Georgia Tech (7-4) at No. 5 Georgia (10-1, No. 5 CFP), noon EST (SEC Network)
Line: Georgia by 17.
Series record: Disputed. Georgia leads 66-41-5 but doesn’t count two Georgia Tech victories during World War II when the Yellow Jackets used players from a naval officers’ training program on campus.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Georgia needs to avoid a loss that would complicate its chances to make the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs face top-ranked Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game Dec. 1 and if they can get there with only one loss they’d be assured a spot in the playoff by beating the Tide.
KEY MATCHUP
Georgia’s front seven vs. Georgia Tech’s triple-option. The Yellow Jackets lead the nation in rushing offense (353.7 yards per game) and hope to use it to control the clock and keep the Bulldogs offense on the sideline as much as possible.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Georgia Tech: QB TaQuon Marshall. A gutty senior who is willing to take a beating as the conductor of the triple-option, he leads the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 857 yards while scoring 11 touchdowns. His backup, redshirt freshman Tobias Oliver, has 808 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.
Georgia: RB D’Andre Swift. After an injury-plagued season, the sophomore has really hit his stride late over the last month. He had three straight 100-yard games, including a career-best 186 yards rushing in a victory over Auburn.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Yellow Jackets are 5-5 over the past two decades at Sanford Stadium, including upset victories the last two times the teams met between the hedges. By comparison, the Bulldogs haven’t lost to Georgia Tech in Atlanta since 1999. … Georgia is trying to complete its second straight perfect season at home. The Bulldogs have won 12 in a row in Athens since a 28-27 loss to Georgia Tech to close the 2016 regular season. … Georgia Tech has thrown only 15 passes in its last four games. The Yellow Jackets have averaged nearly 36 yards on six completions. … Both teams feature accurate kickers. Rodrigo Blankenship has connected on 18 of 20 field goals for Georgia, while walk-on Wesley Wells is 8 of 8 since taking over Georgia Tech’s kicking job.
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