GEORGIA TECH VS. GEORGIA: HOW THE TEAMS MATCH UP: Bulldogs get nod in most matchups

UGA pass offense vs. Tech’s pass defense

On paper, the Yellow Jackets look like one of the best pass defenses in the land. They’re giving up 177 yards a game, which ranks 21st in the nation, and have 17 interceptions, which ranks 10th. But a closer look reveals they simply haven’t played many teams that are very good at passing. The best passing team Tech has faced this season was Clemson, which is ranked 53rd in the nation. Georgia, ranked 19th, will be the best they’ve seen by far.

“I think they do a great job of getting pressure on the quarterback, and that’s something that helps their coverage,” Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “I think their guys are talented back there. They have some players who are really aggressive and, when the ball’s in the air, do a great job.”

> ADVANTAGE GEORGIA: Stafford, wide receivers A.J. Green and Mohamed Massaquoi and company have excelled against tougher SEC defenses.

UGA’s Knowshon Moreno vs. Tech’s run defense

Again, Tech puts up good numbers against the rush, giving up 120 yards a game, which is 29th nationally and fifth in the ACC. But with the exception of Clemson, which fell behind early and abandoned the run, the Jackets have been hurt by most of the good backs they faced. FSU’s Jermaine Thomas (130 yards rushing), Virginia Tech’s Darren Evans (94) and Tyrod Taylor (74), Virginia’s Cedric Peerman (118), North Carolina’s Shaun Draughn (90) and Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon (94) had productive ground games against them.

> ADVANTAGE GEORGIA: Tech’s players and coaches admit they have not faced a back as good as Moreno, who averages 113 yards per game.

Tech’s play fakes vs. UGA’s pass defense

The Jackets attempt 12 passes a game. This is a built-in problem for a secondary, which must honor the pass on every play even if its primary duty is run support. The bootleg can be a particular problem after the defense has seen 15 straight run calls. But Georgia also knows Tech over-relies on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who has 35 of the Jackets’ 65 receptions.

> ADVANTAGE TECH: No, the Jackets don’t throw it often, but their yards per pass (8.4) compare well with Georgia’s (9.0).

Tech’s Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer vs. UGA’s run defense

The myth about the triple-option is that it means tough yards and not many big plays. Five different Jackets have had a gain 40 or more yards on a run, including 88- and 85-yarders by Jonathan Dwyer. They’ve also completed passes of 88 and 79 yards. They can get the ball downfield in a hurry. Conversely, stopping the run is what Georgia does best on defense. Led by linebacker Rennie Curran, the SEC’s leading tackler, its 104.5 yards rank 15th nationally.

> ADVANTAGE TECH: The Bulldogs regressed against the run late in the year and were exposed by the option against Kentucky.

UGA’s special teams vs. Tech’s special teams

The Bulldogs have a marked edge in nearly every facet but most dramatically in punt returns, where Georgia averages 16.7 yards compared to Tech’s 6.9. The field goal department is no contest. From 40 yards or longer, Bulldog Blair Walsh is 5-for-9 with a 52-yarder. Tech’s Scott Blair is 0-for-6. His longest field goal was 39 yards.

> ADVANTAGE GEORGIA: Georgia’s special teams have generated 89 points compared to Tech’s 61.

Halftime adjustments

Any team facing Tech for the first time gets educated in the first half, for seeing the option at full speed is far different from what the defense sees in the week of preparation. Whether any change at halftime can make a defense assignment-perfect is debatable, but the fact that Tech’s lowest-scoring quarter is the third (51 points) suggests opponents have responded well after halftime.

> ADVANTAGE GEORGIA: If only because they have never faced the option, the Bulldogs have the better chance to reassess for the final 30 minutes.

5 BIG NUMBERS FOR TECH

2: Interceptions needed by rover Morgan Burnett to tie the school record (8)

8: Paul Johnson’s win total, tied for most by a first-year Tech coach. One more and he breaks the school mark set by John Heisman in 1904.

44:58: Elapsed time Tech has held a lead vs. Georgia during its seven-year losing streak

262:25: Elapsed time Georgia has led Tech during same span

102: Times Georgia Tech claims to have played Georgia in the series

“I’ll be a little occupied.”

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, on whether he will monitor the Virginia-Virginia Tech game, which also kicks off at noon. A Virginia win makes the Jackets ACC Coastal Division champions.

5 BIG NUMBERS FOR GEORGIA

.942: Winning percentage against non-SEC teams under coach Mark Richt (33-2)

14: Takeaways, fewest in the SEC

98: Tackles by linebacker Rennie Curran, which leads the SEC

268.5: Yards passing per game, which leads the SEC

2,578: Yards rushing the past two seasons for Knowshon Moreno, seventh all time in Georgia history

“Winning turnover ratio, I would say. Every week that’s very true. Do the research of all of football for the last 50 years, and I betcha that’s the No. 1 determining factor on who wins and who loses.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt, on the key to the game