The first game of the college football season between two SEC teams will feature the no. 3 Georgia Bulldogs visiting the Vanderbilt Commodores. Kickoff is set for 7:30 EST on Saturday, August 31, at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville. Fans can watch the game on the SEC Network.
The Bulldogs are listed as 20.5-point favorites on the road. The over/under for the game is set at 57 points. Make sure you check out a full list of the Week 1 college football odds.
Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has been painfully close to winning a national championship the past two seasons. In 2017, the Bulldogs won the SEC championship and the College Football Playoff semifinals to reach the national championship game. They had Alabama on the ropes in that game but couldn’t close it out.
It was a similar story last year. The Bulldogs were in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama with a spot in the CFP on the line but couldn’t hold a 4th quarter lead. Georgia then lost the Sugar Bowl to Texas to finish the season 11-3. After going 24-5 under Smart over the last two seasons, the quest for a national championship continues and the Bulldogs are undoubtedly on the shortlist of serious contenders heading into the 2019 season.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is happy with where they stand heading into 2019, albeit with slightly different expectations from their opening weekend opponent. The Commodores reached a bowl game in 2018 for the second time in three seasons, so things are looking up for Derek Mason and company.
For what it’s worth, Vandy is just 24-38 in Mason’s five seasons at the helm. But everybody knows the Commodores operate differently from the rest of the SEC because of their academic standards. Not only did the Commodores win six games and finish 3-5 in conference play last year, but they also beat rival Tennessee for the third straight season, helping to keep Mason in the good graces of the fanbase.
Speaking of rivalries, Georgia and Vanderbilt have one that dates back to 1893. Obviously, the Bulldogs have dominated the rivalry for the past few decades, including a 41-3 thumping last season. However, the Commodores have two wins over Georgia over the past six years, so they won’t feel like a win over the no. 3 Bulldogs is impossible.
The Commodores may believe they have a chance in this game, but I don’t. Hosting their rivals should help Vanderbilt stay competitive in this game for a half. But they can’t hang with the Bulldogs for 60 minutes. Honestly, Georgia winning by three touchdowns seems like a reasonable outcome, so I have no problem eating the points and leaning toward the Bulldogs to cover.
Georgia may not have as many established playmakers on offense as they’ve had the past couple of years, but they still have Jake Fromm at quarterback. Now a junior, Fromm should be ready to take that next step and become a catalyst for the Georgia offense rather than just one piece of it. The Bulldogs also have one of the best offensive lines in the country and running back D’Andre Swift to provide support for Fromm and put him in a great position to succeed.
In fairness, Vanderbilt has added a number of intriguing players on defense, including grad transfers and true freshmen who may be able to contribute, especially along the defensive line. However, the Commodores were still one of the worst in the SEC against the run in 2018. Even if they’re able to improve up front, it’ll be difficult for them to match up against the Georgia offensive line. The Bulldogs ran wild against Vanderbilt last season, freeing up Fromm for a big passing day, and I think it could be a similar story this year.
If the Commodores are going to have any chance to beat the spread and keep this game close, they’ll need their offense to step up. However, Mason still hasn’t made a decision at quarterback between Deuce Wallace and Bowling Green grad transfer Riley Neal. While Neal has more game experience, it’s safe to say he hasn’t faced too many defenses in the MAC like the one Georgia has. Wallace, meanwhile, wasn’t even with the team last year because of a suspension. On top of that, the Vandy offensive line remains a concern with three starters to replace.
The Bulldogs will be licking their chops on defense to face a weak Vanderbilt offensive line. The Georgia defense may be lacking in star power ahead of the 2019 season, but they are as deep and talented as any defense in the country. Regardless of who plays quarterback, the Commodores will be hard-pressed to find a weakness on Georgia’s defense that they’ll be able to exploit.
In the end, the talent gap between these two teams will be too much for Vanderbilt to overcome. Even if the Commodores bring their best effort, there’s only so much they can do to keep this game close. If nothing else, the Bulldogs will score a couple of late touchdowns to make this a three-touchdown game and cover the spread.