The still short-handed and suddenly desperate Georgia Bulldogs head to Music City this weekend searching for some new tunes. The ones they’ve been singing aren’t getting the bills paid or keeping fans happy.
So if they’re going to play on the big stage at the Georgia Dome in December as they hope, the Bulldogs need to record a hit at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
That is rarely an easy endeavor. Befallen by injuries and weighed down with a bad defense, Georgia limps into Nashville dragging a 4-2 record (3-1 SEC) and No. 15 national ranking after Saturday’s 41-26 loss to Missouri. And while the Bulldogs have won 16 of their past 17 against the Commodores, much drama has occurred during that streak.
“There is nothing that I have seen that would make me think it’s going to be any different,” coach Mark Richt said of another nail-biter occurring Saturday. “Nothing.”
Never mind the Commodores’ unremarkable record (3-3, 0-3) or off-the-field distractions (five players dismissed amid a rape investigation and court case), historical data and recent history point to yet another all-out war.
Five of the Bulldogs’ six games this season have remained in the balance until well into the final quarter. Even Saturday’s 15-point loss to Missouri remained a one-possession contest inside the final three minutes.
Meanwhile, Georgia has made some skin-of-teeth escapes in recent years at Vanderbilt Stadium.
The last time the Bulldogs visited, in 2011, punter Drew Butler made a shoestring tackle of a Vanderbilt player trying to return a blocked punt for a touchdown with seven seconds remaining. Georgia had to bat away the Commodores’ last desperation attempt to hold on for a 33-28 win.
Similarly, in 2007 the Bulldogs rallied from a 17-7 deficit and won 20-17 on a 37-yard Brandon Coutu field goal as time expired. That team finished No. 2 in the country.
“We weren’t a bad team two years ago either,” Richt said of the team that would become Eastern Division champions. “The difference in winning and losing is very, very slim. We’ve really got to be ready to play.”
How good the current Bulldogs are this year has yet to be determined. Ranked as high as No. 5 in the polls, Georgia hasn’t been at full strength since the first quarter of the first game. Its depth chart has been ravaged by injuries, particularly on offense.
Star tailback Todd Gurley will miss his third game in a row with a sprained ankle. He is one of five front-line playmakers — three receivers and a two running backs — who currently are sidelined with leg injuries. Starting free safety Tray Matthews also will miss his third consecutive game with a pulled hamstring.
The hope is that Gurley and wide receiver Michael Bennett (knee) will get back in time for the Bulldogs’ Nov. 2 game against Florida in Jacksonville. But that game certainly is no more important than this one. Basically Georgia has to win the rest of its conference games and needs Missouri to lose twice for Georgia to win the East and play in the SEC Championship game for a third consecutive year.
“Getting to Atlanta. That’s our first goal every year,” Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said. “Right now we feel like we still have a shot to make it back … but we have to take care of ourselves and take care of business now.”
Murray is one thing the Bulldogs have in their favor. The senior from Tampa, Fla., is poised to take down a couple of more major SEC records this weekend. He needs three touchdowns to surpass Florida’s Danny Wuerffel as the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (114) and 30 yards of total offense to bypass Tim Tebow (12,232) for that career mark as well. Murray already owns the conference record for career passing yardage (11.915).
Vanderbilt has a record-setter on its sideline as well. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews needs 103 yards receiving to unseat former Bulldog Terrence Edwards (3,093) as the SEC’s all-time leader. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Matthews currently leads the league with 47 catches and has 709 yards and five touchdowns. He has had at least 100 yards receiving in every game but one this season.
Of course, defending the pass hasn’t been a UGA strong suit this season. The Bulldogs’ 259.3 yards passing allowed each game ranks 12th in the 14-team SEC. Vandy quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels ranks 27th nationally in pass efficiency.
All of which points to another hair-raising shootout.
“That’s all we’ve had this year,” Richt said with a sigh. “I assume we’re going to have another one. So Georgia fans, get ready. It’s going to be a tough one.”
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