Georgia dominated Middle Tennessee in every phase of the game between the hedges to stay unbeaten. Here’s what we learned from the Bulldogs win on Saturday.
Defending SEC champion Georgia had no problem at all with Middle Tennessee at home, taking down the Blue Raiders 49-7 in Athens to move to 3-0 in the 2018 season. The Bulldogs dominated in all facets of the game to ensure they remain among the top four teams in the country once the new AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll come out after the conclusion of Week 3.
Georgia’s defense held the Blue Raiders to 288 yards on defense. Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent Stockstill was held to 138 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception on 19-of-29 passing. Terelle West managed 74 rushing yards on 17 carries, leading a Blue Raiders backfield that finished with 158 total yards on 38 carries.
In turn, Georgia excelled on offense. Jake Fromm was an efficient 10-of-12 passing the ball, throwing for 128 yards and three touchdowns on a short day of work. Justin Fields came in and added 71 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-8 passing, while freshman Matthew Downing also got the chance to throw a 24-yard reception on his only passing attempt.
While the passing attack was efficient, finishing as a unit with 223 yards and four touchdowns while completing 17 of their 21 attempts, it was the running game that carried Georgia to victory.
Elijah Holyfield led the way for the Bulldogs, finishing the day with 100 yards on eight carries. Tyler Simmons added a 56-yard touchdown burst, backup quarterback Justin Fields contributed 31 yards and a score on three carries, and Brian Herrien added five carries for 44 yards. As a group, the backfield finished with 261 yards and two scores on 35 carries. For the day, they averaged 7.5 yards per carry.
By the end of the day, Georgia easily covered the 34-point spread that had been set by the sportsbook sharps. The Bulldogs will remain a top-four team in both major polls, as they look to keep pace in both the SEC and on a national scale in hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff for a second straight season.