The Georgia football season opener will feature a UGA vs UVA matchup in Atlanta. The Virginia Cavaliers have not played Georgia since 2000.
Georgia and Virginia have met 19 times in the history of the two programs, with the first meeting dating back to October 30, 1897, a game that UVA won 17-4.
More recently, Georgia and Virginia met three times between 1995-2000. The Bulldogs are currently on a two-game winning streak against the Cavaliers.
The programs are again meeting on Monday, September 7th at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for their season openers.
Georgia is coming off of another SEC Championship appearance and has hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff, while Virginia is a team that represented its division in last year’s ACC Championship Game against Clemson.
Both teams played in big bowl games. Georgia beat Baylor in the Sugar Bowl and Virginia fell to Florida in the Orange Bowl by a score of 36-28.
For Virginia, there’s absolutely zero pressure to go out and win this game. Georgia’s going to be the one with a top-five ranking playing in its home-state with lofty expectations.
Virginia’s offense will look different than it did last year, losing quarterback Bryce Perkins and some other offensive starters. But nine of its top ten tacklers return on defense.
That’s similar to Georgia’s scenario, though. UGA lost a ton of talent on offense, including star quarterback Jake Fromm, running back D’Andre Swift and four starting offensive lineman.
For both teams, we are asking the same question:
How will Georgia’s revamped offense do against Virginia’s experienced defense?
How will Virginia’s revamped offense do against Georgia’s experienced, but also extremely talented defense?
Virginia did not play Wake Forest last season, so for many of these player it will be their first time facing Georgia QB Jamie Newman, a Wake Forest transfer. Expect them to bring pressure all night and try to make life difficult on Georgia’s offensive line, which will be starting a number of inexperienced players.
When Virginia has the rock, don’t expect it to be able to do much of anything. The Georgia defense is going to be just as, if not more ferocious than last year’s FBS-leading group.
Virginia’s running game ranked 12th in the ACC last season, and Georgia boasts the nation’s top run defense. At receiver, Virginia will be ok but if it can’t move the ball on the ground it’s going to be a long night for the Cavaliers.
Georgia hopes to end the season in the same stadium it starts it in, so look for the Dawgs to come out and make a statement, much like Alabama does when it plays these Power 5 programs in Arlington every few years.
Prediction: Georgia 38, Virginia 14
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