Georgia vs Tennessee Tech: What to expect

Come tomorrow, the Georgia Bulldogs will come sprinting through the tunnel cheered on by 93,000 + faithful and Baba O'Reilly beginning to play. For any team, home openers are great. However, they're even sweeter for a team ranked No. 1 in the country with a 40-game regular season winning streak. Not to mention, Georgia's had a solid track record of home openers, not having lost since 2011. 

However, like others in years past, the excitement of a close game may be absent, starting just past 2 p.m. tomorrow. In a game where Georgia is favored by over 50 points, here's what to watch for when the Dawgs tee it up between the hedges against Tennessee Tech. 

Airing it out early

Tennessee Tech lacks the size, speed and talent the Bulldogs may match up against later this season, especially in the secondary. I don't expect the Golden Eagles to play much press-man coverage, if any at all. They'll primarily sit in cover 3 or cover 4 zones, which presents a great opportunity for offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and quarterback Carson Beck. 

Early in the first half, I think Georgia will take some shots down the field, looking to exploit speed mismatches. Coming off a career day last week, setting a career-high in receptions, Arian Smith could find himself as the recipient of one of those deep shots down the field. 

Ultimately, the Georgia offense should be able to move the ball at will, and things should get out of hand quickly. With that being said, I expect the offense to come out firing, looking for the big plays early as they continue to fine-tune the unit before conference play. 

Etienne's Debut

While there has been no official word on Etienne's status, as Kirby Smart has intentionally held the decision close to his chest, we may get to see Trevor Etienne play for the first time this season. 

The running back room will operate with a handful of guys receiving touches, especially as the game moves along, but Etienne may be the feature back early and will have the chance to showcase his talent. Freshman Nate Frazier certainly earned more opportunities, but while available, Etienne will be the running back to watch. 

Depth

This should be a game where Georgia can rotate plenty of players on and off the field, assuming the team handles business early on. I'd expect we see Gunner Stockton in much of the second-half commanding the offense. Freshman receivers Sacovie White and Nitro Tuggle could be utilized as the game progresses, looking for their first catches as Bulldogs. USC transfer Michael Jackson should also be able to work his way onto the field as a slot receiver. On the defensive side of the ball, Ellis Robinson is a name that stands out along with linebacker Justin Williams. 

Overall, Georgia likely won't have to worry about the score for long, and plenty of players should get action this week. The main goal: Take care of business while avoiding injury. 
 

For the home opener, fans will be welcomed back to Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in what is a great tune-up opportunity for the Dawgs before beginning SEC play next week. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. ET. 

Photo Via UGA Athletics