Georgia Offense vs. Virginia Tech Defense
QB Matthew Stafford played his best football down the stretch. He has the arm to pick defenses apart when he's making sound decisions, but his lack of ideal experience is still reason for concern. In addition, a talented receiving corps has failed to live up to expectations so Georgia should come out running the ball in an effort to take pressure off the passing attack. The problem is establishing the ground game against a Virginia Tech run defense that has given up an average of just 2.8 yards per carry should prove difficult. LBs Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi are powerful open field tacklers who read their keys quickly and have sideline-to-sideline range. As a result, RBs Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware should have problems turning the corner.
Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
When: Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Atlanta, Ga.
Making matters worse, the offensive line hasn't done a great job of driving defenders off the ball. However, the Bulldogs aren't really built to break a lot of long runs without the injured Thomas Brown in the lineup and they don't need big plays on the ground. They just need Lumpkin and Ware to be productive enough to put Georgia in position to sustain long drives by keeping Stafford out of a lot of situations with pass-heavy tendencies. With that in mind, the Bulldogs should attack the heart of the Hokie run defense more often than not. Though the offensive line hasn't done a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage, it's far bigger than Virginia Tech's front four and running inside cuts down on the blocking angles. More importantly, Lumpkin and Ware are power backs who rarely go down with the first hit and are at their best pounding the ball between the tackles. Keep an eye on the chess match between quarterback coach Mike Bobo and defensive coordinator Bud Foster when Stafford does drop back to pass. Bobo called the plays during the Georgia Tech game and he will continue to do so. He understands Stafford's strengths and weaknesses so he has a good sense of what play gives Stafford the best opportunity to execute in each situation. However, the edge in experience clearly goes to Foster who is one of the best in the nation. Foster is aggressive so he should keep Bobo and Stafford off balance by consistently bringing pressure from different areas of the field. Stafford is most vulnerable to making mistakes when forced to get rid of the ball quickly and the Hokies' secondary is chocked full of playmakers including DC Victor Harris, who has four interceptions. With that in mind, Bobo should have to call plays that allow Stafford to either get rid of the ball quickly or insure he has time to go through his reads when he looks downfield. Of course, the play call won't matter much if the players don't execute it so the offensive line and receivers have to have a strong game. The front five must stay on the same page and pick up the blitz. Talented WR Mohamed Massaquoi and TE Martrez Milner can't afford to drop passes that they should catch like they have at times this year.
Virginia Tech Offense vs. Georgia Defense
Virginia Tech is at its best when it can keep its defense well rested by controlling the clock and setting up the passing attack with the ground game so RB Branden Ore should get 25-plus carries. While Ore sat out the regular-season finale with a high ankle sprain, the long layoff should help with the healing process and he is expected to play. In addition, backup Kenny Lewis has run hard given the opportunity so the Hokies can keep Ore fresh by spelling him at times. Much like his Georgia counterparts, Ore should have most of his success running between the tackles and the reason for that is the Bulldogs' speed. Georgia's front four has quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield and a linebacker corps led by relentless WLB Tony Taylor swarms to the ball. However, the interior defensive line is undersized and the linebackers are far less effective when forced to stack and shed. Pounding the ball inside allows the offensive linemen to fire out so it's less likely they give up penetration. It forces the linebackers to attack the line of scrimmage rather than flowing outside so it makes sense. It's also worth noting that the Bulldogs don't have great size at safety so their eight-man fronts aren't as formidable as a lot of other teams. QB Sean Glennon is a better game manager than he was at the start of the season and he is taking advantage of a deep wide receiver corps that includes David Clowney, Eddie Royal and Josh Morgan. It's critical that he continue to take what the defense gives him because Georgia has intercepted 16 passes this year. The Hokies should try to help Glennon by running screens and three-step drops that allow him to get rid of the ball quickly and get into a rhythm. However, Paul Oliver is a shutdown corner and Ramarcus Brown complements him well. They will creep up and try to take away the quick-hitting passes if Virginia Tech doesn't keep them honest by throwing downfield. In addition, Taylor is a playmaker who has intercepted five passes and can jump routes when he isn't kept off balance so the Hokies should throw downfield at times. Two factors will play a big role in Glennon's success when he attacks vertically. The first is neutralizing SS Tra Battle. Glennon should have to locate Battle and look him off because Battle will try to read Glennon's eyes and he has excellent ball skills. The second is the ability of Virginia Tech OTs Brandon Frye and Duane Brown to keep DEs Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson at bay. Though they have been inconsistent, Moses and Johnson are both explosive pass rushers who have good athletic ability and close well.
Special Teams
The loss of Brandon Coutu to a hamstring injury in October impacted Georgia's kicking game significantly. Backup Andy Bailey has connected on five of his eight field goal attempts. However, he has missed three consecutive attempts, including one in the Bulldogs' two-point loss Vanderbilt and two in their four-point loss to Kentucky. Though Gordon Ely-Kelso connected on a 34-yard field goal attempt late in the year, he also pushed a 27-yard field goal attempt wide left in the regular-season finale. Further complicating matters, Coutu could play in this game but there are no guarantees he'll be 100 percent and he should be rusty if he is in the lineup.
With all of that said, head coach Mark Richt isn't expected to make a decision about which kicker or kickers he is going to use until after bowl practices. Other than Coutu, Bailey, Ben Wilson, Brian Mimbs and Jason Johnson have all kicked off and all of them are capable of putting the ball in the end zone. The versatile Ely-Kelso shows a good blend of power and accuracy when punting but he hasn't been great in any one area and Georgia has had two punts blocked this year. It's important he get rid of the ball quickly and that the blocking holds up in front of him in this game because the Hokies have blocked three punts this year. A solid Virginia Tech punt cover unit should have to have one of its better games of the year because Mikey Henderson is a highlight waiting to happen. Henderson, who has returned two punts for touchdowns this year, has explosive speed and reads his blocks fairly well. Asher Allen is a strong runner who can break tackles and should be productive against a weak kickoff cover unit but he hasn't shown breakaway speed.
Virginia Tech's Brandon Pace doesn't have elite range and he missed a 47-yard field goal attempt in the regular-season finale but he is accurate and consistent. In fact, that miss is his only missed field goal attempt in 18 tries this year. While 35 of Jared Develli's 57 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks, he will miss this game with a hernia injury and either Pace or Jud Dunlevy should replace him. The good news is both have shown good range in that role this year. P Nic Schmitt possesses good power and he flashes the ability to place the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. As far as the return game goes, Eddie Royal is a dangerous open field runner who can go do the distance every time he touches the ball. He returned a punt for a touchdown earlier this year. The Bulldogs' middle-of-the-road kickoff cover unit and quality punt cover unit cannot afford any breakdowns consequently.
Matchups
? Virginia Tech RB Branden Ore vs. Georgia MLB Jarvis Jackson
? Georgia QB Matthew Stafford vs. Virginia Tech FS D.J. Parker
? Virginia Tech OT Brandon Frye vs. Georgia DE Quentin Moses
Scouts' Edge
Both teams want to take pressure off their young quarterbacks with an efficient ground game, defend the run well and make big plays in coverage. Virginia Tech's receiving corps is deeper and more consistent so it does a better job of bailing Glennon out when he doesn't make an accurate throw. On the flip side, Georgia's receivers have been plagued by drops, which puts pressure on Stafford to perfectly place the ball.
However, the Bulldogs' pass protection should be stronger. Georgia's offensive line has generally done a good job of picking up the blitz and protecting Stafford. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech's offensive tackles have the unenviable task of trying to keep the Bulldogs' talented defensive ends at bay and Glennon lacks the mobility to consistently buy time in the pocket. Keeping that in mind, this should be a low-scoring and close game that could be decided by special teams play and field position. As result, the Hokies have the edge. Virginia Tech has shown a knack for blocking kicks; it has the strong punt cover unit to keep the explosive Henderson from breaking a long return, and Royal could make an impact returning kickoffs.
Prediction: Hokies 17, Bulldogs 14
QB Matthew Stafford played his best football down the stretch. He has the arm to pick defenses apart when he's making sound decisions, but his lack of ideal experience is still reason for concern. In addition, a talented receiving corps has failed to live up to expectations so Georgia should come out running the ball in an effort to take pressure off the passing attack. The problem is establishing the ground game against a Virginia Tech run defense that has given up an average of just 2.8 yards per carry should prove difficult. LBs Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi are powerful open field tacklers who read their keys quickly and have sideline-to-sideline range. As a result, RBs Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware should have problems turning the corner.
Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
When: Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Atlanta, Ga.
Making matters worse, the offensive line hasn't done a great job of driving defenders off the ball. However, the Bulldogs aren't really built to break a lot of long runs without the injured Thomas Brown in the lineup and they don't need big plays on the ground. They just need Lumpkin and Ware to be productive enough to put Georgia in position to sustain long drives by keeping Stafford out of a lot of situations with pass-heavy tendencies. With that in mind, the Bulldogs should attack the heart of the Hokie run defense more often than not. Though the offensive line hasn't done a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage, it's far bigger than Virginia Tech's front four and running inside cuts down on the blocking angles. More importantly, Lumpkin and Ware are power backs who rarely go down with the first hit and are at their best pounding the ball between the tackles. Keep an eye on the chess match between quarterback coach Mike Bobo and defensive coordinator Bud Foster when Stafford does drop back to pass. Bobo called the plays during the Georgia Tech game and he will continue to do so. He understands Stafford's strengths and weaknesses so he has a good sense of what play gives Stafford the best opportunity to execute in each situation. However, the edge in experience clearly goes to Foster who is one of the best in the nation. Foster is aggressive so he should keep Bobo and Stafford off balance by consistently bringing pressure from different areas of the field. Stafford is most vulnerable to making mistakes when forced to get rid of the ball quickly and the Hokies' secondary is chocked full of playmakers including DC Victor Harris, who has four interceptions. With that in mind, Bobo should have to call plays that allow Stafford to either get rid of the ball quickly or insure he has time to go through his reads when he looks downfield. Of course, the play call won't matter much if the players don't execute it so the offensive line and receivers have to have a strong game. The front five must stay on the same page and pick up the blitz. Talented WR Mohamed Massaquoi and TE Martrez Milner can't afford to drop passes that they should catch like they have at times this year.
Virginia Tech Offense vs. Georgia Defense
Virginia Tech is at its best when it can keep its defense well rested by controlling the clock and setting up the passing attack with the ground game so RB Branden Ore should get 25-plus carries. While Ore sat out the regular-season finale with a high ankle sprain, the long layoff should help with the healing process and he is expected to play. In addition, backup Kenny Lewis has run hard given the opportunity so the Hokies can keep Ore fresh by spelling him at times. Much like his Georgia counterparts, Ore should have most of his success running between the tackles and the reason for that is the Bulldogs' speed. Georgia's front four has quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield and a linebacker corps led by relentless WLB Tony Taylor swarms to the ball. However, the interior defensive line is undersized and the linebackers are far less effective when forced to stack and shed. Pounding the ball inside allows the offensive linemen to fire out so it's less likely they give up penetration. It forces the linebackers to attack the line of scrimmage rather than flowing outside so it makes sense. It's also worth noting that the Bulldogs don't have great size at safety so their eight-man fronts aren't as formidable as a lot of other teams. QB Sean Glennon is a better game manager than he was at the start of the season and he is taking advantage of a deep wide receiver corps that includes David Clowney, Eddie Royal and Josh Morgan. It's critical that he continue to take what the defense gives him because Georgia has intercepted 16 passes this year. The Hokies should try to help Glennon by running screens and three-step drops that allow him to get rid of the ball quickly and get into a rhythm. However, Paul Oliver is a shutdown corner and Ramarcus Brown complements him well. They will creep up and try to take away the quick-hitting passes if Virginia Tech doesn't keep them honest by throwing downfield. In addition, Taylor is a playmaker who has intercepted five passes and can jump routes when he isn't kept off balance so the Hokies should throw downfield at times. Two factors will play a big role in Glennon's success when he attacks vertically. The first is neutralizing SS Tra Battle. Glennon should have to locate Battle and look him off because Battle will try to read Glennon's eyes and he has excellent ball skills. The second is the ability of Virginia Tech OTs Brandon Frye and Duane Brown to keep DEs Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson at bay. Though they have been inconsistent, Moses and Johnson are both explosive pass rushers who have good athletic ability and close well.
Special Teams
The loss of Brandon Coutu to a hamstring injury in October impacted Georgia's kicking game significantly. Backup Andy Bailey has connected on five of his eight field goal attempts. However, he has missed three consecutive attempts, including one in the Bulldogs' two-point loss Vanderbilt and two in their four-point loss to Kentucky. Though Gordon Ely-Kelso connected on a 34-yard field goal attempt late in the year, he also pushed a 27-yard field goal attempt wide left in the regular-season finale. Further complicating matters, Coutu could play in this game but there are no guarantees he'll be 100 percent and he should be rusty if he is in the lineup.
With all of that said, head coach Mark Richt isn't expected to make a decision about which kicker or kickers he is going to use until after bowl practices. Other than Coutu, Bailey, Ben Wilson, Brian Mimbs and Jason Johnson have all kicked off and all of them are capable of putting the ball in the end zone. The versatile Ely-Kelso shows a good blend of power and accuracy when punting but he hasn't been great in any one area and Georgia has had two punts blocked this year. It's important he get rid of the ball quickly and that the blocking holds up in front of him in this game because the Hokies have blocked three punts this year. A solid Virginia Tech punt cover unit should have to have one of its better games of the year because Mikey Henderson is a highlight waiting to happen. Henderson, who has returned two punts for touchdowns this year, has explosive speed and reads his blocks fairly well. Asher Allen is a strong runner who can break tackles and should be productive against a weak kickoff cover unit but he hasn't shown breakaway speed.
Virginia Tech's Brandon Pace doesn't have elite range and he missed a 47-yard field goal attempt in the regular-season finale but he is accurate and consistent. In fact, that miss is his only missed field goal attempt in 18 tries this year. While 35 of Jared Develli's 57 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks, he will miss this game with a hernia injury and either Pace or Jud Dunlevy should replace him. The good news is both have shown good range in that role this year. P Nic Schmitt possesses good power and he flashes the ability to place the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. As far as the return game goes, Eddie Royal is a dangerous open field runner who can go do the distance every time he touches the ball. He returned a punt for a touchdown earlier this year. The Bulldogs' middle-of-the-road kickoff cover unit and quality punt cover unit cannot afford any breakdowns consequently.
Matchups
? Virginia Tech RB Branden Ore vs. Georgia MLB Jarvis Jackson
? Georgia QB Matthew Stafford vs. Virginia Tech FS D.J. Parker
? Virginia Tech OT Brandon Frye vs. Georgia DE Quentin Moses
Scouts' Edge
Both teams want to take pressure off their young quarterbacks with an efficient ground game, defend the run well and make big plays in coverage. Virginia Tech's receiving corps is deeper and more consistent so it does a better job of bailing Glennon out when he doesn't make an accurate throw. On the flip side, Georgia's receivers have been plagued by drops, which puts pressure on Stafford to perfectly place the ball.
However, the Bulldogs' pass protection should be stronger. Georgia's offensive line has generally done a good job of picking up the blitz and protecting Stafford. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech's offensive tackles have the unenviable task of trying to keep the Bulldogs' talented defensive ends at bay and Glennon lacks the mobility to consistently buy time in the pocket. Keeping that in mind, this should be a low-scoring and close game that could be decided by special teams play and field position. As result, the Hokies have the edge. Virginia Tech has shown a knack for blocking kicks; it has the strong punt cover unit to keep the explosive Henderson from breaking a long return, and Royal could make an impact returning kickoffs.
Prediction: Hokies 17, Bulldogs 14
