Tennessee Volunteers at #5 Georgia Bulldogs Week 5 Preview

Week five in the college football season schedule presents the long time rivalry between the SEC’s Tennessee Volunteers (3-1, 0-1 in SEC) and the Georgia Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 in SEC). Entering the game this season the Bulldogs are ranked #5 in the country while the Volunteers fell out of the top 25 a few weeks ago but with a win here could find themselves returning. Here’s a preview for what should be an exciting game tomorrow.

So far this season Tennessee is averaging 341.3 passing yards (8^th in FBS) and 172.5 rushing yards (59^th in FBS) per game which are very solid statistics across the board but other than Florida (represents their one loss) they truly haven’t played any tough competition. Tennessee is scoring 38.3 points per game (24^th in FBS) while allowing 24.3 points per game (62^nd in FBS) The fate of this game will rest heavily on the Volunteers junior quarterback Tyler Bray’s shoulders (94-118, 1,301 yards, 12 TD, 3 INT and 63.5 completion percentage) and if he struggles then it could be a long day for the Vols and the supporters.

Bray will have to find away to get the football to his best wideouts junior Justin Hunter (30 receptions for 410 yards and 4 TD) and junior Cordarrelle Patterson (19 receptions for 259 yards for 2 TD) as well as getting a big game out of junior running back Rajion Neal (80 carries for 356 yards and 3 TD along with 5 receptions for 80 yards). If Neal can rush for over 125 yards, Bray can pass for over 300 yards with a few scores and the Vols defense can make a few key stops then they have a chance to pull off the upset.

The Bulldogs are heading into this one seeking to continue their dominance on both sides of the ball on their way to a shot at not only the SEC title but a BCS one as well. Georgia is averaging 287.5 passing yards (28^th in FBS), 242.5 rushing yards (18^th), and 47.5 points (9^th) per game while allowing 16.5 points (30^th) per contest. Although junior quarterback Aaron Murray is having a solid season so far (69-104, 1,092 yards, 10 TD, 2 INT and 66.3 completion percentage) but when you think about the Bulldogs offense it all runs through their power and explosive rushing attack.

Georgia has two phenomenal freshmen running backs in the form of Todd Gurley (44 carries for 406 yards and 6 TD) and Keith Marshall (42 carries for 264 yards and 3 TD) who have taken the nation by storm. Gurley is currently averaging an astounding 9.2 yards per carry while Marshall is averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per attempt of his own. The Bulldogs will look to feed these two first-year players the rock early and often in attempts to wear down this Tennessee defense and put a plethora of points on the board as well.

The Bulldogs are playing at home and have too much fire power on both sides of the ball for the Vols to be able to get a win in this one; I’ll take Georgia 38-17.