April 25, 2024
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia Bulldogs are back atop the rankings, even though their style points are a bit lacking.
Reclaiming the No. 1 spot after Alabama went down to the final play against Texas A&M, Georgia makes no apologies for struggling a bit against overmatched opponents.
The Bulldogs (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) will be facing another team that fits that bill on Saturday, hosting lowly Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2) between the hedges.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart shrugged off the perception that his powerhouse team hasn't been all that impressive — especially on offense — the past few weeks.
“When you play in the SEC, you play against really good, quality defenses,” he said. "And usually at the start of the game, they’re at their best.”
After rallying for a 26-22 win at Missouri, the Bulldogs slogged through three quarters against listless Auburn before pulling away in the fourth for a 42-10 victory.
“There’s an opportunity to grow and get better each day at practice,” Smart said. “And our guys have kind of adopted the mentality."
Georgia demolished the Commodores last season, winning 62-0 in Nashville on the way to the national championship.
Vanderbilt has given up more than 50 points in its two SEC losses this season. Overall, the Commodores have lost 23 straight conference games, the last 10 under coach Clark Lea.
But Lea insists there's plenty of reason for optimism.
“We’re looking for context right now as a program, and that context for us is we’re 3-3," he said. “We’re positioned to achieve a lot this season."
Vanderbilt is facing its third straight Top 10 opponent for the first time in school history, having already lost 52-28 to No. 9 Ole Miss and 55-3 to No. 3 Alabama. The Commodores' other loss was to No. 14 Wake Forest, 45-25.
“We’re in a historic stretch of games here for this program,” Lea said. “We’re a program that’s developing and, while developing, being measured against the nation’s best. That’s what we want to do.”
One thing the Commodores aren't talking about: last year's embarrassing showing against Georgia.
“We won’t and we haven’t and we don’t," Lea said. “That hasn’t been a part of our formula this year at all. I feel like I’m coaching a different team.”
