It’s time for a taste of action in the SEC as the Georgia Bulldogs are set to go head-to-head against the Vanderbilt Commodores, adding to a stacked Saturday of college football. Georgia looked spectacular in a blowout victory over UL-Monroe in its season-opener before a storm of lightning put a stop to the onslaught at 51-14. The same can’t be said for Vanderbilt, though, as the Commodores struggled badly in a 14-12 loss to Western Kentucky.
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[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Preview
Where: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville
When: Saturday, September 12, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Georgia Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Commodores – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Georgia Bulldogs
Junior quarterback Greyson Lambert had a serviceable first start for Gerogia, going 8 for 12 for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns (with Malcolm Mitchell and Jeb Blazevich each a recipient of those TDs). But Georgia remains a run-first offense, and the team has the perfect man for the job in sophomore running back Nick Chubb.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Chubb was a bulldozer in the season opener, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Backup Keith Marshall also did well, rushing for 73 yards and two scores on 10 carries. Expect the two running backs to terrorize a Vanderbilt side that Georgia thoroughly dismantled 44-17 last season. Chubb did well in 2014 as a backup to Todd Gurley (who’s now a St. Louis Ram), rushing for 9.8 yards per carry and a score.
The Bulldogs aren’t just able to run the clock with their rushing game, they can also force turnovers to keep possession of the ball. Tim Kimbrough had a sack and a forced fumble in the first game of the season against UL-Monroe, while defensive back Aaron Davis also had an interception in that game.
Speaking of interceptions, quarterback Johnny McCrary actually had a couple of them in Vanderbilt’s season-opening loss to Western Kentucky, and Georgia has some returning defensive backs capable of making timely interceptions. Quincy Mauger and Dominic Sanders return after combining for seven interceptions last season.
Georgia has won nine of their last 10 road games against Vanderbilt, going 6-4 against the spread.
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Betting on the Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt was off to a slow start to the season. Despite outgaining Western Kentucky 385-246 in total yards of offense, the Commodores dropped their season opener 14-12. Turnovers did them in, most notably quarterback Johnny McCrary’s two picks that we mentioned earlier.
McCrary showed that he can throw the ball deep downfield to wideouts Trent Sherfield and Kris Kentera, though. He also showed an ability to run by gaining 58 yards on eight carries. Having his ability to scramble well should help a Vanderbilt rushing offense that lacks a dominant running back. Aside from McCrary, no other Commodore ran for more than 3.9 yards per carry on Saturday.
The Commodores do have a chance if they can limit Georgia’s strong, but predictable running game. The Bulldogs are a run-first offense, and the Commodores showed that they can stop the run after holding Western Kentucky to just 1.6 yards per carry in the season opener. Containing Georgia, who finished 12th in the nation in rushing offense (257.9 yards per game) last season, will be a very tall order, though.
The Commodores have lost their last three games at home, going 1-1-1 against the spread.
Writer’s Prediction
Georgia’s running game proves to be difficult to stop. The Bulldogs run roughshod over Vanderbilt.
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