NO. 3 UTC (7-1, 5-0 SoCon) AT MERCER (3-5, 0-4)
4 p.m. > Five Star Stadium, Macon, Ga. > ESPN3 & 96.1
THE MATCHUP
It’s not a revelation, but today’s game will be won in the trenches. Mercer has allowed only eight sacks in over 200 drop-back attempts, while UTC’s defensive has a league-high 24. If the Mocs are able to apply pressure, it will disrupt a big part of what the Bears are trying to do, and if the visitors can get Mercer into some second- and third-and-long situations, they’ll have opportunities to pin their ears back and really attack.
ONE TO WATCH
Mercer quarterback John Russ is as solid as any coach could possibly want from his signal-caller. Russ hasn’t thrown an interception in his last 234 passes and has been sacked only eight times. He does a great job of getting the ball out to his playmakers and not doing things that could potentially hurt his offense. It will be the Mocs’ job to get him out of his comfort zone.
IN THE END
The 440 yards the Mocs allowed against the Bears last year marked a season high. That fact hasn’t been lost on the UTC defenders, who have had to look at reminders in their lockers since the summer about how they performed. They will play better, and although Mercer has been very close in its four losses by a combined 13 points, that win won’t come today against a hungry Mocs team.
PREDICTION
Mocs 42, Mercer 10