How bout them Dawgs? Tennessee and the rest of college football found out last Saturday that them Dawgs is (still) hell, ain’t they? We have just two weeks left in the regular season before we learn the fate of this year’s Bulldogs. Unfortunately, Georgia will not welcome a Top 10 or even a fellow Southeastern Conference opponent, for that matter. It’s cupcake week in Athens; before we preview Georgia vs. UMass, let’s take a closer look at the CFB Playoff and a quick update on this year’s recruiting class.
CFBPlayoff Picture
Remain calm, all is well, we think. This week, Georiga climbed the College Football Playoff Committee’s rankings. The Dawgs came in at #11 and would be the last team in the playoff if it were to start today. The math (should be) simple for the Dawgs. Win its last two games against UMass and that school on North Avenue, and they’re in. While it is unlikely Georgia finds themselves playing for an SEC Championship, a spot in the playoff, and a home game in Athens is still on the table.
The SEC still has the most ranked teams in any conference but is still behind the Big Ten in the top spots. Here is a quick look at which SEC teams were ranked and where this week.
- #3 Texas
- #7 Alabama
- #9 Ole Miss
- #10 Georgia
- #11 Tennessee
- #15 Texas A&M
- #23 Missouri
There are plenty of intriguing matchups in the SEC and Big Ten this week and next; Georgia is in a strong position and, with two more wins, is likely to move up rather than backward.
Recruiting Snapshot
Late November used to be a big month in recruiting. Teams, fans, and writers were scrambling to see what five-star players might be flipping and who would be committing. There is no longer a National Signing Day in college football. Instead, we have moved to an early signing period. It has also moved up in the calendar, and this week will be December 4th-6th. In the age of the Transfer Portal, some coaches have opted to place a lesser emphasis on high school recruits and instead use the portal. Georgia is not one of those teams. While Kirby Smart will continue to use the portal to bolster his roster, he still strongly emphasizes high school recruiting to bring in the top talent who will be ready to help the Dawgs the moment they step on campus.
Georgia currently has the #1 ranked recruiting class in the country. It is not all five-stars, though; thanks to Name Image and Likeness, 16 teams this year have at least one five-star recruit. Georiga currently has five five-stars committed, tied with Alabama for the most. We’ll take an in-depth look at the class in the postseason, but Georgia fans can rest assured that Kirby Smart will not retire the “Go Dawgs” tweets anytime soon.
Between the Hedges: Georgia vs. UMass
Let’s go Between the Hedges to prepare you for Georgia vs. UMass with our five big questions to preview the game.
What are the game details?
History: Georgia leads the series 1-0.
Last meeting: Georgia defeated UMass 66-27 in 2018.
Date and Time: Saturday, November 23 | 12:45 pm EST
Location: Vince Dooley Field at Sandford Stadium.
Television: ABC
Spread: Georgia -42
What Should You Know About UMass?
UMass is 2-8 on the season and just fired their coach. Don Brown’s return to Amherst was short-lived and not as successful as the Minutemen faithful would have hoped. Despite CFB Playoff rankings and the possibility of an SEC Championship, Smart shared how UMass was the focus in his weekly press conference. “I don’t think that’s a hypothetical that — the focus is on UMass,” Smart said. “So why would I put energy or time into trying to figure out what the best pathway is, including the SEC Championship, when I’m worried about UMass? I just don’t think it’s a quality conversation.”
Who Should You Watch for on Georgia’s Offense?
The return of Tight End U? One of the keys to Georgia’s win over Tennessee last week was the emergence of the tight ends. Unlike in years past, the tight ends have been missing for the most part in Georgia’s offense in 2024. Oscar Delp started the party for Todd Hartley’s room with two big touchdown catches in the first half. Ben Yurosek led the room with five receptions, and Lawson Luckie added a key 23-yard reception to extend a drive in the second half. For Georgia to have continued success in 2024 and achieve their goals, the tight end room must continue to step up.
Who Should You Watch for on Georgia’s Defense?
Brett Thorson. Smart and the Georgia staff had some fun in the team meeting on Sunday after the win over the Vols. Georgia’s social media team gave fans an insight into the team’s fun. Smart addressed the team about the need to get better at tackling and said he brought in a special guest to address the team. Thorson came strutting in from the back of the room, clad in Georgia’s iconic gold spiked shoulder pads and a bandana. The punter’s message was simple: “Be tough, be fast, and be tough.” The humor was great, but the point was made. Thorson has been one of the nation’s top punters this year and rarely enables returners to actually set up a return with the hang time on his punts. Tennessee was able to return a punt in the first half, and it looked like it might have been a house call. Thorson, though, stepped up and made a big play to tackle the Vol’s Boo Carter. Smart called it a four-point play. Because rather than giving up a return for a touchdown, the Georgia defense was able to hold Tennesse to just a field goal. Tennessee returner.
Who wins Georgia vs. UMass?
Georgia a lot (42)
UMass a little (3)
