Georgia football vs Vanderbilt scouting report, bold predictions, injury updates

The first visiting SEC quarterback to come to Sanford Stadium this season had a day that couldn’t have gone much worse.

Now it’s Jared Curtis’ turn to face the Georgia football defense.

The Vanderbilt freshman was set to become teammates with guys like Chris Cole, Raylen Wilson and KJ Bolden before he flipped to the Commodores last December.

Now he will try to get first downs against them and get the Commodores into the end zone Saturday.

When Curtis studied the film from Georgia’s 41-13 beatdown of Oklahoma last Saturday, he saw Georgia’s defense forcing four turnovers.

Cole, the junior linebacker, had a sack and recovered a pair of fumbles. He scooped up one and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown.

Georgia center Drew Bobo said Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton told him: “I’m glad it was John Mateer today because he’s been giving it to me like that every day in practice. Running down, tracking down the quarterback.”

The good thing for Vanderbilt is Curtis has the ability to get away from would-be tacklers.

“This kid is mentally tough, he’s physically tough,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “He’s emotionally connected. What I’m excited about is with every week not only is he growing and developing but our system is growing and developing around him.”

Curtis was listed as questionable on the SEC availability report on Wednesday night. Lea said Tuesday that "obviously, he's a little banged up right now, too, working through that."

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt predictions

A third of the way through the regular season, give Georgia a check mark for hitting its goal offensively for being more explosive.

Georgia is tied for second in the nation in plays from scrimmage of 40 or more yards with nine. That's already more than the seven it had all of last season, according to CFBstats.com.

"We had some advantageous looks Saturday and we were able to protect long enough to get the ball downfield," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo told the subscription site Glory Glory. "It's Gunner's job and the quarterback's job to give those guys a chance to make those plays. If we do that enough, I think we'll come down with some explosives to help us win."

The toughest games on the schedule may still be to come, but the highest ranked defense in yards allowed per game left is Vanderbilt which ranks 43rd nationally at 310.3 yards per game. Alabama (13), Missouri (14) and Auburn (16) are the best defenses Georgia will see, according to ESPN's SP+.

Vanderbilt had road wins against Tennessee, Virginia Tech and South Carolina in 2025 during a 10-2 regular season.

The Commodores (3-1, 0-1 SEC) post-Diego Pavia this season trailed at the half at home to Delaware before winning 35-26, beat N.C. State 35-31 when the Wolfpack fumbled the ball in the end zone trying to take a safety resulting in a Vanderbilt touchdown and lost 21-15 at a rebuilding Auburn.

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt scouting report

Why Georgia has an advantage: Going up against a Georgia defense that has allowed just 18 total points in the first three quarters this season is a tough task for a freshman quarterback on the road. The Commodores have wideout Junior Sherrill but don't have the playmakers to match the Bulldogs.

Why Vanderbilt has an advantage: The Commodores are facing a Georgia offense that had its fewest yards per play in an SEC home game last week since the Auburn game on Oct. 5, 2024 when the Bulldogs also averaged 5.77 yards per play. Gunner Stockton's 118.7 efficiency rating was the second lowest in his 19 college starts ahead of only the Georgia Tech game last season.

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt injury updates

Georgia: Running back Nate Frazier (rib, questionable), wide receiver Isiah Canion (leg, questionable), defensive back Tyriq Green (leg, out), outside linebacker Chase Linton (leg, questionable), offensive lineman Marcus Harrison (undisclosed, out), RB Dante Dowdell (multiple injuries including collarbone, lung and arm, out), outside linebacker Amaris Williams (knee, out).

Vanderbilt: QB Jared Curtis (undisclosed, out), CB Jaylin Lackley (undisclosed, out), LB Jameson Curtis (undisclosed, out), DT Aaron Bryant (undisclosed, out), DT Nikhil Jefferson (undisclosed, out), Edge Miles Capers (leg, probable), OL Clinton Azubuike (undisclosed, probable), OL Lyndon Cooper (undisclosedm probable).

Prediction

Georgia 34, Vanderbilt 10: We've seen enough of these two teams to know that Georgia is a national title contender and Vanderbilt has taken a step back from the last two seasons. The Commodores will be a tough out for some other SEC teams on their schedule, but the Bulldogs shouldn't be one of them. Georgia should be able to control the line of scrimmage and make it a long day for the Commodores.

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt scouting report: What we're watching

Georgia RB Dwight Phillips: The junior says nobody has been able to catch him from behind in the open field. That certainly was the case on his 54-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma. Kirby Smart said Phillips needs more touches. Let's see how he does if he gets a heavier workload after getting 15 carries in four games.

Vanderbilt QB Jared Curtis: Will the former 5-star Georgia commitment show poise in his second college start or be rattled and be mistake-prone? Curtis can scramble his way to first downs and can do damage downfield with accurate throw, but was also sacked four times in the game.

Georgia's tight ends: Georgia leans heavily on its tight ends but not always as pass catching targets. Lawson Luckie, Ethan Barbour and Elyiss Williams combined for 3 catches for 9 yards last week. Do they get more targets or was Talyn Taylor's big game last week with 4 catches and 7 targets a sign of what's to come?

Vanderbilt running game: The Commodores will need to generate more yards from its running backs than it has this season. Vanderbilt is 106th in the nation in rushing at 132.5 yards per game, but Sedrick Alexander rushed for just 13 yards on 11 carries and MK Young had 46 yards on 10 carries at Auburn. Georgia is third in the nation in stopping the run at 50.5 yards per game.

Bold predictions for Georgia football vs Vanderbilt

Georgia wideouts make plays downfield: Talyn Taylor and Craig Dandridge could have an advantage over Vanderbilt cornerbacks Martell Hight and Cayden Daniels. The Commodores have given up 6 touchdown passes and rank 61st in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

Jared Curtis will show flashes of why Georgia wanted him: Jared Curtis is tied for fifth in the SEC with 7 pass completions of 30 or more yards and has five runs of 10 or more yards, one more than Stockton, according to CFBstats.com. His offensive line, however, has been penalty-prone.

Bulldogs keep getting turnovers: Georgia is tied for seventh in the nation with turnovers gained with 9. It had only 13 all of last season. Vanderbilt has turned the ball over 5 times in 4 games. Ellis Robinson seems due to get his first interception after having 4 last season.

Georgia will block a Vanderbilt punt: London Humphreys already blocked a punt this season for Georgia. The Bulldogs will get another against a Vanderbilt team that has had two Tyler Ebel punts blocked this season for touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football vs Vanderbilt scouting report, bold predictions, injury updates