The Top Five Reasons Georgia Beats Arizona State

This week in Georgia football is a somewhat historic one. Why, you ask? Georgia heads west this week to battle Arizona State in Tempe, and heading west for Georgia is a rare thing.

With all of the recent success of the Georgia football program, it is surprising that the Dawgs have not played a regular season game outside of the Southeast since Lyndon Johnson was President.

While Tennessee and Auburn have recently battled Pac-10 teams UCLA and USC, Georgia has been content to stay within arm's length of Sanford Stadium. This has led to scheduling criticism, and now Georgia has responded.

This year's schedule shaped up to be one of the toughest in years. A trip to Tempe to face Arizona State was included on this year's schedule. After a tough SEC opener, Georgia must now face the hazards of western travel and rebound from a sluggish game in Columbia.

All the naysayers are having a field day with UGA's close win over the Gamecocks. Most Georgia fans simply shake their heads. The SC game is always a "stumble" game for the Dawgs. This year at least we "stumbled" to victory.

Of course the pollsters seem to know little UGA/SC history and simply use the score as another reason to drop Georgia in the polls.

So here it is: a nationally televised game against a Pac-10 opponent, a big time QB in Rudy Carpenter, and a chance to shut up a few critics.

Here are my top five reasons Georgia will do just that and beat Arizona State.

1) The Pac-10 is, as always, overrated.

The Pac-10 just completed one of their worst football weekends in recent memory. Seven Pac-10 teams lost. The Mountain West dominated the Pac-10 in their four matchups. Washington and Washington State got drilled in their games. UCLA was embarrassed by BYU.

Of course, USC dominated Ohio State. Ohio State? Talk about overrated. Was anyone really surprised?

USC may dominate the Pac-10 again this year. But when all is said and done, what will that prove? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

2) SEC play prepares teams for games such as these.

OK, before you say it...yes, I know UCLA beat Tennessee. These things happen. It was an emotional victory for UCLA. For the Vols it was a complete disaster.

But playing week after week in the SEC is something that only those teams can fully appreciate.  Look at what Florida and LSU did to the mighty Ohio State University. They were clearly the better teams.

Competition at that level breeds success. It's not a guarantee, but it is certainly a recipe that will succeed most of the time.

Within the conference each week is a war. Vanderbilt beats South Carolina, South Carolina beats Georgia, Florida beats Tennessee, and Georgia beats Florida. All of that in 2007...it's a tough conference. You better come to play every week.

Georgia's close call in Columbia will serve them well in Tempe.

3) Georgia's defense must, and will, play better.

Georgia's defense has had its moments this season—some good, some bad. The run defense has been solid, but the pass defense has been very suspect at times.

The loss of Jeff Owens in the middle of the D-line has hurt. The pass rush from the front four has not been consistent. Willie Martinez is a good defensive coordinator—adjustments will be made.

Georgia will blitz and keep Carpenter off balance. Georgia cannot allow Carpenter to stand in the pocket and survey the field. If he gets that chance he will look like Erik Ainge in Athens last year...that would not be good for the Dawgs! 

Georgia's D will bring a renewed intensity into this one. It's got to happen...and it will. 

4) Mark Richt on the road: The dominance will continue.

Under coach Mark Richt the Georgia Bulldogs are an impressive 26-4 on the road. That's an 87 percent winning percentage. To go to an opponent’s home field and win 87 percent of the time is an incredible number.

Arizona State has also been impressive at home. I'm sure they will be looking to avenge their loss to UNLV. UNLV had lost an incredible 21 of 22 on the road before Saturday. That's not a bad loss for ASU—that is a devastating loss.

ASU may have been looking ahead, but that fact will help them little when the Dawgs roll into town this week.

5) Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno ARE making the trip.

Look for Stafford and Moreno to both have big nights on Saturday. Moreno continues to look like a Heisman candidate, rushing for over 300 yards in his first three games. His motor will be running on all cylinders.

Stafford, despite being slightly off his game against the Gamecocks, still leads the SEC in QB efficiency. He's completed over 60 percent of his passes and has four TDs and no interceptions. Stafford is also 20-4 as a starter. Just win baby!

The lack of offensive explosiveness last week will serve the Dawgs well against ASU. I look for the offense to regroup and put up some serious numbers on the Sun Devils.

The offensive line WILL need to step it up a notch, and the WRs WILL need to hang on to the ball. Drops last week cost Georgia at least one TD, if not two.

Yes, Stafford and Moreno are making the trip to Tempe. When the game clock expires Saturday night, Sun Devils fans will wish they had missed the team bus.

There you have it: my top five reasons Georgia beats Arizona State on Saturday. Of course, if they do, the pollsters will point to ASU's loss to UNLV and drop the Dawgs to fourth or fifth in the polls...but I'm not bitter.