Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 7: We still run this state.

Well, there's always next year, Jacket fans. Georgia ran the ball left, right, up the middle, and even up and over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to restore the natural equilibrium of Clean Old-Fashioned Hate with a 38-7 win.

The first step to stopping Georgia Tech is stopping the triple option, and Georgia did that about as well as they have in recent memory. Tech managed a pedestrian 226 yards of offense, 188 of them on the ground. That's 131 yards below their season average of 319.3 rushing yards. The North Avenue School for Younger Siblings managed 12 first downs, substantially below their season average of 20.2. For a team that has struggled offensively of late, this effort was particularly anemic.

Georgia needed to tackle effectively and needed the Bulldog linebackers to step up. They did in a big way. Roquan Smith was his usual reliable self, notching nine tackles and often serving as a sort of robber/spy and proceeding unblocked to the Tech B backs. Natrez Patrick chipped in five stops including a couple of punishing licks.

The Jackets at least held an edge in time of possession until the 'Dawgs launched a nearly six minute drive midway through the third quarter that culminated with a Heschel-esque D'Andre Swift leaping touchdown.

It was the beginning of the slow second half asphyxiation we've come to expect from Kirby Smart's team. The Classic City Canines enjoyed a commanding 19:06 to 10:54 time of possession advantage in the second half, outscoring the Jackets 21-0 to turn a solid victory into a proper rout.

Jake Fromm had perhaps his most efficient outing of the season, finishing 12 of 16 for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns, although 78 of those yards came on a late touchdown to Ahkil Crumpton that seemed to add insult to injury. And I love insulting the Yellow Jackets.

The injury was mostly provided by Georgia's five-headed tailback rotation, which was on full display from the first snap to the last. Sony Michel led the way with 13 carries for 85 yards, Nick Chubb added a brusing 12 carries for 53. UGA averaged 5.74 yards per carry on the ground, which is a good way to win football games. It's even better when it contributes to keeping your defense off the field and rested for the stretch run.

It's now back to Athens to await the winner of the ongoing Iron Bowl back in Atlanta next week. Speaking of injuries, it looks like the Bulldogs managed to escape Mark Richt Field with a minimum of those and even got to rest some starters in the fourth quarter. Add in a full evening of rehab and therapy, a good night's sleep in their own beds tonight, and plenty of time for coaches to scout and scheme, and this day really couldn't have gone any better for the good guys. Until later . . .

Go 'Dawgs!!!