The Associated Press
Vanderbilt (1-4, 0-3 SEC) at No. 13 Georgia (3-1, 1-1), 4 p.m. (SEC Network)
Line: Georgia by 33 1/2
Series Record: Georgia leads 53-19-2
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Following a shaky 35-32 win over Tennessee, Georgia is looking to remain in the hunt in the SEC East. Vanderbilt will try for its second straight win over the Bulldogs, following a 31-27 victory in Nashville last season. Vanderbilt had not beaten a Top 25 team since 2008 until the 2013 win over Georgia, and it is 0-2 against ranked teams this season, with losses to South Carolina and Mississippi.
KEY MATCHUP
Georgia linebackers vs. Vanderbilt tight ends. The Commodores will line up in multiple-tight end sets with Steven Scheu and others sometimes spread out wide. This will force Georgia’s linebackers to change their normal alignments. “We’ll have some issues, out in space” said Georgia coach Mark Richt of the challenge of his linebackers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vanderbilt: Cornerback and return specialist Darius Sims returned an interception for a touchdown for the Commodores’ only points in last week’s 17-7 loss to Kentucky. Sims, a sophomore, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a 48-34 loss to South Carolina on Sept. 20.
Georgia: Wide receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley are expected to make their season debuts. Mitchell hasn’t played since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in last year’s opener at Clemson. He suffered a setback in a summer workout and needed arthroscopic surgery on the same knee.
FACTS & FIGURES
Vanderbilt freshman QB Wade Freebeck is expected to make his third start as Patton Robinette (concussion) will be held out. … Vanderbilt LB Nigel Bowden, from Macon, Georgia, leads all SEC freshmen with 36 tackles. … The Commodores have 18 players from Georgia, more than any other state. Vandy has 17 players from Tennessee. … Georgia is averaging 45.2 points per game to rank second in the SEC and eighth nationally. … After Saturday, Georgia will play four consecutive games away from Athens. It doesn’t play another home game until Nov. 15 against Auburn.
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