It was exactly the kind of break Tennessee would need to pull off an upset, and it wasnt the last break Tennessee would get. Two times the Bulldogs were packed on a fourth-and-1, including when at the goalline just before halftime. One resulted in an instant goal and the Vols really led the video game 21-17 at halftime.
Then the 2nd half started and Tennessees luck ran out.
Georgia had held Tennessee to 143 backyards of offense in the first half, and had it not been for the bad snap and Tennessees defense making huge stops, the Vols likely would have been out of the game early. Regrettably for Tennessee, truth caught up rapidly in the 3rd quarter when Jarrett Guarantano turned the ball over on each of the teams very first 2 second-half possessions. Once again the Tennessee defense came through, holding Georgia to a couple basket, however Tennessee never ever scored another point.
Instead, Georgia won conveniently, even if the game never felt like the blowout the rating reflects. Here are my four most significant takeaways after the Bulldogs took over sole ownership of top place in the SEC East.
1. Georgias defense might be best in the country
I understand we live in an age where offense dominates the sport. Still, expect you want to take a look at it from a value-over-replacement level type of situation that we see in baseball. Because case, the space in between Georgias defense and the average defense is miles broader than one in between the finest offense and an average offense. Its a monster, basic and plain. The Dawgs defense held Tennessee to 214 lawns on the day and 3.4 yards per play. What was even more excellent was that Tennessee ended up the day with -1 yard hurrying. Sure, a lot of that was due to five sacks, but even if we get rid of the sack yardage, the Vols still managed just 45 rushing backyards on 22 brings.
What might have been most remarkable was the method the unit took control of the second half. Georgias defense held Tennessee to 71 yards in the 2nd half on 39 plays and required 5 turnovers. It also did a significant job getting off the field as the Vols might only convert 3 of their 13 3rd and fourth-down efforts.
Week in and week out, this defense will keep Georgia in any game it plays. Itll be because this defense led them there if the Bulldogs do win the SEC and get to the playoff.
2. Georgia offense requires work
Bennett completed the game with 238 yards passing as he finished 16 of his 27 efforts and, most importantly, he didnt turn the ball over. Still, Bennett appears to have that flair for making a play when his offense requires him to and can extend drives.
It was Kendall Milton who led Georgia in hurrying with 56 lawns on eight brings. The Tennessee defense deserves plenty of credit for taking it away.
It was exactly the kind of break Tennessee would require to pull off an upset, and it wasnt the last break Tennessee would get. Georgia had held Tennessee to 143 yards of offense in the first half, and had it not been for the bad breeze and Tennessees defense making big stops, the Vols likely would have been out of the game early. Again the Tennessee defense came through, holding Georgia to a couple field goals, however Tennessee never ever scored another point.
The Dawgs defense held Tennessee to 214 lawns on the day and 3.4 lawns per play. Georgias defense held Tennessee to 71 yards in the 2nd half on 39 plays and required 5 turnovers.
Seriously, though, yell out to Tennessees Jeremy Banks for showing definitely no worry and offering out to try to stop Carter at the goal line. A great deal of guys would not do that.
No. 3 Georgia beat No. 14 Tennessee 44-21 on Saturday in a video game that frequently seemed like Georgias biggest opponent was Georgia. Thats the very best way to explain a video game in which the Bulldogs routed 21-17 at halftime however made all the necessary second-half adjustments and outscored the Volunteers 27-0 over the final 30 minutes to declare success.
Things began badly for the Bulldogs when a bad snap on the opening possession of the video game cruised over quarterback Stetson Bennetts head and didnt stop rolling until it had traveled 25 backyards to the objective line. As soon as there, Bennett tried to knock it far from Tennessee defenders, however his efforts were futile as Kivon Bennett fell on the ball for a touchdown and an early 7-0 Tennessee lead.
The only time any group need to kick a basket from the 1-yard line is when its the last play of the video game, and it will either give you the lead or tie.
5. Georgia has reinvented the fullback position
Fullbacks weigh 300 pounds now and play both ways.
As for the receivers, while George Pickens gets the headliner status, Kearis Jackson is becoming Bennetts go-to. He ended up the day with 91 backyards on four receptions and led the team with 7 targets.
3. Tennessee will not ascend till QB enhances
This Vols are enhancing, and if youre a Tennessee fan, youve seen factor for optimism going forward. Even if the idea the group was all set to complete with the elite of the SEC was laid to rest in Athens, this defense appears legit.
In my mind, Tennessee is in a similar position to where Texas A&M is in the SEC West. The lineup is more skilled and things are trending in the ideal direction, but the Vols require a difference-maker at the QB position before they take that final action. He fumbled three times and threw a pick, and it eliminated any chance that Tennessee had of pulling off this upset.
The possibility to pull it off was there. The truth they had the lead at halftime regardless of not playing especially well was something they could not make the most of as Guarantano rather literally gave the video game away.
4. Kirbys fourth-down choices were correct
Kirby Smart has actually been questioned for lots of his fourth-down decisions during his time at Georgia, but even if his 2 huge choices on Saturday didnt work, they were the right call. The choice to go all out on fourth-and-1 in his own territory throughout the 2nd quarter didnt work as Stetson Bennett was stopped short on a QB sneak. Tennessee scored a play later on to take the lead. It was a risky choice, but one I do not mind making if I have Georgias defense. Tennessee just made 2 plays, and you tip your cap.
There was the choice to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line just before halftime. A goal provides you the lead at halftime and squashes Tennessees confidence.
