UGA storylines: Stopping option (again), staying hot on offense and playing for it all

THREE STORYLINES

1. Can the Dogs stop the spread option (again)? Georgia did a pretty good job against Georgia Southern’s spread option last Saturday, limiting the Eagles to 14 points and 318 total yards. But while Georgia Tech runs the same offense, the Yellow Jackets run it on a whole different level. They’re averaging 47.6 points over the last three games and play behind an offensive line averaging just under 300 pounds. The Bulldogs rank fourth in the nation in three-and-outs with an average 5.4 per game. They’ll be hard-pressed to get half of that against these guys.

2. What about Georgia’s offense? The Bulldogs are on pace to establish school records for scoring (37.6 points per game at this point) and total offense (471.4 yards per game). That’s because they have quarterback Aaron Murray, who has the nation’s highest quarterback rating (173.4) and leads the FBS in pass efficiency, and a pair of freshman tailbacks in Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, who have combined for 1,695 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns. Georgia’s offense is one of the most balanced in college football, the likes of which Tech hasn’t faced. If it comes down to having to out-score an opponent, the Bulldogs are built to do it.

3. Now what? A week ago we were talking about the unlikely scenarios that existed for Georgia to get a national title shot. But in the matter of a couple of hours last Saturday night, it all broke the Bulldogs’ way. Now UGA’s path to its first BCS championship is a simple one: Win the next two games. But with that comes considerable pressure. How the Bulldogs handle the battle between the ears is as important as the one between the sidelines.

A win for Georgia …

Would give the Bulldogs at least 11 wins in a season for the eighth time in school history and fourth time under coach Mark Richt

A win for Georgia Tech…

Would be No. 2 in the last 12 seasons against UGA but the second in five seasons under coach Paul Johnson

Matchup to watch

Georgia’s defensive line vs. Tech’s offensive line: For all the sleight of hand and deception that is involved in making the spread option work, it still comes down to blocking and tackling. The Bulldogs have worked overtime the past two weeks at handling cut blocks and holding their gaps. But the Jackets’ big line is capable of knocking down linemen off the ball and their backs need only a crease to turn that into an explosive play.

Tweets-of-the-week

“Don’t want my time here at UGA to end. Feelin it closing in every second.”

Senior LB Christian Robinson (@crob45)

“’Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.’ – Thomas Edison”

Senior SS Shawn Williams (@36SLY36)

– Chip Towers, AJC. Please follow me on twitter @ajcuga