It’s hard to believe Rivalry Week is already here, but alas, we’ve made it to the last remaining week of the college football regular season. On the docket for Saturday: the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry, know as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. Recently, though, the hate has been a bit one sided. Why is that? It’s simple – Georgia has won 12 of the last 14 games in the series, including last year’s double overtime victory after the Dawgs trailed 20-0 in the second quarter. Naturally, Tech fans despise UGA.
But this year’s matchup has a lot more meaning than most, as both teams enter with a 9-2 record and ranked in the Top 25 in all polls. Georgia Tech, thanks to North Carolina’s thrashing of Duke last Thursday, has already clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game against Florida State. The Yellow Jackets have the opportunity to end their season on a very special note and get into a “New Year’s Six” bowl game. Georgia needs help from Arkansas to get into the SEC Championship game, and it will know its fate before kickoff, as the Arkansas/Missouri game is being played on Friday. A win over Tech and a win over the SEC West champion would likely put Georgia on the cusp of the top four and a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Do you think both teams will be ready to play with all of that on the line?
This series has not been much of a contest for quite some time, as Georgia has a 30-9 series advantage since 1975 (UGA leads the series 64-39-5 overall and is currently on a 5-game winning streak). But don’t tell that to coach Paul Johnson and his Yellow Jackets. This year just feels different. Georgia Tech is a dangerous team that is executing the daunting triple-option offense to near perfection. Coming off a bye week, the team should be prepared to make a serious run at the Dawgs.
Heading into the season, Georgia Tech had a lot of questions marks, as the team replaced quarterback Vad Lee and six starters on defense. With Justin Thomas under center and a quick, opportunistic defense, the Yellow Jackets have wildly outperformed projections. Let’s take a look at the numbers for both teams:
Georgia
- Passing Yards: 200.5 (91st overall)
- Rushing Yards: 260.5 (13th overall)
- Points For: 43.3 (7th overall)
- Points Against: 20.5 (18th overall)
Georgia Tech
- Passing Yards: 141.7 (121st overall)
- Rushing Yards: 327.9 (4th overall)
- Points For: 37.8 (14th overall)
- Points Against: 24.1 (45th overall)
Though Georgia and Georgia Tech have very different offensive styles, the numbers are extremely close. While Georgia holds close to a 60-yard-per-game advantage in the passing game, Georgia Tech holds close to a 70-yard-per-game advantage in the running game. Both teams are scoring at will against opponents, ranking in the Top 15 in that stat category, while both teams rank in the Top 50 in points against. Georgia’s defense, when it’s been on its game, has been suffocating, which was evident in games against Clemson (at least in the second half), Missouri and Auburn. But this week, they face a different kind of test from the triple-option attack from Georgia Tech. If the porous run defense that showed up against Florida is on the field in Athens against Georgia Tech, it might just give up 800 rushing yards.
With these two offenses performing at such high levels, it’s no question that points will be scored on both sides. So which defense has what it takes to make a couple big stops and change the complexion of the game? Take a look at the turnover margin for both teams. UGA has recovered 11 fumbles (forced 21) and notched 13 interceptions, while only losing four fumbles and throwing four interceptions. Its turnover margin is near the top in all of college football at +16. Georgia Tech has recovered eight fumbles (17 forced) and picked off 16 passes, while losing ten fumbles and throwing four interceptions, bringing the Yellow Jackets’ turnover margin to a respectable +10. Georgia has been very good at protecting the ball this year, and on those eight giveaways, UGA has allowed just six total points. Yes, you read that correctly. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, has been great at capitalizing on turnovers, converting its 24 takeaways into 116 points.
On Saturday, Georgia Tech will need to be careful with the football to avoid costly turnovers, which are possible in the triple-option scheme. If UGA’s linebacker corps of Leonard Floyd, Amarlo Herrera and Lorenzo Carter can contain the Georgia Tech rushing attack and not let runners turn the corner, they should have an opportunity to force turnovers with their bruising tackling capabilities.
This year’s edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate should be a hard-fought, entertaining battle. Look for Georgia to come out firing, as the Dawgs have outscored opponents in the first quarter by a 145-44 score this season. Look for Georgia Tech to try and keep it close heading into the fourth quarter, where the Yellow Jackets hold a 122-57 advantage this season. It will be a good battle ‘Between the Hedges’ on Saturday, but Georgia has too much firepower on offense (with Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Hutson Mason and his corps of receivers) and has improved enough on defense to come out with the win at home. Georgia wins 42-32.
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