Georgia's season has been lopsided, but Kirby Smart isn't pretending it's been perfect. After the 45-17 win at Arkansas, he pointed out that the Razorbacks threw the ball well against his defense. He said the Bulldogs had to run better, pass better and rush the passer better. The Oklahoma game was more of the same. Georgia won by 28, but Gunner Stockton went 14-of-27 for 171 yards and 1 touchdown. Dwight Phillips Jr. carried most of the offense with 84 yards on 8 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run.
The schedule after this game matters. Georgia plays Alabama on October 10 and Auburn on October 17, so Vanderbilt is the game in between the Oklahoma win and a much bigger one. Smart's teams usually don't fall asleep in these spots. Still, once the margin gets comfortable, how long the starters stay in will say a lot about what Georgia is thinking about.
For Vanderbilt, the plan is obvious. Arkansas showed that Georgia's pass defense can give up plays, and the Commodores need Sherrill and their passing game to do the same thing. Without that, they need a lot of long drives to keep this within reach. The forecast as of Sunday calls for 86 degrees, clouds and a 44% chance of rain in Athens, which could turn it into a sloppy, low-possession day that helps the underdog.
Georgia has more talent, more depth, home field and a 4-0 record built on blowouts. Vanderbilt has a receiver who never goes missing, a coach who has built a real program, and 1 loss that was only a 6-point game on the road. The Bulldogs are the pick to win this. For Vanderbilt, the question is whether the Commodores can keep it competitive into the second half.