Georgia-Tennessee preview

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

3 keys to Saturday's game

1. To win what figures to be another close game, Georgia needs to avoid turnovers and special-teams breakdowns. The Bulldogs had only one turnover last week -- an improvement from three in each of the first four games -- but had another costly breakdown by the kickoff-coverage team.

2. Although hoping for improvement from its worst-in-the-SEC running game, Georgia figures to need a big day from quarterback Joe Cox and the wide receivers, starting, of course, with A.J. Green.

3. Tennessee mustered only 1 yard rushing against Georgia last season but will try to beat the Dogs on the ground this time, led by senior tailback Montario Hardesty, who is starting after three years as a backup and leads the SEC in rushing with 115 yards per game.

A Georgia win would ...

*Keep the Bulldogs (3-2, 2-1 SEC entering the game) from slipping to .500 in both their overall and league records.

*Give the Bulldogs back-to-back victories over the Vols for the first time since winning four in a row from 2000-03.

*Soothe some of the pain from last week’s last-minute loss to LSU.

A Tennessee win would ...

*Make the Vols (2-3, 0-2 SEC entering the game) .500 overall.

*Give coach Lane Kiffin his first SEC victory after losses to Florida and Auburn.

*Be the Vols’ third victory in four years over Georgia.

Keep an eye on ...

For Georgia: Despite missing the first two games (suspension), defensive end Justin Houston leads the team in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3.0). He should make his presence felt again against the Vols.

For Tennessee: Defensive back Eric Berry, a unanimous All-American last year, is the NCAA’s active career leader in interceptions with 13. Playing closer to the line of scrimmage this season, he is among the SEC’s leading tacklers with an average of nine per game, including a career-high 14 vs. Auburn last week.

The numbers game

34

Age of Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin, the youngest head coach in major-college football.

69

Age of Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Lane’s father, who joined the Vols’ staff after 26 seasons in the NFL.

12

Georgians playing for Tennessee, including four starters: safety Eric Berry (from Fairburn), linebacker LaMarcus Thompson (Lithonia), offensive tackle Chris Scott (Riverdale) and punter Chad Cunningham (Dawsonville).

History book

Last meeting: Georgia won 26-14 in Athens last year as Matthew Stafford passed for 310 yards and Blair Walsh kicked four field goals.

Series record: Tennessee leads 20-16-2.

The bottom line

This game marks the end of the first half of Georgia’s regular season, and the Bulldogs remain in desperate need of consistency and stability on offense, defense and special teams.

Compiled by Tim Tucker