When Georgia has ball

Knowshown Moreno has piled up 489 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns through five games, while quarterback Matthew Stafford has seven touchdowns against one interception for 1,193 yards. Freshman A.J. Green has emerged as the star of the receiving corps with 388 yards on 22 catches and three touchdowns.

Although Alabama stuffed the UGA offense in the first half two weeks ago, the Dawgs managed to light up the scoreboard over the final two quarters, registering 30 points on an outstanding Tide defense.

The Tennessee defense has been solid, and is one of the few bright spots for a club that is already 0-2 in the SEC. Vol defenders might be able to slow down the Bulldogs attack, but probably not often enough.

Edge: Georgia

When Tennessee has the ball

Nick Stephens is the new quarterback for Tennessee, and has hit on 11 of 19 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown. Coach Phillip Fulmer hopes he can be the catalyst for an attack that has averaged just 9 points per game in the last three outings and is the primary reason UT already has three losses.

Stephens will be given the green light to air it out in this one, but he’ll be doing it against a good secondary. While the passing game has struggled so has the ground attack. Arian Foster is the leading rusher with 338 yards and 7 TDs.

Edge: Georgia

Special Teams

Blair Walsh continues to impress as placekicker for the Bulldogs, nailing 6 of 8 field goal tries and all 20 of his extra points.

Brian Mimbs averages 41 yards per punt, and has a talent for flipping the field.

Asher Allen continues to be a breakaway threat running back punts with an 18.2-yard per return average, and Moreno can always be called into action if the need arises.

Tennessee’s Daniel Lincoln is 5 of 9 on field goal attempts, while punter Chad Cunningham is kicking away at a rate of 39.5 yards per boot.

Edge: Georgia

Bottom line

Tennessee has an ability to elevate its game when Georgia provides the opposition, and it would be no shock if the Volunteers put together their best effort of the season today at Sanford Stadium. The squads were in similar situations last season in Knoxville when Tennessee defeated the Bulldogs handily.

However, Mark Richt’s team has had a week to work out the problems it encountered against Alabama, and all of Georgia’s goals — nationally and league-wise — are still attainable if the Bulldogs can run the table from this point on.

Expect a determined, focused team to charge out of the tunnel this afternoon and atone for an embarrassing loss to the Crimson Tide.

Prediction: Georgia 27, Tennessee 10