Game day thoughts, Georgia Southern edition

All I’ve got for you as I prepare to head out the door is a series of random musings.

Per Weiszer, Georgia is 5-0 all-time against Georgia Southern, with the closest final margin 20 points in 2004.  I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty certain that point margin stat will have to be updated after tonight.

You want an area to keep an eye on?  Check out some special teams data:

Isaiah McKenzie only has 12 punt returns this season, but he’s returned two of them for touchdowns, including a 53-yard touchdown last week. Those two touchdowns are tied for the nation’s lead and gives him four punt return touchdowns in his career in only his second season.

Brice Ramsey is third in the SEC in punting with a 45.0 yards average on 12 kicks this year.

Bulldogs kicker Marshall Morgan is 14 of 19 on field goals with a long of 47. Georgia Southern’s Younghoe Koo is 4 of 4 on field goals, with a long of 44.

Georgia Southern leads the nation in kickoff return defense, giving up 13.9 per return, and third in punt return defense at 0.57 yards.

The Eagles are 22nd on kickoff returns at 23.9. Georgia ranks 13th in the SEC on kickoff returns at 16.7

Georgia Southern has blocked three punts this season and Georgia has two.

I wonder how McKenzie looked in practice this week.  Heh.

It’s another week of run the ball, stop the run and avoid turning the ball over.  That formula worked beautifully, if not overwhelmingly at Auburn, especially after the defense made some halftime adjustments.  (I do expect to see the Eagles try to exploit the left side of Georgia’s defense, if only to find out if the Dawgs there have more than a casual interest in containment this week.)  If we can get a repeat of all that, I expect a win, though I’m less convinced we’ll see a cover.

It’s Senior Night and we get a new UGA crowned… er, collared, so there’s that.

You know what would be nice?  If Lambert and Mitchell actually connected on one of those deep throws.  (What’s the over/under on the number of times Malcolm sees single coverage?)  How ’bout it, fellas?

You know what else would be nice?  If the o-line managed to open a decent hole for Sony Michel to run through now and then.

And here’s hoping Keith Marshall sees the field in his last home game.  He deserves a few cheers for that.

Feel free to pitch in, folks.  You know where to find the comments section.