We will have football Between the Hedges on Saturday. We’ve got everything you need to get you ready for Georgia vs. Marshall.
Between the Hedges: Georgia vs. Marshall Preview
What are the game details?
History: Georgia leads the series 1-0.
Last meeting: Georgia defeated Marshall 13-3 in Athens in 2004.
Date and Time: Saturday, August 30 | 3:30 p.m. EST
Location: Vince Dooley Field at Sandford Stadium.
Television: ESPN
Spread: Georgia -39.5
What Should You Know About Marshall?
What Should You Watch for on Georgia’s Offense?
All eyes will be on the offense heading into Week 1. Smart spoke about how his staff will evaluate the offense to measure their success against the Thundering Herd. “We have some really lofty goals. We go in and we say, okay, we got about 15, 20 goals up there that we look for. And if we hit those goals, then we usually play well. And if we don’t, then we usually didn’t, as run goals involved in that, third down conversion rate, red zone rate, yards per completion rate, turnover rate, I mean, penalty rate, there’s a lot that goes into that. So, I can’t simply say just win the game; there’s more to it than that.”
Here are three things we will be watching for on Saturday:
- How does the offense flow under Gunner Stockton?
We’ve seen him be “the guy” in the SEC Championship game and in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame. There is a spark and a fire to Stockton, but at the end of the day, we need points and touchdowns. The Georgia offense will need Stockton’s arm and legs to be successful. - How is the running game, Bobo?
We wrote about it earlier this season. The running game has to be effective. It is more than just Nate Frazier or Cash Jones. Georgia will need its new-look offensive line to step and open holes to provide Georgia with a presence. - Where are the chunk and big plays?
Georgia took its fair share of shot plays last year. Too often, though, passes were either dropped, and momentum was negated. Georgia will rely on some big transfers to make the receiving threat a viable threat again in 2025. Georgia grabbed two of the top receivers in the portal this winter:-
Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) brings a massive 6-6 frame and is a red-zone threat.
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Zachariah Branch (USC) is pure explosiveness—a returner who gives you electric speed, quickness, and big-play upside.
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What Should You Watch for on Georgia’s Defense?
The Georgia defense was good last year. But they were not great. They failed to have a difference maker up front to disrupt and give their back seven the space and ability to make big plays. Smart took a few minutes to talk about the defensive line in his weekly press conference. He was not overly critical, but reading between the lines, he is calling for somebody or multiple folks to step up in a big way.
“These guys, they’re going to war every day. I mean, who you are is on your tape. That’s your resume. It speaks for itself. We show our guys every day in the team meeting. This is who you are, cuz this is what you put on tape, especially at the defensive line and offensive line position.” Smart said. “So I don’t expect it to go out in the game and change all of a sudden. The guys with good characteristics, good habits in practice, it’ll show up that way in the game.”
Here are three names to look out for on Saturday.
- Christen Miller
The Redshirt Junior from Cedargrove enters year four with Georgia. Miller played in 12 games with 10 starts, finishing the year with 27 tackles, 3.5 of them for a loss. He saved his best for the College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, piling up a career-high five tackles along with a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. - Jordan Hall
The Junior from Jacksonville, is one of the veterans for the Georgia defensive line. He has played more of a reserve role in each of the last two years, but should be ready to step up and leave his mark.
- Elijah Griffin
One of the young pups. Griffin is a freshman from Savannah. Ranked the No. 2 player in the country, the top defensive lineman, and the No. 1 prospect in Georgia, he powered Savannah Christian to a 10-1 season and a trip to the GHSA Private quarterfinals. In just nine games, he racked up 53 tackles—40 solo—along with 27 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Who wins Georgia vs. Marshall?
The scoreboard doesn’t matter. It’s about The Process.
Georgia: 42
Marshall: 3
Main Photo: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
