Oct 18, 2008 - 6:17 AM
0 shouts(23) Vanderbilt (5-1) at (9) Georgia (5-1), 3:30 pm EDT
ATHENS, Georgia (Ticker) -- In the topsy-turvy world of the Southeastern Conference, Georgia is back in control of its own destiny.
The ninth-ranked Bulldogs host No. 23 Vanderbilt on Saturday in a battle for first place in the SEC East Division.
Three weeks ago, Georgia was manhandled in a 41-30 loss to Alabama, a game in which the Bulldogs trailed, 31-0, at halftime. The defeat snapped the Bulldogs' 11-game winning streak.
But with an extra week to prepare, Georgia (5-1, 2-1 SEC East) rebounded to beat Tennessee, 26-14. The Bulldogs' victory, coupled with Vanderbilt's 17-14 setback at Mississippi State, left every team in the SEC East with at least one loss.
Vanderbilt (5-1, 3-1) is tied with Florida atop the East, one-half game ahead of Georgia.
Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford enters this contest with momentum, having completed 25-of-36 passes for a career-high 310 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee.
The Bulldogs' defense, roughed up against the Crimson Tide, also regained a measure of pride, holding the Volunteers to just one yard rushing.
Vanderbilt heads to Athens after receiving a dose of reality.
Off to its first 5-0 start since 1943 after a 14-13 win over Auburn, the Commodores suffered a massive letdown against a desperate Mississippi State team that had won only one of its first five games.
The loss denied Vanderbilt its first 6-0 start since 1928.
The Commodores, who entered the contest leading the Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin, hurt themselves with two second-half interceptions. Vanderbilt also was just 1-of-10 on third-down conversions.
"The things we were doing when we won five games, we didn't do a very good job with," Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. "That's just the difference between winning and losing. Our guys are pretty resilient and our coaching staff will be, too."
Johnson has elected to make a quarterback change, as Mackenzi Adams will make his first start of the season Saturday.
Adams led the Commodores to their victory over Auburn after replacing an injured Chris Nickson, who struggled at Mississippi State.
However, Vanderbilt faces a difficult test this week in a hostile environment. The Commodores will be seeking their second straight win at Sanford Stadium.
Two years ago, they stunned Georgia, 24-22, beating the Bulldogs for the first time since 1994. It was only Vanderbilt's fourth win in the last 43 meetings between the schools.
Georgia avenged that loss with a 20-17 victory at Vanderbilt last season, as Brandon Coutu kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired.
From the Bleachers
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** CONFIRMED **
NCAAF
VANDERBILT (23) 14
GEORGIA (9) 24 FINAL
Oct 18 5:04 PM -
NCAAF
TD VANDERBILT
MIKE MCCOY 30 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON
(LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
VANDERBILT (22) 7
GEORGIA (10) 24 FINAL
Oct 18 4:51 PM -
VANDERBILT: 14
GEORGIA: 24
Final
Oct 18 3:43 PM -
NCAAF
FG GEORGIA
BLAIR WALSH 39 YD
VANDERBILT (22) 14
GEORGIA (10) 24 0:17 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 18 3:38 PM -
Vanderbilt(22) 14, Georgia(10) 24 4th Quarter - 0:17
RUWTbot
Took away 78 roots (Ranked Teams)
Oct 18 3:38 PM -
Vanderbilt(22) 14, Georgia(10) 21 4th Quarter - 1:02
RUWTbot
Added 23 roots (Close Finish, Ranked Teams)
Oct 18 3:36 PM -
Vanderbilt(22) 14, Georgia(10) 21 4th Quarter - 3:03
RUWTbot
Added 18 roots (Close Finish, Ranked Teams)
Oct 18 3:27 PM -
Vanderbilt(22) 14, Georgia(10) 21 4th Quarter - 4:24
RUWTbot
Added 15 roots (Close Finish, Ranked Teams)
Oct 18 3:26 PM -
Vanderbilt(22) 14, Georgia(10) 21 4th Quarter - 6:15
RUWTbot
Added 22 roots (Close Finish, Ranked Teams)
Oct 18 3:21 PM -
VANDERBILT: 14
GEORGIA: 21
End of 3rd
Oct 18 2:55 PM -
NCAAF
TD VANDERBILT
JAMIE GRAHAM 8 YD PASS FROM MACKENZI ADAMS
(BRYANT HAHNFELDT KICK)
VANDERBILT (22) 14
GEORGIA (10) 21 6:20 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 18 2:41 PM -
NCAAF
TD GEORGIA
KNOWSHON MORENO 11 YD RUN
(BLAIR WALSH KICK)
VANDERBILT (22) 7
GEORGIA (10) 21 12:12 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 18 2:23 PM -
VANDERBILT: 7
GEORGIA: 14
Halftime
Oct 18 1:52 PM -
NCAAF
TD VANDERBILT
JAMIE GRAHAM 18 YD PASS FROM MACKENZI ADAMS
(BRYANT HAHNFELDT KICK)
VANDERBILT (22) 7
GEORGIA (10) 14 0:22 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 18 1:50 PM -
NCAAF
TD GEORGIA
MOHAMED MASSAQUOI 9 YD PASS FROM MATTHEW STAFFORD
(BLAIR WALSH KICK)
VANDERBILT (22) 0
GEORGIA (10) 14 2:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 18 1:39 PM -
VANDERBILT: 0
GEORGIA: 7
End of 1st
Oct 18 1:06 PM -
NCAAF
TD GEORGIA
A.J. GREEN 17 YD PASS FROM MATTHEW STAFFORD
(BLAIR WALSH KICK)
VANDERBILT (22) 0
GEORGIA (10) 7 1:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 18 1:02 PM -
Vanderbilt(22) 0, Georgia(10) 0 1st Quarter - 14:55
RUWTbot
Added 18 roots (Ranked Teams)
Oct 18 12:35 PM
