Georgia vs. Tennessee College Football Preview

by Josh Cagliani
10/03/2007

The No. 12-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will look for revenge as they make their way to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the Volunteers on Saturday afternoon.

The Mark Richt era has been a good one when it comes to visiting Tennessee. Richt is undefeated while playing inside Neyland Stadium.

“I just think we have quarterbacks that have played pretty well in those games and we have almost always had at least one big special-teams play,” Richt said.

The Bulldogs enter the game at 4-1 and are poised to make a run at the SEC championship.

“This is a big game for both teams, we both need it. Both teams want to feel like they are still in the race. We are right now, but after Saturday one team’s hopes will be a lot dimmer,” said Richt.

In order for Georgia to win the SEC East, they will more than likely have to win out in conference play and hope South Carolina loses once more to a SEC competitor.

Georgia will have to look out for Vols quarterback Erik Ainge, who ranks third in the SEC in quarterback rating and fourth in passing yards.

Last year, Ainge and the Vols racked up 383 total yards and 51 points against the Bulldogs in Athens.

The Vols will be coming off a bye week and will be well prepared for the Georgia offense.

“We had a chance to go back and really spend quality time on our fundamentals,” Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “Our team work was geared around preparing for Georgia, so we got a chance to get ahead a little bit there.”

After playing in front of a rowdy crowd at Alabama, the Bulldogs should be ready for anything that the Vols fans throw at them. Neyland Stadium seats 102,000 people, the third largest stadium in the country, and almost all of the fans will be wearing orange.

“It’s going to be outrageous. I’ve never played in front of that many people ever, and I heard it’s a hostile crowd, so I know it’s going to be crazy,” redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno said.

Georgia comes into the game having defeated Ole Miss 45-17 behind 300 plus yards of rushing, led by Thomas Brown. The offense will look to keep that pace up in front of the big orange.

Georgia and Tennessee have arguably the two most recognizable mascots, Uga and Smokey, and fans can watch them and the game live on CBS at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.