1. Fight the Front – Tennessee’s defensive line is arguably the best in college football. Josh Heupel has done tremendous work on Rocky Top, getting the Volunteers, after over a decade of hard times, back amongst the elite of the Southeastern Conference. They’ve beaten both Florida and Alabama this season, and now, the Vols try to add Georgia to their nemesis hit list. Along with outstanding offenses, the real trick has been a defensive line reminiscent of the national championship units displayed by Tennessee’s SEC foes in the 21st century. James Pearce, Jr. is the headliner, a sure-fire top ten pick and big time disrupter of the run and pass. Tennessee can go three deep up front. The Volunteers are fresh in the fourth quarter, and that’s a big reason they’ve been able to overcome some slow offensive starts in the first half to post resounding victories. Georgia’s offensive line is facing its biggest challenge to date. Creating stalemates, minimizing negative yardage plays and penalties, and finding time to pass and seams to run are all essential. Tennessee is going to make big plays up front; they just have to be limited and not lead to turnovers if the Bulldogs are going to win.
2. Spy Nico – One of the most talented and gifted quarterbacks in the country, Nico Iamaleava is a dual-threat, 6’6 sensation. He’s a fluid runner who can make all the throws. Combined with Tennessee’s excellent pop at tailback (more on that below), this Volunteers offense, behind a stout line partnered with dangerous, explosive pass-catching play-makers, can do it all. Don’t overrush Nico and keep containment. He is such a smooth runner. In the Volunteers’ 35-0 victory over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, Nico made his starting debut and was the game’s Most Valuable Player, accounting for three touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. The future had indeed arrived. He’s carried on this season. If he has time, if the Dogs aren’t disciplined up front, it’s big trouble for Georgia.
3. Who Runs it Better? – Dylan Sampson is a sure-fire first team All-Southeastern Conference running back this season. He is a touchdown maker and a great leader of an outstanding group of backs. He and Nico are one tremendous duo. As for Georgia, there have been moments on the ground, particularly against Texas and Florida. But the consistency hasn’t been there. Injuries have been a factor. But to win Saturday, the Bulldogs are going to have to run it better than Tennessee, and that goes for both sides of the ball.
4. Charlie Condon – One of the great players in Collegiate Baseball history, and an incredible young man from an amazing family, Charlie Condon will be honored during the game as the 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner —the Heisman Trophy of College Baseball. The third pick in the draft by the Colorado Rockies, Condon, who was redshirted as a freshman, had two spectacular seasons for the Bulldogs. He set the Georgia season and career home run records, both previously held by fellow great Gordon Beckham, and has the SEC’s single season home run mark. He was the first Bulldog since “Gordo’ in 2008 to bat over.400 in a season. Bravo to one of the all-time Bulldog greats on and off the field.
5. KB and Willie G – Two college football sensations, and favorites of their alma maters, Kevin Butler and Willie Gault were teammates for the Chicago Bears iconic Super Bowl run of 1985. The first kicker inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Butler set numerous records at Georgia and for the Bears. Gault, also a track star, is one of the best receivers in Tennessee annals.