Last season: 5-7
Last game vs. Georgia: 20-17 loss
Series Record: Georgia leads 48-18-2
Most memorable Georgia win: 1983 – All-American Terry Hoage knocks away a Vanderbilt pass near the end of the game to save the win for the Dawgs.
Most painful Georgia loss: 1994 – Ray Goff may have lost his job when Vandy ran up the score on the Dawgs in Athens – on Homecoming, no less.
Starters returning: 9
Best player: D.J. Moore
Biggest Weakness: Offense
2008’s big question: Can Vandy put it together enough to get to a bowl?
Inside the numbers vs. Georgia (as seen in the Dawg Post Season Preview):
326.6
That’s how many passing yards per contest Vandy averaged last fall – 103rd best in the country. In other words, Vandy was not an offensive juggernaut. Vanderbilt has been a program which has gotten the reputation for being solid defensively since the mid-1990s. The problem, as their record and lack of a bowl game appearance indicates, is that while defense may wins you championships (as the old saying goes), you still need some offense to win games.
Recruiting Implications:
Virtually None. This game simply does not impact recruiting as it relates to a head-to-head competition between the two schools. Vanderbilt couldn’t get a player Georgia wanted if they had to – at least they’ve never been able to. Notable Georgians on the Vanderbilt Roster: One in every five players on Vandy’s roster is from Georgia. Notable Tennesseans on the Georgia Roster: None.
Last year’s prediction: Stay focused in Nashville and get revenge for last season. That won’t be as easy as it may sound.
It wasn’t easy alright. Georgia needed to force a Vanderbilt turnover deep in Georgia territory to keep from losing. Then the Bulldogs had to take the ball down the field for a game-winning drive with little time remaining. Did Georgia stay focused? Not in the middle of the game, but they did win, and that one play – the forced turnover – changed the season.
Legge’s must-win game: at Ole Miss September 20th
Legge’s projected SEC finish: 6th SEC East
Legge’s All-SEC Commodores: D.J. Moore