How Dogs and Jackets rank against each other

Georgia passing offense vs. Tech 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 that 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 in passing offense. 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 balls in the air, do a great job.”

• Advantage Georgia: Stafford, wide receivers A.J. Green and Mohammed Massaquoi and company have excelled against tougher SEC defenses.

Knowshon Moreno vs. Tech’s run defense

Again, Tech puts up good numbers against the rush, giving up just 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), 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) all 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.

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. But the Jackets have had five different players gain 40 or more yards on a run, including an 88- and 85-yarders by Dwyer. They’ve also completed passes of 88 and 79 yards. So 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 ranks 15th nationally.

• Advantage Tech: The Bulldogs regressed against the run late in the year and were exposed by the option against Kentucky.

Tech’s play-fakes vs. UGA pass defense

The Jackets attempt just 12 passes a game, or about once every 56 snaps. This is a built-in problem for a defensive 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 just seen 15 straight run calls. But Georgia also knows Tech over-relies on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who has 35 of Tech’s 65 receptions.

• Advatage Tech: No, the Jackets don’t throw it often but their yards per attempt (8.4) compares well with Georgia’s (9.0).

UGA special teams vs. Tech 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 average. The field goal department is no contest. From 40 yards out 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 has come from 39 yards.

• Advantage Georgia: Georgia 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 than 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 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 over the last two seasons for Knowshon Moreno, seventh all-time in Georgia history.

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 ever 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 Georgia over their last seven-year losing streak.

• 262:25: Elapsed time Georgia has led Tech in same span.

• 1-3: Record versus 13th-ranked opponents on the road.