The Georgia Bulldogs are facing an interesting test today.
The Georgia Bulldogs have been through two games of unserious competition against Tennessee State and Western Kentucky, and with game day finally here in week three, the competition gets real.
Headed out west to Fayetteville, it's a relatively light opener by SEC standards, but just don't tell that to Kirby Smart as he tries to get his team ready to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. In this league and especially in this day and age of the sport of college football, anyone can beat anyone and the Dawgs must be ready to go.
Undeniably though, Georgia is the superior team and should leave with a victory. Here are three ways to ensure they are able to do that.
Avoid the Early Turnover
In so many of these upsets, the home team is able to get the crowd into it with an early miscue by the road team and potentially a takeaway that gives the team life. Gunner Stockton and this offense have not really been tested to this point, and now that they are facing a real opponent this week, taking care of the football is absolutely critical.
If Stockton and the offense can get it going with an early score rather than an early turnover, quieting the crowd quickly is going to go a long way towards avoiding any sort of trouble.
Continue to Make Like Difficult On the Ground for the Hogs
In the 43-10 drubbing at the hands of Utah, Arkansas was able to muster up just 61 yards on the ground, and quarterback KJ Jackson did not respond well when he had to be the focal point of the offense.
Finishing the game 14 of 34 for just 139 yards and an interception, it was clear that not being able to establish the run threw off the game plan from the start for the Razorbacks. If Georgia can force them into a game plan were Jackson has to throw it 30+ times again, it could be a long day for Arkansas.
Silence the Crowd Early
In an 11:00 a.m. local time kickoff, the crowd is not going to have enough time in the morning to tailgate to be extremely worried about a wild environment, but that can change quickly the longer the Hogs stay in the ball game.
Georgia does not want to deal with a very loud crowd, and scoring on their first drive as well as getting a stop on their first defensive series could go a long way towards keeping the Woo Pig faithful quiet and in their seats.
