Georgia Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Complete Game Preview

It’s that time of year again. Every Saturday after Thanksgiving, Georgia and Georgia Tech go at it in their annual rivalry.

And if this year’s version is anything like the last two seasons, we could be in for a treat, as both of those games went into overtime (Tech won it last year after UGA won in 2013).

Odds are the game on Saturday won’t go into overtime; Georgia (8-3) comes into the game winners of its last three games, while Georgia Tech has won only three games this season. However, that doesn’t mean anything, because Georgia Tech defeated a then-unbeaten Florida State team earlier in the year. So the state of Georgia will be in for an interesting contest Saturday afternoon.

Day: Saturday

Time: Noon ET

Place: Grant Field, Atlanta  

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network, Georgia Tech Sports Network, SIRIUS/XM 112/194

Odds: Georgia is a five-point favorite, according to Odds Shark.

When Georgia Has the Ball

The Bulldogs have shown this season that they are not going to light up the scoreboard. Because of the quarterback play, they are limited to what they want to do on offense.

Greyson Lambert was solid yet not great in the Georgia Southern game last week, completing 16 of his 25 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown. His longest pass play was 27 yards to Malcolm Mitchell.

The Bulldogs will rely heavily on Sony Michel to make plays on offense. Michel rushed for 132 yards on 23 carries, and he scored the walk-off touchdown in overtime against Georgia Southern.

There's no surprise what the @YP Powerful Play of the Game is this week! It's Sony Michel's game-winning touchdown! https://t.co/JYWxgGcMvE

— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) November 22, 2015

The good news for the Bulldogs is going up against a Georgia Tech defense that surrenders 364 yards and 26 points per game. The problem for the Yellow Jackets is the defense will look good for a few series in a game, but they will give up a few big plays that ends up costing them in the end. The one constant on defense is defensive lineman Adam Gostis, who leads the team with three sacks.

When Georgia Tech Has the Ball

As long as Paul Johnson is the head coach, the Yellow Jackets will always run the ball first with their triple-option offense. They are seventh in the FBS with 261.82 rushing yards per game, and they are tied for ninth in the FBS with 30 rushing touchdowns.

However, those numbers are a drop-off from what it was last year, as the Yellow Jackets averaged 342 rushing yards per game and 47 rushing touchdowns. Both of those numbers were good enough for second place in the FBS.

And it might be tougher for Georgia Tech to be efficient on offense because quarterback Justin Thomas might not be able to play after he suffered an upper-body injury last Saturday against Miami, according to Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Thomas is second on the team with 491 rushing yards and has thrown for 1,263 yards. If he can’t go, then Matthew Jordan, who filled in for Thomas on Saturday, will get his first career start on Saturday.

However, no matter who is at quarterback, the Yellow Jackets are going up against a Bulldogs defense that has improved each game.

Since the Florida loss, the Bulldogs have given up only 33 points in the last three games. The Bulldogs defense was strong last Saturday against Georgia Southern, as it allowed only 233 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Eagles lead the country in rushing with 379 yards per game, and they have tallied 50 rushing touchdowns.

Linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd led the way for the Bulldogs, combining for 24 tackles and four tackles for loss.

Player to Watch for Georgia: Keith Marshall

Keith Marshall is not going to have 25 carries and won’t likely be the key to the outcome of the game. But after a roller coaster of a career, he will play his final regular-season game on Saturday.

Marshall has one year of eligibility, but he decided not to use that year and move on to the NFL.

#Dawgs Senior shout-out to Keith Marshall! Thanks for your hard work & commitment to the G! #GoDawgs #GATA pic.twitter.com/TiAazB90JJ

— GATA Dawgs (@BassinDawg) November 18, 2015

After a very promising 2012 season, Marshall’s career has been hit with a number of injuries the last two seasons, including a torn ACL in 2013. Marshall is the No. 3 running back, and he has rushed for 255 yards and four touchdowns in nine games.

With this being his last regular-season game and the Bulldogs having trouble throwing the ball downfield, Marshall should see a good amount of carries on Saturday. But more than anything, he just wants to get a win.

“Even when I’m done playing and he’s still at Tech, I’ll never put on a Tech shirt,” Marshall said about his brother, Marcus, to Chip Towers of Dawg Nation. “Quite frankly, we don’t like them.”

Player to Watch for Georgia Tech: Marcus Marshall

While Keith Marshall is ending his career at Georgia, his brother, Marcus Marshall, is just getting started at Georgia Tech.

The freshman running back has made a name for himself, as he leads the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 609 yards and four touchdowns. Marshall was named ACC Rookie of the Week when he rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns against Pitt.

Marcus Marshall on a big run pic.twitter.com/7jtqcMI3uT

— BuzzTalkRadio (@BuzzTalkRadio) September 4, 2015

The younger Marshall is really excited not only to play against Georgia Tech’s biggest rival, but he can’t wait to see his brother on the opposing sideline.

"My family, everybody is real excited to watch and those who can come are really excited to see it, but my brother and I haven't really been going back and forth too much," Marcus said to Charles Odum of the Associated Press (via the Centre Daily Times).

Final Prediction: Georgia 28, Georgia Tech 24

Because of the way this series has played out the last two years, the 2015 version will be an exciting contest. Georgia Tech will come out fired up in its last game of the year. Georgia will be fired up because it is playing for head coach Mark Richt, who could be out of a job by season’s end.

But when it comes down to it, the Bulldogs have been playing better football this month, and the fact that they faced an option team in Georgia Southern last week will benefit the Bulldogs when they face the Yellow Jackets. If the Bulldogs can run the ball against a struggling Georgia Tech defense, then it will be the boys from Athens who will have bragging rights for the next 364 days.