The Bulldogs went 11-3 last season, winning seven times and losing just once against conference opponents on their way to the SEC championship game, which they lost to Alabama 35-28.
The defeat came less than a year after the Bulldogs lost to the Crimson Tide in the national title game, a result compounded by a 28-21 loss to Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
Despite the disappointing end to last season, there are plenty of reasons for Bulldogs fans to be optimistic. Jake Fromm is back under center after an excellent freshman campaign, in which he threw for 2,761 yards for 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Fromm is yet to lose a game at home and will be pivotal to the Bulldogs’ hopes of success this year along with D’Andre Swift, who rushed for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Georgia, who enters the season as the No. 3 ranked team in the country, has lost its three top receivers from last year but welcomed back linebackers Monty Rice, Tae Crowder and Nolan Smith.
The Bulldogs ranked 16th and 13th in the FBS last season in terms of points per game and yards conceded per game last season, with 18.5 points and 311 yards respectively, and coach Kirby Smart will be looking for improvements.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, ranked 81st in terms of points conceded, allowing 25.1 points per game. Defense could again be its Achilles heel after losing four of its top five tacklers from last season.
The prospects are more encouraging on the offensive side of the ball, where Riley Neal is expected to replace Kyle Shurmur at quarterback after transferring from Ball State, with Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney set to lead the receiving corps.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn is also among the players returning for another season, after rushing 1,244 yards and 12 touchdowns last year.
The Commodores went 6-7 last season with a 3-5 record against SEC opponents to finish sixth in the SEC East division, before losing the Texas Bowl 45-38 to Baylor.
A season of consolidation is the target but opening games don’t come much harder than a matchup against the Bulldogs.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday.
When and where is the game?
The Vanderbilt Commodores host the Georgia Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, August 31.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET)
TV coverage
The game will be broadcast nationally by SEC Network.
Live stream
A live stream will be available via SEC Network’s digital platforms, as well as via fuboTV.
Series record
Saturday’s encounter will be the 80th meeting between the two SEC rivals, who they first faced each other in 1893.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with 57 wins to the Commodores’ 20 and have won 10 of the last 12 meetings, including the most recent two.
Vanderbilt last beat Georgia in October 2016 and its last four defeats against the Bulldogs have come by an average of 25.7 points.
Odds
According to Oddschecker, Georgia is a 22-point favorite and is 91/100 to win and cover the spread, while Vanderbilt is a 37/4 outsider.
The over/under bar in terms of total points scored is set at 50.5.
