Vanderbilt Commodores at Georgia Bulldogs

Injuries noted

Vanderbilt Commodores: Jaylin Lackey (out) — Cornerback ruled out against Georgia; condition undisclosed.; Jamison Curtis (out) — Linebacker ruled out against Georgia; condition undisclosed.; Aaron Bryant (out) — Defensive lineman ruled out against Georgia; condition unspecified in the cited game report.; Nikhil Jefferson (out) — Defensive lineman ruled out against Georgia; condition undisclosed.; Jared Curtis (game-time decision) — Freshman starting quarterback has an undisclosed injury. Limited in practice all week; completed Friday's walkthrough without issue. Final participation decision follows a pregame evaluation.; Miles Capers (probable) — Edge defender listed probable against Georgia; leg injury reported.; Lyndon Cooper (probable) — Offensive lineman listed probable against Georgia; condition unspecified.; Clinton Azubuike (probable) — Offensive lineman listed probable against Georgia; condition unspecified.

Georgia Bulldogs: Amaris Williams (out) — Outside linebacker ruled out against Vanderbilt; knee injury reported.; Tyriq Green (out) — Safety ruled out against Vanderbilt; leg injury reported.; Marcus Harrison (out) — Offensive lineman ruled out against Vanderbilt; condition undisclosed.; Nate Frazier (questionable) — Running back remains questionable in October 3 reporting; ribs injury reported.; Isiah Canion (questionable) — Wide receiver remains questionable in October 3 reporting; leg injury reported.; Chase Linton (probable) — Outside linebacker upgraded from questionable to probable in October 3 reporting; earlier reporting identifies a leg injury.

QUARTERBACK

• Jared Curtis is VAN's projected starter

  7.61 Y/A

  Jared Curtis is VAN's projected starting quarterback. Lea identifies Curtis as Vanderbilt's starting quarterback. October 2 reporting attributed to ESPN's Pete Thamel says he will attempt to play, with availability decided after a pregame evaluation. His October 3 start remains contingent. 2026 line: 746 passing yards, 64.3% completions, 7.61 yards per attempt, 4-3 TD-INT over 4 games.

• Gunner Stockton is UGA's projected starter

  10.77 Y/A

  Gunner Stockton is UGA's projected starting quarterback. Georgia's September 28 game preview establishes Stockton as the incumbent starter and Ryan Puglisi as his first backup. A final October 3 starting lineup was not verified. 2026 line: 754 passing yards, 74.3% completions, 10.77 yards per attempt, 10-1 TD-INT over 4 games.

TRENCHES

• UGA: 50.3 rushing yards allowed per game to VAN's 116.3

  66 YPG

  Georgia allows 50.3 rushing yards a game over four games, and Vanderbilt allows 116.3 over four. Georgia's front shuts down the run, and Vanderbilt's is roughly average. The sheet does not say who Georgia played, so some of that could be schedule, but 50.3 a game is a strong mark. At home, Georgia's run defense could push Vanderbilt into throwing, which matters for Vanderbilt's rushing props and how the game script plays out.

PACE & SCRIPT

• UGA: 54.8 points per game to VAN's 28.3

  26.5 PPG

  Georgia is scoring 54.8 a game through 4 games, a big jump from 32.1 last season, so expect that to come down. Vanderbilt is at 28.3, below its 38.5 from last season. The gap is real in direction, but Georgia's scoring pace is the number most likely to move toward its usual level.

• VAN: 31:33 time of possession per game to UGA's 20:16

  11:17 TOP

  Vanderbilt holds the ball over 11 minutes longer per game than Georgia this season, and its 31:33 matches its 31:18 from last season. Georgia's 20:16 is a sharp break from its 33:53 last season, which fits an offense scoring quickly through 4 games. Vanderbilt wants long drives to shorten the game, and a bettor should weigh how well that style holds up against a Georgia offense that doesn't need the clock.

• UGA: 13.3 points allowed per game to VAN's 21.8

  8.5 PPG

  VAN is at 21.8 points allowed per game over 4 games; UGA is at 13.3 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 2. Last season VAN was at 22.8 over 13 games and UGA at 17.6 over 14 games.

TURNOVERS

• UGA: 2.25 takeaways per game to VAN's 1.25

  1 TO

  Georgia's defense is taking the ball away more than twice a game, compared with about once for Vanderbilt. Turnovers come in bunches, so four games is not enough to say this rate sticks. At home, Georgia's extra possessions add to an existing edge, but the size of that edge should be expected to shrink.

MISMATCH

• VAN: 31:33 of possession a game to UGA's 20:16

  31:33 VS 20:16

  Vanderbilt is holding the ball 31:33 a game over 4 games, right in line with 31:18 last season, while Georgia has dropped to 20:16 from 33:53 last season. Vandy's number looks like a stable style, and Georgia's drop is a big swing that may reflect quick scores as much as trouble. Georgia at home can live with less possession if it is scoring fast, so watch whether Vandy turns long drives into points.

REPLACEMENT

• Jamison Curtis (LB) is out for VAN

  OUT

  Linebacker ruled out against Georgia; condition undisclosed. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02)

• Jaylin Lackey (CB) is out for VAN

  OUT

  Cornerback ruled out against Georgia; condition undisclosed. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02) SEC Availability Report | Latest on Georgia's Nate Frazier, Isiah Canion for Vanderbilt — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (2026-10-01)

• Aaron Bryant (DL) is out for VAN

  OUT

  Defensive lineman ruled out against Georgia; condition unspecified in the cited game report. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02)

• Nikhil Jefferson (DL) is out for VAN

  OUT

  Defensive lineman ruled out against Georgia; condition undisclosed. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02) SEC Availability Report | Latest on Georgia's Nate Frazier, Isiah Canion for Vanderbilt — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (2026-10-01)

• Amaris Williams (LB) is out for UGA

  OUT

  Outside linebacker ruled out against Vanderbilt; knee injury reported. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02) SEC Availability Report | Latest on Georgia's Nate Frazier, Isiah Canion for Vanderbilt — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (2026-10-01)

• Tyriq Green (S) is out for UGA

  OUT

  Safety ruled out against Vanderbilt; leg injury reported. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02) SEC Availability Report | Latest on Georgia's Nate Frazier, Isiah Canion for Vanderbilt — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (2026-10-01)

• Marcus Harrison (OL) is out for UGA

  OUT

  Offensive lineman ruled out against Vanderbilt; condition undisclosed. 5 things: Vanderbilt defensive ‘wall’ plans to stop Georgia run game (2026-10-02) SEC Availability Report | Latest on Georgia's Nate Frazier, Isiah Canion for Vanderbilt — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (2026-10-01)

SITUATIONAL

• VAN: 3.5 fourth-down attempts per game to UGA's 0.75

  2.75 ATT/G

  VAN is at 3.5 fourth-down attempts per game over 4 games; UGA is at 0.75 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 2. Last season VAN was at 1.38 over 13 games and UGA at 1.43 over 14 games.

TEAM RECORD

• SEC game: VAN 0-1, UGA 2-0 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the SEC. VAN is 0-1 against it, UGA is 2-0. 2026 standings through 2026-10-03.

AFTER GARY

• VAN +24.5 → +26.5

  NOW +2

  Gary's number was 24.5; the same book now shows 26.5.