I don't know if this is a "must win" game for Tennessee, but it sure would be nice to get one under our belts. There's been a lot of talk this week about Derek Dooley looking for a "signature" win. That's true, but I wouldn't consider this a signature win...unless maybe UT comes out and puts a hurting on the Dawgs to the tune of about 41-13. And maybe not then. This is a Georgia program that is in a state of disarray. The win last week was enough to make Georgia feel all warm and fuzzy about themselves, but it did little more than stop the bleeding. I expect some fight from the players, but if Tennessee can find a way to get up by a couple of scores, it wouldn't surprise me to see Georgia just lay down and die. Mark Richt is fighting for his job, but even the most devout Richt sympathizer must see the writing on the wall by now and realize that UGA isn't going to keep him for the long-term. It may not be this year, depending on how UGA finishes, but Richt's days in Athens are numbered. (He must have the most calloused butt in all of college football, because he's been on the hot seat longer than any coach since the term was invented.)
So, with that in mind, here are my thoughts about Saturday's game:
Georgia has some quality running backs, but Tennessee's secondary is good enough (and Georgia's passing game is bad enough) to make the Bulldogs one-dimensional. Florida was able to beat us by being one dimensional, but UGA doesn't have the speed to get around us on the corners like Florida did. I still think Tennessee's defense is underrated, therefore I don't see this being the shootout that a lot of fans on both sides think it will be. We're giving up at least one huge play per game because someone is busting on defense. That can't happen Saturday. It's a confidence booster for them and maybe a confidence killer for UT. That defense is still young and it wouldn't be hard if UGA goes up a score or two for the D to start thinking Florida all over again.
I don't think Georgia's defense can stop Tennessee's passing game, but it's imperative for Tennessee to be able to run the football to keep them honest. The last thing we need is for UGA to be able to focus solely on getting to the QB and covering Rogers without giving a rip about our running game. I think this is the game is DeAnthony Arnett's breakout game. I wouldn't be surprised to see him wind up with 6-7 catches and a couple of scores.
If everything goes right, I can see UT winning this one comfortably.
Also, what are the odds of any of these happening?
» Devrin Young returning a punt for a touchdown... Someone said earlier this week that if that happens, fans might storm the field and tear down the goalposts right then and there. I concur.
» Georgia blocking a punt... If Tennessee has another punt blocked, fans might also storm the field...but it won't be out of sheer joy.
» Barbara Dooley beats the shizzle out of some reporter... Did y'all catch the story of her busting in on an interview with Andrew Gribble and Dave Hooker? LOL. She let Gribble have it for saying the words "hot seat" and "Dooley" in the same sentence. "You've got mama's rile up now."
» Marlon Brown loses his cool... From his comments this week, I think Brown desperately wants Tennessee fans to hate him. I predict he gets agitated when he figures out that 100,000 or so fans in Neyland Stadium don't give two craps about him, and does something to try to instigate that hatred.
» Barbara Dooley beats the shizzle out of Marlon Brown's grandmomma...
