The Last Time: Georgia vs. Mississippi State

Who knew before the season that we'd get to see a ranked-vs-ranked matchup this year in Sanford Stadium?

And if we did, who would've guessed it would be Mississippi State?

"Just wait 'til you see my third down defense!" Mississippi State defensive coordinator Todd Grantham probably said.

Hi.

It's another week of Bulldogs facing Bulldogs, but this one, as we like to say in the SEC, just means more.

Both teams come into this game undefeated, with Georgia owning dub-yas over Appalachian State, Notre Dame and Samford. The Maroon Bulldogs likewise have two fluffy wins and one potentially real one, knocking off Charleston Southern, Louisiana Tech (on the road?!) and LSU.

But you knew that already. You came here for the history-type stuff.

Let's belly flop in.

The last time...

1) These teams met:

Back in the sunny year of 2011, the Other Bulldogs came to town looking to win two in a row over the Real Bulldogs.

They didn't.

Grantham, then wearing a lighter shade of red, guided the defense to a near shutout, with Mississippi State's only points coming on a field goal and pick-6.

Georgia won 24-10 behind 104 rushing yards and probably an injury from Isaiah Crowell and a pair of touchdown passes from Aaron Murray.

2) Georgia lost a night game:

Maybe there's something to all the whining and moaning about noon kickoffs after all.

The Dawgs haven't lost a night game (kicking off after 6 p.m.) since the opener at Clemson in 2013, when Murray was out-dueled by Tajh Boyd 38-35 in a game that kicked off at 8 p.m.

#FireMikeBobo

Since that fateful, depressing night, Georgia is 11-0 in games that kick off at 6 p.m. or later.

And, in case you're wondering, the Bulldogs' record at noon is 14-6 over that same stretch.

#FireNoonKickoffs

BONUS: Georgia lost a home night game:

We have to dive even further back for this one: 2009.

In the final home game of the season — a 7:45 kickoff against Kentucky — the Dawgs blew a 20-6 halftime lead, losing 34-27.

Since then, Georgia is 10-0 in home night games.

#FireTheSun

3) Mississippi State won six games in a row:

The Cow Bells are currently riding a five-game winning streak, dating back to last season, and a win Saturday would be their first six-game winning streak since a 12-game explosion across the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Dan Mullen's crew closed out 2013 with three straight wins, including overtime victories over Arkansas and Ole Miss and a 44-7 beatdown of Rice in the Liberty Bowl.

Fast forward to 2014, when the Bulldogs started an ascent, reeling off nine straight wins to open the season, pushing up to No. 1 in the polls, a spot they held for nearly a month.

Then State lost three of their last four games, and never totally recovered.

4) Georgia beat two ranked opponents in September:

The Dawgs already own a win over No. 24 Notre Dame, and have a chance to add another notch to their belts against No. 17 Mississippi State.

It would be the first time since ... the Grantham era.

In the beginning of the end of the Mark Richt era 2013 Georgia knocked off a pair of Top 10 teams in September, including a 41-30 win over South Carolina and a 44-41 win over LSU.

But yes, the guy behind me at a game one time, Murray was definitely the problem.

BONUS: Mississippi State beat two ranked opponents in September:

Let's go ahead and turn this stat right around and see how it applies to the Other Bulldogs.

Hang on, I'm going to go look it up.

(Pause)

Still checking.

(Longer Pause)

Sorry, this is taking longer than I thought.

(Off in the distance: "There can be only one.")

Hold on, almost got it.

(Starting off screen, Kirby Smart and Dan Mullen start a visor-turned-light saber fight that slowly works its way across screen to center stage.)

Just a little bit more, I think I'm close!

(Smart has acquired both visors, and — eyes now glowing yellow as he channels the dark side of the force — pulls Mullen to the top turn buckle for a finishing suplex to be followed by Stone Cold Stunner.)

Ah I found it!

(Smart and Mullen stop, climb down, put the wrong visors on, and sprint to the front stage, reading this fact over my shoulder.)

Never.

Next question.

5) Mississippi State won in Athens:

The Marooners have only won six of the 23 meetings between these schools, and they haven't won a road game in the series since 1956.

The West Dogs won 19-7 that year.

Since then they've played Between the Hedges nine times, and they've lost every time.

6) Jim Chaney coached against Todd Grantham:

Did you know these guys have actually coached against each other a number of times? It's a mixed bag in terms of whose unit was better, though.

The most recent meeting was in 2015, when Chaney's Pitt Panthers clobbered Grantham's Louisville Cardinals to the tune of 45 points and 476 yards.

The Panthers won 45-34.

In case you're wondering, here's how Chaney's offense has fared against Grantham's defense. (Chaney's team marked with *)

A quick note: I only included the years when both guys were either coordinators or assistant head coaches. I did not include any NFL meetings.

7) An SEC West team won in Athens, and didn't go on to win the National Championship:

The last SEC West team to win a game in Athens was Alabama in 2015, which went on to win the SEC and National Championship.

Fun fact: That team is the only West team to win in Athens since Arkansas came to town in 2010 and won thanks to a major lapse by ... Grantham's defense.

Ryan Mallett tossed a 40-yard touchdown on a blown coverage with 14 second remaining to cap off a 31-24 win — a game that saw the Bulldogs overcome a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie it up.

Another fun fact: Since that loss in 2010, the SEC West is a paltry 1-6 when it plays Between the Hedges.

8) Georgia freshmen scored three touchdowns:

Against Samford, the Dawgs scored twice via the rookies, with Mecole Hardman hauling in the game's first touchdown and D'Andre Swift punching in Georgia's final score of a 42-14 victory.

But let's take it up a notch and see how long it's been since three touchdowns were scored by freshmen.

And hey look! It happened against Grantham!

In the 2014 Belk Bowl, a couple of Bull-pups combined for three of Georgia's four scores. Nick Chubb tore through the Louisville defense for 266 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow freshman Sony Michel tacked on 33 yards and a score of his own.

The Dawgs won 37-14.

9) Mississippi State beat a ranked opponent on the road:

They need more cow bell.

Why?

Because the Other Bulldogs haven't beaten a ranked team on the road since 2014, when they knocked off LSU 34-29 in Baton Rouge.

Since then, Mississippi State is 0-5 against ranked foes on the road.

10) Georgia went undefeated at home:

During the off-season I posited the notion that Appalachian State might be the best team to come to Athens in 2017.

Turns out it might be the Maroon Bulldogs. Or perhaps South Carolina or Kentucky. Only time will tell.

Either way, if the Dawgs are going to have a special season, it'll start with defending the home turf.

If Georgia wins 'em all at home — and Saturday's game would go a long way toward meeting that goal — it would mark the first time since another special season (that ultimately fell just short): 2012.

That year, the Dawgs only regular season loss — I refuse to acknowledge the game immediately following the regular season! — was on the road against South Carolina.

The home slate saw a perfect 7-0 record.

***

Hey, aren't you proud of me for going an entire column without a "the Bulldogs are gonna win!" joke?

Ah, crap.

Sorry.

Anyway, I'm still a bit baffled by this game. I could see Georgia getting after Nick Fitzgerald and riding the defense to a win.

I could also see Fitzgerald catching fire and forcing Jake Fromm to best him in a shootout.

Either way, I have a feeling Sanford is going to be rockin'. Enjoy it.