Happy Thanksgiving week. It’s time for Clean Old-Fashioned Hate as Georgia heads to play technical school on North Ave. Except this year, the Dawgs and Jackets aren’t playing on North Avenue. Rather than play at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Tech forfeited its home game to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The school received $10 million from AMB Sports and Entertainment to move the game 1.9 miles south. Sure, it’s not far, but it stinks (we had a better word, but our editor changed it).
Georgia already plays the Cocktail Party at a neutral site; two in a year is just too much. Georgia is no stranger to Mercedes-Benz. Playing many times for SEC Championships, Chick-fil-A Kickoffs, and College Football Playoff games. Not playing at Bobby Dodd just doesn’t feel right, but it is a sign of the times for college football in 2025. Follow the money. Kirby Smart said the change in venue will not affect UGA. “No, we don’t change our approach. I don’t really think about those things.” The perfect response Dawg fans have come to expect from Smart.
Smart and the Dawgs have been locked in and have bigger things on their mind. Georgia currently sits at #4 in the College Football Playoff and has an opportunity to still defend their SEC Championship. A loss by Alabama or Texas A&M, both on the road, gives the Dawgs their chance. But first, they have to deal with Georgia Tech. Let’s look ahead and preview some Clean Old-Fashioned Hate.
Clean Old-Fashioned Hate: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
Opponent: Georgia Tech
History: Georgia has won seven straight and leads the series 72-41-5.
Last meeting: Georgia defeated Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes in Athens last year.
Date and Time: Friday, Nov. 28th | 3:30 PM EST
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Television: ABC
Spread: #GoDawgs – 13.5
What should we know about Georgia Tech?
Buster Faulkner. That is the name that will keep Smart and the Georgia staff up this week. Faulker is a one-time Georgia analyst and is now the offensive coordinator for Georgia Tech. Smart had high praise for Faulkner and what he can do to keep defenses guessing.
“Nothing’s comfortable about defending an offense that can hurt you in so many ways. First of all, Buster [Faulkner] does an incredible job. He did here, too. He’s a really good football coach. He knows where things are, where all the nuggets are on defense. He knows how to attack them.” Smart said. “He knows the answers to things when you do them. At the end of the day, they got to block, we got to tackle, and somebody’s got to do it better. That’s a very tough thing when you play them, because they stretch you horizontally, they stretch you vertically, they stretch you with tempo, they stretch you with numbers counts because of their quarterback.”
Faulker and quarterback Haynes King are a match made in heaven. King did an excellent job last year at keeping Georgia’s defense guessing and was a big reason why Tech was able to take Georgia to eight overtimes. King can hurt you through the air or on the ground. He has 2,259 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in 9 games. That pairs nicely with 807 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
This will pose a significant challenge for a Georgia defense that has questions about linebacker CJ Allen‘s return. Smart shared that “he’s working his tail off, doing the best he can to be available when he can.”
Who wins Clean Old-Fashioned Hate?
Georgia is a young team, but they are learning quickly under Smart. They have weathered the storms in Knoxville, against Ole Miss, and against Alabama. The offense is in sync. Mike Bobo has looked in his bag, continuing to find new ways to make Gunner Stockton and the offense click. Smart shared that Chauncey Bowens is looking better and should be available against Tech. Mercedes-Benz may start to feel like home for Georgia. After Friday, they could play next Saturday in Atlanta for the SEC Championship and, depending on the Playoff bracket, return on January 9th for a semifinal game. It’s championship time in Athens, and it starts with taking care of some Clean Old-Fashioned Hate on Friday afternoon.
Georgia: 38
Georgia Tech: 17
Main Photo: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
