Weekend Preview: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Coming off of a big road win in Knoxville last weekend, Georgia will travel back to Tennessee on Saturday. This time it will be to Nashville to take on SEC East-foe Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs, who dropped their first two games to start the season, look to continue their impressive winning streak which currently sits at four. The Dawgs are 4-2 overall and are tied atop the Eastern Division at 3-1 in conference play.

Vanderbilt comes into Saturday’s game hoping to remain unbeaten at home this year. The Commodores took a 34-0 pounding this past weekend to #2 Alabama, but Georgia head coach Mark Richt is well aware of the challenge Vanderbilt presents.

“They are an outstanding team and a team we have a lot of respect for,” Richt told the media Tuesday.

“They have improved a lot, have won some games and will have a lot of momentum going into the game this weekend. We have to be ready to play.”(ajc.com)

Georgia will be without a key offensive player on Saturday, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. The freshman wideout had three catches for 126 yards before suffering a hamstring injury in the game against Tennessee. Mitchell, who leads the team with 25 receptions and 438 yards receiving, will have an extra week to get healthy next week as the Bulldogs do not play. He is hopeful to return October 29, when Georgia squares off against rival Florida in Jacksonville. 

Another Georgia freshman, running back Isaiah Crowell, seemed to come up gimpy after a run against the Vols, but appears to be fine. The Dawgs will need him to continue his solid freshman campaign against Vanderbilt’s small yet powerful defensive line if they expect to win. Crowell, through his first six collegiate games, has 573 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 118 attempts.

It has not yet been announced who will be the starting Vanderbilt quarterback on Saturday.

Vanderbilt backup, Jordan Rodgers, replaced fifth-year senior and three-year starter Larry Smith in the first quarter against Alabama after Smith went down with a leg injury. The younger brother of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers was very impressive against the Crimson Tide, finishing 11-18 with 104 yards and two interceptions. Despite the injury, Smith is ready to go against Georgia.

However, head coach James Franklin says a quarterback controversy has presented itself. Rodgers' impressive performance against Alabama has given him the opportunity to win the starting job outright. This week’s practices will determine who gets the start Saturday.

The Georgia defense has surprisingly emerged as one of the nation’s best so far this season. They’ve been able to stop the running game and have forced opponents to try and throw the ball, something they will need to do against a struggling Vanderbilt passing attack. The Commodores rank a lousy 114th in the FBS in passing.

With Mitchell out, look for Junior tight end Orson Charles to step up and have a big game. Georgia has the offensive and defensive advantage in this game, but expect Vanderbilt to show up ready to play.

When it’s all said and done Georgia will have too many weapons for Vanderbilt to handle on offense, and sophomore Aaron Murray will have a huge day, in what I predict will be a 28-16 victory for the Dawgs.

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