State of Play: Georgia needs help to reach SEC Championship
Georgia knows what it needs in order to reach the SEC Championship.
If Texas A&M loses to Texas or if Alabama loses to Auburn, Georgia will be in the conference title game for the fifth consecutive year and the seventh out of the past nine seasons. If both the Aggies and Crimson Tide win, Georgia will stay home.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said that his goal is to win every game, and if you win every game then that puts you in the SEC Championship. However, if his team defeats Georgia Tech and is 11-1, it’s hard to argue with the benefits of not reaching the SEC Championship Game. With a win on Friday, the Bulldogs would likely stay in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings and would get a week off to rest.
Of course, conference championship or not, Georgia must defeat Georgia Tech and leave nothing to chance. While it may seem like the Bulldogs are in no matter what, there are a lot of one- and two-loss teams playing for a spot over the next two weeks. You also never know what the College Football Playoff committee will do, given the inconsistencies it’s stated publicly throughout the past month.
The key to the game
This game is going to fall on Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King in the run game. If King is able to ground and pound the Bulldogs, it’s going to be a long day. If Georgia contains King early and forces him to pass more than the Yellow Jackets would like, the Bulldogs will win comfortably.
Georgia’s strength is defending the run as it ranks fifth nationally at allowing only 87.6 rushing yards per game. But the way Georgia Tech uses King in the run game is quite different than how the Bulldogs’ opponents have run the ball. The Yellow Jackets design a lot of designed quarterback runs and the blocking scheme is tough to defend. It may not be like the Paul Johnson years, but in a similar sense, this is a tough offense to prepare for in less than one week.
SEC Everest
Chasing the summit: Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama
A camp behind: Oklahoma, Vanderbilt
Advanced base camp: Tennessee, Texas, Missouri
Base camp: No one
Yikes: Mississippi State, LSU
Remember when Mark Stoops was rumored for the Texas A&M job? LOL: Kentucky
Upset minded but nah: Auburn
One more and it’s over: Arkansas
Watch ’em beat Florida State: Florida
Anything can happen, right?: South Carolina
Games of note
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas: If Texas upsets Texas A&M, it would not be surprising to see the Longhorns vault into playoff territory given two of their losses are to Ohio State and Georgia. The Florida loss still looks awfully bad and could be tough to overcome, even in this scenario.
No. 7 Ole Miss at Mississippi State: The Rebels need a win to keep its slim SEC Championship Game hopes alive. With all the distractions Lane Kiffin has provided, you have to wonder how focused his team will be.
No. 10 Alabama at Auburn: Crazy things have happened at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Iron Bowl. But given how bad the Tigers have been on offense, it’s unlikely any kind of magic happens in their favor this year.
ICYMI
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Hate meets Hope: Heisman Trophy candidates square off in Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.
Everyone has an opinion on where five-star quarterback Jared Curtis will sign.
Opposition Research: An expert’s opinion on Georgia Tech.
Dawg Tracks: 15 thoughts heading into Friday’s game against Georgia Tech.