Georgia Tech @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2011 ) Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 17

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

Bitter rivals with a lot to look forward to clash in Athens on Saturday when No. 3 Georgia hosts Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs suddenly have a clear path to the national championship game after last Saturday’s upsets. They’ll face No. 2 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game next week. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, were handed the ACC’s Coastal Division when Miami self-imposed a bowl ban amid an NCAA investigation. Tech will face Florida State in the ACC Championship Game next week. Georgia has won 10 of the last 11 meetings, with Tech’s lone victory coming in Athens in 2008.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Georgia -13

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (6-5): The Jackets have won three straight and four of five thanks to an explosive offense led by senior quarterback Tevin Washington and redshirt freshman QB Vad Lee, who are splitting time. Washington ran for his 36th career touchdown in last week’s 42-24 victory over Duke, breaking school and ACC records for rushing scores by a quarterback. Lee, who has run for nine touchdowns and thrown for three, has a stronger arm than Washington. Tech is giving up 29.6 points per game despite a recent surge by linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (seven sacks). Jamal Golden averages 29.0 yards on kickoff returns and has taken two back for touchdowns.

ABOUT GEORGIA (10-1): The Bulldogs prepared for Tech’s triple option with a 45-14 win last Saturday over Georgia Southern, which runs the same offense. Quarterback Aaron Murray has thrown for 2,986 yards and 28 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall have combined to run for 18 scores, each averaging more than six yards per carry. After a slow start, the defense has lived up to expectations, yielding 33 points over the last four games. All-American linebacker Jarvis Jones has 10.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia Tech is bowl eligible for the 16th straight season.

2. Georgia Tech senior A-back Orwin Smith (9.0 yards per carry) injured his ankle last week, and his status is uncertain.

3. Gurley is only the second freshman at Georgia (Herschel Walker) to run for more than 1,000 yards in the season. He’s rushed for 1,041 yards and 12 touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Georgia 34, Georgia Tech 24

/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}