  After all, a few deep completions early could deflate what should be a rowdy home crowd.

Tennessee Keys to Victory

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Strike Early

Georgia opponents have received every opening kickoff this year and they've all gone to work in short order.  

Clemson drove 70 yards for a touchdown on its first possession.  South Carolina drove 75 yards for seven points to open against the Bulldogs.  And although a field-goal attempt was unsuccessful, Troy moved 68 yards to open last weekend's game against the Dawgs.

This Georgia defense is inconsistent at best, but it is consistently slow to start.  Tennessee should take full advantage of an opportunity to race to a lead—and in doing so reduce the enthusiasm of the the crowd inside Sanford Stadium.

Stop the Run

Stopping Georgia's ground attack may be a pipe dream, but containing it—even occasionally—could keep the Vols in this game.  

Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason has been adequate as a starter, but he's not had to win a game with his arm yet.  Making yardage difficult for Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel may put some pressure on the senior signal-caller, and there's no telling what that might bring.

Tennessee should stack the box to any extent necessary in an attempt to take away Georgia's bread and butter.  If that strategy works at all—even in wreaking early havoc—the pressure will begin to build for Georgia's typically-prolific offense.

Georgia Players to Watch

Rainier Ehrhardt/Associated Press

Todd Gurley

Gurley is worth watching every time he touches the football, and he'll be particularly hungry against this Tennessee team.

As a freshman, Gurley ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns against the Vols, but he missed last year's contest due to injury.  He'll want to revisit those old memories from 2012 on Saturday and will be healthy and fresh enough to do it.

Last week, Gurley carried the ball just six times while racking up 73 yards in a rout of Troy.  Look for him to get 20-25 touches on Saturday as he threatens 200 yards rushing.

Jordan Jenkins

Defensive pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been inconsistent for Georgia this season, and as a result, opponents have had a lot of success through the air.  Jenkins, the most experienced pass-rusher within a talented bunch, has the potential to be a one-man wrecking crew against this young Tennessee offensive line.

In three games this year Jenkins has registered just two tackles behind the line of scrimmage and only one sack.  This could be a breakout performance for a veteran star.

Aaron Davis

Davis, who plays all over the place in Georgia's secondary, has been one of the more consistent players in a streaky unit.  Though his statistical line doesn't stand out, his knack for being around the football does.  

Already this season Davis has intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and broken up two additional pass attempts.  Look for his ball-hawking ability to stand out against Tennessee, especially if the Vols fall behind early and get desperate in the passing game.

Tennessee Players to Watch

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Marquez North

This talented receiver had something of a coming-out party against Georgia last year as he hauled in four catches for 47 yards and the first touchdown of his career.  At 6'4", he's more than capable of stretching Georgia's thin secondary or making a play on a jump ball in the red zone. 

He leads Tennessee in receptions, yards and touchdowns scored and will be relied upon heavily in the passing game.  With North, a perfect pass isn't necessary, as he's more than capable of adjusting on the fly.  He'll be Worley's big-play threat and his safety valve on Saturday.

A.J. Johnson

Johnson is the heart and soul of this Tennessee defense, but he's much more than just an emotional leader.  He's a sound tackler in space and aggressive in pursuing runners in the backfield.  Even more importantly, Johnson is at his best against elite competition.  Against Oklahoma earlier this year he racked up 11 total tackles (two for a loss) and blocked a kick.  

The senior from Gainesville, Georgia has never defeated the Bulldogs and would like nothing more than to end his career with a win against the Dawgs on the road.

What They're Saying

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Tennessee Poses Unique Challenge

According to GeorgiaDogs.com, Tennessee's energy is what stands out most to Georgia head coach Mark Richt.  "I see a bunch of guys playing really hard, a bunch of guys just playing with maximum effort," he said.  "They look very well coached and really excited about playing."

Fortunately for Georgia, its star will be fully ready.  "No issues with Gurley," Richt said of the stud running back's early departure against Troy.  "We just didn't feel like he needed to be in there anymore so we let him rest."

Vols Ready to Get Back on Track

According to Dustin Dopirak of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tennessee players were enthusiastic about returning to practice on Sunday after a few days off.  Said offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian, "They were itching to get back out there."

According to Ben Frederickson of the News-Sentinel, head coach Butch Jones thinks running back Jalen Hurd will help Tennessee's efforts, particularly in conference play.  "He's gaining tough yards," Jones said.  "He's gaining the 3- and 4-yard runs and really lowering his center of gravity and his pad level.  I've been proud of him."

Prediction

David Goldman/Associated Press

Both of these teams have plenty of holes, but what separates Georgia is its strength—the running game.  

If all else fails, it's reasonable to think the Bulldogs will still be able to churn out yardage, eat the clock and seize momentum against a young, up-and-coming Tennessee team.

The Volunteers, on the other hand, have no known, reliable strength to fall back on.  Their offense as a whole performs merely adequately in both phases.  Defensively, the Vols have performed well, but their best efforts have come against Utah State and Arkansas State, two teams that won't pose nearly the physical threat that Georgia will showcase.

At this time, Georgia is more well-rounded, deeper and less flawed than Tennessee.  Georgia wins comfortably thanks to a strong second-half performance. 

Final Score: Georgia 38, Tennessee 24

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.