In preparation for Saturday’s matchup between Tennessee and Georgia, Saturday Down South is taking a look at the key matchups that may decide the showdown between the Volunteers and Bulldogs.

Tennessee offensive line vs. Georgia front seven

The Volunteers are one of the most inexperienced offensive fronts, having replaced all five starters during the offseason. The Vols have allowed nine sacks, tied for last in the SEC, a stat which bodes well for the Georgia defense’s eight sacks, good for fourth in the league.

The Bulldogs, however, have not consistently put pressure on the quarterback. That’s something they need to do to hide some vulnerabilities in the secondary. Georgia has played soft coverages throughout its first three games, often two safety looks with either man or zone principals underneath, allowing receivers to find soft spots for big gains. Georgia is allowing 11.3 yards per catch.

Senior signal caller Justin Worley has had some success against Georgia in recent years, throwing for 496 yards over the last two matchups with the ‘Dawgs. Protection for Worley will be a huge key to the success Tennessee is able to have or not have on Saturday afternoon.

Veteran defensive lineman Ray Drew said on Monday, though, that the Tennessee offensive line is hungry to prove itself.

“It means they’re hungry,” Drew said of the Vols youth upfront. “This is a lot of their first time playing on a constant basis on this level. They want to come out and make a name for themselves. We want to do our best to prevent it from happening at our expense.”