The feeling in most circles is that Georgia has one more cupcake game before entering the meat of its 2022 schedule. The Bulldogs host Vanderbilt on Saturday, and all indications suggest it will be an opportunity to right some wrongs, tighten up some loose screws and get set for a 4-game run that will determine whether or not the team can win back-to-back national titles after going without for 41 years.

But I’m here to tap the breaks. Just a little bit.

I’m not saying Georgia will lose to the Commodores (or that it even will be all that close). I am going to be sharing why I think Vanderbilt is a legitimately solid football team, and why I think that helps the Bulldogs moving forward.

Notice I said “solid.”

There is a difference between “solid” and “good.” Vanderbilt is not what I would call a particularly great team. Good, maybe. Great, definitely not. But it is solid, and that’s the point here.

The spread is large, and Georgia should probably surpass that total. But here are a few reasons why Vanderbilt won’t make it come easy.

They don’t turn the ball over

In 6 games so far this season, the Commodores have turned the ball over just 4 times. Quarterback AJ Swann has not thrown an interception, and of the team’s 9 fumbles it has lost 4.

By contrast, its defense has recorded 7 takeaways to give it a plus-3 ratio so far this season. Georgia, the No. 1 team in the country, is only plus-2.

As good as Georgia’s defense has been – and it’s been really good – it has only 8 takeaways so far this season, which ranks 73rd in the nation. Georgia’s 2 fumble recoveries are 92nd in the nation and 6 interceptions are 35th. The Bulldogs have not broken the stat sheet with their takeaway ability.

Vanderbilt’s total of 5 turnovers ranks No. 18 in the nation overall. Of those, 4 came in 2 of their 3 losses (both to ranked opponents). A game against a team that protects the ball as well as Vanderbilt has this season should offer a decent test for the Georgia defense.

They do little things well

Vanderbilt is limited when it comes to talent against a team like Georgia, but the key to performing well when there is such a gap is not shooting yourself in the foot. Give the Commodores credit there.

Let’s run down a Vanderbilt few stats:

  • It is perfect in the kicking game. Through 6 games, the Commodores are 5-for-5 on field goals and 24-for-24 on extra points.
  • As mentioned above, Vandy is No. 18 in the country in turnovers.
  • The Commodores’ 45 penalty yards a game rank 34th
  • Their 7 sacks allowed rank 25th.
  • They are 15th in punting average.
  • They are tied for first – first! – nationally in red-zone conversions. Vanderbilt has converted all 21 of its red zone attempts into points, 17 for touchdowns and 4 for field goals. Georgia, by comparison, is 5th.

What does this say? It says Vanderbilt, when given the opportunity, has done what it is supposed to do. The above numbers give the look of a team that should be among the better ones in the conference.

Are there limitations? Of course. But the Commodores have proven their ability to take a mile when given an inch.

Vanderbilt has a trio of legitimately good players on offense

To ignore Swann at quarterback, along with running back Ray Davis and wide receiver Will Sheppard would be folly.

Swann is completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 848 yards and 8 touchdowns. He hasn’t turned the ball over. Davis has rushed for 507 yards and 4 touchdowns in 6 games, setting him on a pace for more than 1,000 yards on the ground this season. Sheppard has notched 35 catches for 452 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Sheppard is 3rd in the conference in receiving, Davis 4th in rushing and Swann 7th in passer rating, one spot ahead of Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.

Add to all of this Mike Wright’s 277 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, and Jayden McGowan’s 380 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

Opponents matter, and Vanderbilt has lost to all 3 ranked opponents it has faced. It hasn’t been close. There was the 45-25 loss to Wake Forest, the 55-3 loss to Alabama and the 52-28 loss to Ole Miss.

Georgia should win this game easily.

But don’t assume that just because the Bulldogs are far more talented and will likely run away on the scoreboard that there aren’t tests to be had.

Look at this as a growing experience for a team that has a number of dangerous teams just weeks away on its schedule.