ATHENS—The Georgia/Tennessee rivalry might not have the juice of, say, Georgia-Auburn or Tennessee-Alabama, however it’s quick changing into a matchup of heavyweights. 4 of the final 5 video games have featured each groups ranked within the high 20, and Saturday night time was, in some ways, a playoff play-in. At stake: a possible SEC championship berth for Tennessee, a possible playoff berth for Georgia.
Earlier than a delirious Sanford Stadium crowd, the Bulldogs struggled early however gathered themselves late, wanting much less just like the tentative crew that misplaced to Ole Miss and extra just like the threatening bruisers that might wreck the CFP. Georgia gained 31–17, and put itself proper again within the playoff race. Tennessee, in the meantime, falls into the pool of two-loss SEC groups who will probably be combating for CFP playoff spots.
Georgia punter Brett Thorson—the one Bulldog who got here out of the gate robust—unintentionally set the early temper for Georgia within the first half. The Dawgs had gone three-and-out on their opening sequence, Thorson punted the ball away, and a Tennessee participant knocked him to the bottom. Flags flew, and Thorson lay on his again, gloating, anticipating a roughing-the-punter name that will give Georgia a contemporary set of downs.
It wasn’t to be. The officers picked up the flags, ruling that the Tennessee participant had been blocked into Thorson. And Tennessee would proceed to attain a landing on its ensuing drive.
It was a fairly stark message: If Georgia needed a victory over a feisty Vol group on Saturday night time, the Dawgs must earn it.
The standing of every group’s beginning quarterback dominated pregame discuss. Would Nico Iamaleava be obtainable after present process a reported concussion protocol? Would Carson Beck proceed his slide from his Heisman Trophy candidacy into interception-slinging irrelevance?
The primary half answered each questions pretty successfully. Iamaleava acquired the beginning, and led the Vols on landing drives of 78 and 75 yards, with a area aim in between. Beck, in the meantime, got here out firing, throwing 29 first-half passes. Positive, a lot of these passes flew excessive or vast, however that’s higher than into enemy palms, proper? Beck linked with tight finish Oscar Delp—also called Brock Bowers 2.0—for 2 touchdowns, and drove the Dawgs to a late first-half area aim.
Midway dwelling, the sport was tied at 17, with no clear edge for both aspect.
Georgia struck first within the second half, with a really un-Carson-Beck-like drive from Beck consuming 7:22 and overlaying 87 yards over 12 performs. Beck, who’s spent the previous few weeks because the goal of Georgia followers’ rage, appeared as composed and centered as he has all season on the drive, discovering open males, eluding the Tennessee rush, and guiding Georgia with a confidence he hadn’t proven in weeks. He took the ball into the top zone himself on the drive’s remaining play, scooting 10 yards to place Georgia forward 24-17.
Tennessee’s offense, so dependable within the first half, sputtered and staggered within the second, punting on three consecutive possessions. Following a two-yard landing run by Nate Frazier that gave the Bulldogs a 31–17 lead, Tennessee took over with 2:26 remaining in regulation however turned it over on fourth down with an Iamaleava fumble. The Vols had been held scoreless over the ultimate half-hour.