The Morning Five: Five Key Numbers For Georgia vs. Arkansas

Welcome to the Morning Five, a brief rundown of a few of the numbers that will shape the outcome of Georgia’s upcoming SEC opener against the Arkansas Razorbacks. We’re still at the point in the season at which the sample size is too small to draw any real conclusions. These are less reliable statistics and more discussion points. Nevertheless, there are a few data points that may prove instructive, like…

1. Zero. That’s the number of Razorbacks fans who will be in attendance if some Arkansas folks have their way. Ryan Silverfield was not an overwhelmingly popular hire in Fayetteville, and it appears a closer-than-expected win over North Alabama and a beating at the hands of the Utah Utes haven’t endeared he or athletic director Hunter Yurasek to some Hawgs.
2. 12.70. That’s how many yards per carry Nate Frazier is currently averaging on the ground. Clearly this weekend brings a step up in competition, but this also feels like one of those games where Kirby could build a 24-0 lead on somebody and then just decide to slowly suffocate them by running it left, right, and up the middle 12 plays in a row. I could see an 18 carry, 120 yard day from Nate the Great.
3. 90.0 That’s the number of rushing yards per game given up through two contests by the Hawgs, 40 to North Alabama and 140 to Utah. Again, small sample size, but those are not awful numbers. And the 3.33 yards per carry they’re currently surrendering is grossly respectable, if not necessarily outstanding.
4. 37. That’s the number of points the Bulldogs have scored in each of their last two meetings with the Arkansans, a 37-0 win by the ‘‘Dawgs in Athens in 2021 and. a 37-10 victory over the ‘Hawgs in Fayetteville in 2020. I expect the Bulldogs to score about the same number this time out. My score prediction remains 34-20 Georgia, with the Razorbacks scoring in the 4th quarter to make it look closer than it really will be.
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   5. 900. That’s the number of miles per hour Ryan Silverfield quipped last year that a Georgia wide receiver was arrested for driving. He says he’s apologized, Kirby says it’s all forgotten. I tend to think that Kirby doesn’t want to be seen to be publicly sticking up for players pinched for reckless driving. Because reckless driving is dangerous and bad and neither you nor a blue chip football player should ever do it. But privately I’m not certain there won’t be a little extra juice from the Bulldogs, because Kirby also loves mining every available avenue motivation.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!