UGA Gameday

BULLDOGS GLANCE

Tennessee Tech (5-3) at Georgia (4-4)

1 p.m., Sanford Stadium

107.9 FM

WHEN GEORGIA HAS THE BALL

GEORGIA OFFENSIVE STARTERS

QB Joe Cox 6-1, 198, Sr.

FB Shaun Chapas 6-2, 245, Jr.

TB Caleb King 5-11, 210, So.

FL Rantavious Wooten 5-10, 170, Fr.

SE Tavarres King 6-1, 180, Fr.

TE Aron White 6-4, 236, So.

LT Clint Boling 6-5, 304, Jr.

LG Cordy Glenn 6-5, 328, So.

C Ben Jones 6-3, 300, So.

RG Chris Davis 6-4, 295, Jr.

RT Josh Davis 6-6, 300, Jr.

PK Blair Walsh 5-10, 185, So.

TENNESSEE TECH DEFENSIVE STARTERS

DE Charlie Seivers 6-3, 250, Jr.

DT Justin Hilliard 6-3, 275, Jr.

DT Travis Adkins 6-5, 275, So.

DE Kelvin Quarles 6-3, 245, Sr.

SLB Jake McIntosh 6-2, 230, So.

MLB Howard Griffin 6-1, 220, So.

WLB Justin Vann 5-11, 205, So.

CB Taron Ryce 5-11, 185, Sr.

SS Dustin Dillehay 5-9, 190, Jr.

FS Caleb Mitchell 6-1, 190, Fr.

CB Richmond Tooley 5-11, 185, So.

P Jason Lennartz 6-1, 200, Jr.

* The matchup: Cox will not have his favorite target this week, as sophomore receiver A.J. Green is sitting out with a bruised lung. “It will be a little bit different,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “We’re definitely losing our No. 1 playmaker for this week. It’s a concern, but it’s also an opportunity for other guys to step up, and I think those guys are excited for that opportunity.” Bobo added that the Bulldogs have been more committed to establishing the run the past two games, so look for that to continue.

WHEN TENNESSEE TECH HAS THE BALL

TENNESSEE TECH OFFENSIVE STARTERS

QB Lee Sweeney 6-3, 225, Sr.

FB Charlie Stevens 6-1, 230, So.

TB Henry Sailes 5-7, 175, Jr.

WR Tim Benford 6-1, 195, So.

WR Antonio Robinson 6-5, 200, Jr.

TE Jamere Hogue 6-4, 245, So.

LT Calvin Smith 6-3, 297, Sr.

LG Taylor Askew 6-4, 290, Jr.

C Malcolm Jones 6-5, 305, So.

RG Slade Adams 6-6, 315, Fr.

RT Scott Schweitzer 6-5, 295, So.

PK Tim Donegan 6-0, 190, Fr.

GEORGIA DEFENSIVE STARTERS

DE Cornelius Washington 6-4, 248, Fr.

DT Jeff Owens 6-3, 300, Sr.

DT Kade Weston 6-5, 315, Sr.

DE Demarcus Dobbs 6-2, 274, Jr.

SLB Nick Williams 6-2, 219, So.

MLB Darryl Gamble 6-2, 250, Jr.

WLB Rennie Curran 5-11, 225, Jr.

CB Prince Miller 5-8, 198, Sr.

SS Reshad Jones 6-2, 215, Jr.

FS Bryan Evans 5-11, 190, Sr.

CB Brandon Boykin 5-10, 185, So.

P Drew Butler 6-2, 203, So.

* The matchup: How Benford, the former Red Bank standout and current OVC offensive player of the week, fares against Georgia’s talented but often-underachieving secondary could be worth watching. The Bulldogs are last in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 29.4 points per game, but will a stellar showing today allow them to pass Arkansas?

THE ONE TO WATCH

Georgia quarterback Joe Cox (above):

The Bulldogs obviously are superior in talent to Tennessee Tech, but Cox still needs to have a good game after getting that “dreaded vote of confidence” earlier this week. Early struggles could result in more booing, and that’s where establishing the running game becomes key. Richt said the Golden Eagles are geared to stop the run, so Cox likely will have to make something happen for the Bulldogs to pull away. “You really have to look at yourself and how you’ve been performing and see what you can do to make it better the next time,” Cox said. “Now it’s just a matter of working even harder.”

IN THE END

* Breaking it down: Lost in last week’s 41-17 dismantling at the hands of Florida was Georgia’s ability to hold its own against the Gators running the football. The reshuffled offensive line seemed to work, and that same lineup is expected to dictate from the start this afternoon. The Golden Eagles will load the box with Green out, giving Cox and his unheralded receivers opportunities to make big plays.

* Prediction: Georgia 38, Tennessee Tech 15