Did you think this would be a top 15 match up at the beginning of the year? I sure didn’t.
COLUMN: BEHIND THE HEDGES
BY: BRIAN BUTCHER
Every week, our newest contributor and rabid Dawg fan, Brian Butcher, will break down all the UGA games in our newest column: Behind the Hedges. This is your first stop for the most comprehensive, feverish Georgia Bulldogs coverage you can get.
UGA cruised to a comfortable victory over their biggest rivals this past Saturday. Led by Carson Beck and Daijun Edwards, the Dawg offense was cooking early in the Florida heat. One of the best offenses in the country, Georgia cruised to a convincing victory in one of their most important rivalry matchups of the season.Â
Florida has an opportunity to display the most balanced offense UGA has faced this year, with a running game that uses all kinds of misdirections. Offensive line play has not been great for Florida, and they have allowed Mertz to get pressured far too often this year. UGA may be able to take advantage of an opportunity when Mertz will turn his back to the defense in a play action pass, only to find Tykee Smith or Jamon Dumas-Johnson thumping him for a sack he never sees coming.
Just know know that if you’re mad that UGA seemingly cannot go a season without their best playmaker getting seriously hurt, or if you think Kirby’s bloody Tuesday practices are causing too many injuries, or perhaps you’ve questioned Georgia’s strength and conditioning program given that 10% of our roster has suffered a foot or ankle injury this year, you’re still in the anger stage.
Georgia hasn’t given up a touchdown to Vanderbilt since 2018. Can the Dawgs’ defense shut down the Commodores again?
 Finally. Finally. The Dawgs played to their potential. Tthe back-to-back national champions looked like a contender. UGA got off to a fast start and played four quarters of football.
Georgia’s lived dangerously this season in SEC play. With Kentucky coming to Athens, the Dawgs can’t afford another slow start.
 Taylor picked the wrong tight end. The Georgia Bulldogs rode Brock Bowers to 8 catches for 157 yards, including a 40-yard game-winning score with under 3 minutes to go.
Hugh Freeze is back in the SEC to try and resurrect a program left in shambles after Bryan Harsin’s brief tenure. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are banged up, but still coming in with some momentum after a couple of disappointing performances against lesser opponents to begin the season.Â