Fall is in the air, it's Homecoming, and like me you're wondering which University of Georgia football team will show up this afternoon in Sanford Stadium. I can't tell you for sure what you'll see, but I have a hunch. Five, in fact:
1) Knowshon Rockwell Moreno rushing for 125 yards or more. Last week's Tennessee game included an interesting paradox. Vince Vance went down with an early season-ending knee injury, which should have really put a kink in the Bulldogs' running game. But it was only after Vance left the game that Georgia really put together a sustained ground attack. I'm not sure who gets the credit for that. I think it was a pinch of Clint Boling, a dash of Cordy Glenn and Stacy Searels stirring the pot. This offensve line is getting more experienced in spite of itself, and that can only be a good thing.
I also note that the only team that has beaten the Commodores this season did so by outrushing the 'Dores nearly four to one. Now, Mississippi State may have run the ball out of pure necessity, as Sly Croom is still somewhat suspicious of this "forward pass" the sportswriters keep asking him about. But it was no coincidence. Vandy beats teams by intercepting the ball, winning the field position battle, and not giving up big plays. A big game from Knowshon could prevent a lot of that.
2) Two Mackenzi Adams turnovers. Adams gets the start in place of Chris Nickson today. Last week he threw a big interception against MSU. Vandy will likely be counting on him to run the ball aganst the 'Dawgs' stingy run D. Bottom line, Adams is going to have the ball in his hands a lot. If he doesn't take care of it, he'll make Willie Martinez's job much easier.
3) Richard Samuel. As I mentioned on Cocktail Thursday, Coach Richt has hinted that the freshman tailback deserves more touches than he's getting. My guess is that Samuel gets at least five offensive touches today, in addition to his special teams duties. I like Samuel's ability to run between the tackles, though he's shown a bit of a penchant for putting the ball on the ground.
4) A.J. Green catching a touchdown. Admittedly, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise by this point. A.J. Green is leading the SEC in receiving as a true freshman, and he's provided a series of big grabs so far this season. While I really like Vanderbilt's secondary, and think they present a stout challenge, I just don't think they can blank A.J. for a complete game. The big freshman from South Carolina is a matchup problem, plain and simple.
5) UGA 34, Vandy 20. This isn't your grandfather's Vanderbilt squad. Bobby Johnson, despite being the bane of sportsbloggers ("oh he's so nice, and all of his players graduate, and none of them ever knocked over a Piggly Wiggly, blah, blah, blah") has built a solid team in Nashville. But, not to put too fine a point on it, Vandy is still Vandy. They still lost last week to the team from Sly Croom A&M. While Georgia usually comes out a little flat against Vandy and doubly so for a pre-2 p.m. start, there's no reason we shouldn't secure a commanding victory against a squad that's ridden heady play, questionable competition and some good breaks to their current position in the standings. That ends today. If you're not between the hedges, be sure to stop back by for the gameday open comment thread. We'll be back tonight, until then . . .
Go 'Dawgs!!!