It's all on the table

So there is nothing riding on this game is there?

This is the closest the Dawgs have been to the National Championship in 30 years.

In fact, the last time No.3 Georgia was ranked this high against Georgia Tech was 1982 when it was a-top the polls.

This year, things are almost as good.

As you know by now, if Georgia wins this game and the SEC championship they will probably play in the National Championship Game in Miami.

And that is the big red elephant in Mark Richt's locker room that no one can talk about.

"You know that if we handle our business, there are no worries," said UGA linebacker Christian Robinson.  "It’s completely on us and it’s on everything we do from this point on. Our focus is completely on Georgia Tech because this is the game. Nothing else matters at this point.”

Because as we saw last week, if Baylor can beat Kansas State, Tech can upset it's rival.

It's safe to say the Jackets would trade the next five wins over Georgia for an upset that would end the Dawgs BCS hopes and live forever on North Avenue.

Tech head coach Paul Johnson says they haven't had anyone even working on a scouting report of their ACC Championship opponent FSU because “we’ve been kind of tunnel-visioned on getting ready to play Georgia."

This is also the first time that both teams will play in their conference championship game the next week.

Yes Georgia is the better team, but it's not like they are unstoppable. 

Georgia Tech = points Part I

And this is why this game is so dangerous. Tech might be 6-5, but it's not like they can't score.

They've scored 47.7 points per game during this three game winning streak and is 15th in the country this season with 38.5 points per game.

They haven't scored fewer than 17 points all season (twice in losses to Virginia Tech and BYU).

The Flexbone option offense again is one of the top rushing attacks in the country, ranked fourth with 324.9 yards per game and they have the most rushing yards in the country since 2008.

11 different players are averaging 5 yards per carry and six of those players have more than 300 yards rushing. A-Back Orwin Smith leads with 673 yards (9.0 per carry). But he's got an injured ankle and is a game time decision. QB Tevin Washington is second with 598 yards (4.2).

But Washington won't be the only QB the Dawgs have to deal with. Freshman Vad Lee is also expected to get some time. He's played in all but two games this season and has two 100 yard rushing performances (Presbyterian and UNC).

Stopping the above option attack

The first time Georgia faced Paul Johnson's stuff at Georgia Tech was 2008. They gave up 409 yards on the ground and lost 45-42. The next season the Dawgs cut that number in half (205 yards) and won 30-24.

Todd Grantham became Georgia's defensive coordinator in 2010 and he gave up 411 yards in his first crack at Johnson. The Dawgs still won 42-34. Last year Grantham's D held Tech to 243 and won 31-17.

Does that mean anything this time around? I'm not that smart. But Georgia did get an early crack at the option against Georgia Southern last week and got it figured out by halftime.

When you have linebackers as good as Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree and Armarlo Herrera, Michael Gillard and Jordan Jenkins -- it helps.

Jones might be the best linebacker in the country, but Ogletree is giving him a run for his money. He's second on the team in tackles with 72 and the junior missed four games this season. He's had at least 10 stops in five games, including 12 last week.

The Dawgs defense is as hot as it has been all season. They've allowed two touchdowns in the last four games. Those have also been the four best games for the defense when it comes to yards allowed.  

Before Shawn Williams (leading tackler) called them soft, the defense was allowing 24.1 points and 367 yards per game.

Since Williams called them soft, the D has given up 8.3 points and 264 yards per game.

Georgia Tech = points Part II

Meanwhile, it doesn't look like Georgia Tech could stop an offense led by me, Tony Schiavone, Mark Arum, Doug Turnbull and Scott Howard.

Against FBS opponents (everybody not named Blue Hose) the Jackets are allowing 32.3 points and 408 yards per game.

It's already cost them a defensive coordinator. Al Groh was canned after the 47-31 loss to Clemson. Since then things really  haven't gotten much better stats wise, but Tech has gone 3-1 with Charles Kelly taking over.

LB Jeremiah Attaochu isn't exactly part of the reason. He's had seven sacks and leads the team with nine tackles for a loss.

But Aaron Murray might be able to at least get noticed in the vaccum that is the Heisman race against this group.

Kickers?

If it comes down to this, it gets a little interesting.

UGA Freshman Marshall Morgan has been ok. He's missed as many extra points as field goals (four). But while his field goal numbers are ok (8-for-12) and he's got a leg (long of 52 yards), something still feels a little shaky.

However, things are even shakier for the Jackets.

Three kickers have played for Georgia Tech this season. David Scully began the season as the starter, but he was 3-for-7 on field goals. Justin Moore took over during the Boston College game and went 2-for-4. But both have been hurt

Walk-on Sr. Chris Tanner played the last two games. He hit both of his field goals this season against North Carolina and did not attempt any against Duke. His longest is 35. He has also hit all 14 extra points.

Scully is supposed to be healthy for this game and Johnson hasn't decided who he will go with.

Tech goes for it more on fourth downs than anyone in the country, so this may not matter. But still, Morgan might have the edge here.