CNN
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Each the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers boast 8-0 data this season, however one in every of their undefeated streaks should crumble on Saturday.
The Bulldogs enter the sport ranked No.1 within the AP Ballot with the Vols tied for second, marking solely the third common season assembly in SEC historical past between a No.1 and No.2 ranked facet.
On the road is management of the SEC East Convention and a headstart within the race for securing a spot within the convention championship recreation, making it some of the hyped common season video games in current historical past.
A raucous ambiance is predicted inside Georgia’s Sanford Stadium with the final remaining tickets fetching over $600, based on TickPick, as followers flock to see two top-three ranked groups in Athens for the primary time.
“Our guys are excited and looking out ahead to a high matchup at Sanford Stadium,” Georgia coach Kirby Sensible stated. “Our fanbase will probably be loud and proud. I need to problem our fanbase to be – everybody talked concerning the Notre Dame recreation – we would like it to be louder than that. We wish them to be there sooner than that.
“We had nice matchups final yr at residence and it actually affected the sport every time we had an enormous matchups so we’ll want them once more and wish them able to go.”
The match will pit the Vols’ nation-leading offense of 49.4ppg in opposition to Georgia’s frugal protection, the second-best within the nation that has conceded simply 10.5ppg.
On the coronary heart of Tennessee’s unstoppable offense is its quarterback Hendon Hooker who has solely been intercepted as soon as in 219 cross makes an attempt this season, and who threw a landing cross in his twentieth consecutive recreation final week – a college file.
Hooker has mixed with broad receiver Jalin Hyatt for 14 touchdowns in simply eight video games thus far this season, with Hyatt scoring a number of touchdowns in 4 consecutive video games – one other faculty file.
And Georgia’s hopes of containing the Vols’ offense suffered a blow this week as star linebacker Nolan Smith, who had seven tackles for loss and three sacks in eight video games, was dominated out of the remainder of the season with a pectoral harm.
With out Smith, the Dawgs’ protection will probably be extra reliant on sophomore linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson who leads the crew with 40 whole tackles to go along with 13 quarterback hurries, 5 tackles and two sacks.
The sport will probably be broadcast reside on CBS, starting at 3:30pm ET.