NO. 4 GEORGIA (10-1) at GEORGIA TECH (3-8)
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019
Noon at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta
VIDEO & RADIO
ABC & 102.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
Georgia is averaging 198.3 rushing yards per game compared to 157.3 for Georgia Tech, but the gargantuan difference between these two is rushing defense. The Bulldogs rank second nationally, yielding just 68.5 yards per contest on the ground, while the Yellow Jackets rank 119th, giving up 214.9 a game. Clemson racked up 411 rushing yards in Tech's season opener, and The Citadel amassed 320 during its September upset in Atlanta, with the Jackets having allowed 238 and 230 rushing yards their past two games against Virginia Tech and North Carolina State. Georgia coach Kirby Smart was asked this week about his offensive line against Tech's defensive front being an advantage, but he spun the response as pleasantly as possible. "When you look across the board, they have guys who play quite a bit of snaps," Smart said. "They rotate a lot of guys in there and play a ton of players. I think that helps build morale and self-worth within your team."
ONE TO WATCH
Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm has gone three consecutive games completing fewer than 50% of his passes for the first time in his career, though Georgia has won all three and he has thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions in this stretch. "I don't think it's any kind of concern," Bulldogs senior tight end Charlie Woerner said. "It's kind of the ups and downs of the season, but Jake is still playing some really good football and helping the offense get in the right situations." Fromm's most physical receiver, graduate transfer Lawrence Cager, reportedly sustained an ankle injury that will keep him out at Tech as well as next week's Southeastern Conference title game against LSU, so other receivers will have to step up against the in-state rival.
IN THE END
Georgia has a chance to defeat Tech by 20 or more points for a third straight time, which the Bulldogs have never before accomplished. They should Saturday at the expense of first-year coach Geoff Collins, who will need more than one year to start evening the playing field in this rivalry. "We're completely focused on ourselves," Collins said. "We understand the program that we're going against, but it's all about us and getting ourselves wired and ready to go."
PREDICTION
Georgia 33, Georgia Tech 10
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.