Tennessee Vols: How Josh Heupel fared against Georgia's elite defense in 2017
The Tennesse Vols' improved offense under Josh Heupel has been one of the biggest stories in college football this season. A year ago, the Volunteers averaged 21.5 points per game (No. 109 in the nation) under Jeremy Pruitt. Through nine games this season, Tennessee is averaging 38.2 points per game (No. 14 in the nation). […]
The Tennesse Vols' improved offense under Josh Heupel has been one of the biggest stories in college football this season.
A year ago, the Volunteers averaged 21.5 points per game (No. 109 in the nation) under Jeremy Pruitt.
Through nine games this season, Tennessee is averaging 38.2 points per game (No. 14 in the nation).
That's quite a turnaround in just one year.
On Saturday, the Vols will face their toughest challenge of the season.
Tennessee will host Georgia on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation, giving up just 6.6 points per game so far this season.
Georgia hasn't allowed more than 13 points in a game so far this year.
This won't be the first time that Heupel has faced an elite Georgia defense. In 2017, the Bulldogs had one of the best defenses in the nation. Georgia allowed 16.4 points per game in 2017 which was No. 6 in the nation. Those numbers were skewed a bit by an overtime shootout with Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal. If you take away that 54-48 UGA win, the Bulldogs allowed only 14 points per game in 2017.
Heupel was Missouri's offensive coordinator in 2017 when the Tigers traveled to Athens to take on Georgia. At that point in the season, Georgia was allowing just 10 points per game (the Bulldogs had allowed just 17 total points in their previous three games before playing Missouri).
The Tigers' offense, under the guidance of Heupel, broke through for 28 points against Georgia in a 53-28 loss. Missouri did most of its damage through the air, as quarterback Drew Lock passed for 253 yards and four touchdowns.
(The game was tied at 21 at one point.)
Missouri's 28 points were the most against Georgia in 2017 outside of the wild Oklahoma game and the Bulldogs' road loss to Auburn.
The Vols probably don't have enough talent or depth to pull off the upset on Saturday. This is one of the best college defenses I've ever seen.
However, this is also the best offense Georgia has faced all season. While I'm not expecting a Tennessee victory on Saturday, I think we'll see the Vols put up the most points we've seen all season against the Bulldogs' elite defense.
Heupel has experience attacking a Kirby Smart-led defense. This is far from his first rodeo.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
