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Georgia Bulldogs Look to End SEC East Winless Streak Against Vanderbilt

by Josh Cagliani
10/09/2007

The No. 24-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will look to start a new winning streak as they travel to Nashville, Tenn. to face the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday.

After being humiliated by the Volunteers a week ago, the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 SEC) will have to show the nation they are still an elite program. The Bulldogs haven’t won an SEC East game since defeating South Carolina 18-0 last year.

The Commodores (3-2, 1-2 SEC), who lost to Auburn 35-7 last Saturday, know what it takes to play with the Bulldogs. Last year, the Commodores went into Sanford Stadium and shocked the Bulldogs, winning 24-22.

“We have a tremendous challenge here, last year they came into our house and beat us, it was no fluke, they came in and went toe-to-toe with us and came out with a victory,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said.

If Georgia wants to have any chance of coming out of Nashville with a win, they will have to stop the SEC’s leading receiver, Earl Bennett. Bennett is only seven catches shy of becoming the SEC’s all-time leading receiver.

Vanderbilt will be going into the game with questions at quarterback after starter Chris Nickson was benched in the second half of last week’s game. Vanderbilt head coach, Bobby Johnson, said the decision on who to start at quarterback will be an “extremely important” decision.

The game against Tennessee showed some glaring weaknesses in the Georgia offense and defense. Georgia allowed 411 total yards of offense and could only muster 69 yards rushing against a defense that had allowed 59 and 45 points in two previous games this year.

“I don’t think it is a confidence issue, I just don’t think we are a very mature team,” Richt said. “We have been up and we have been down.”

With two conference losses, the chances for a SEC championship are dwindling for the Bulldogs. The good news for the Bulldogs is that in 2003 the team lost two conference games and still went to the SEC Championship game.

“We can still do it. It’s just about getting the job done week after week,” junior tight end Tripp Chandler said.

In order to win, Georgia will have to do it without the help of starting tailback Thomas Brown. Brown suffered a fractured collarbone in last week’s game and will be out four to six weeks.

Knowshon Moreno and Kregg Lumpkin are expected to step in and carry the bulk of the load for the Bulldogs.

Kickoff is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.