Pregame blog

12:14 a.m.: Uga is officially on the job

The collar has been passed. A few minutes ago, as Uga was carted onto the field, the fans stood and cheered. A short time later UGA president Michael Adams took the collar off Russ and placed it on Big Bad Bruce - now officially known as Uga VIII.

The new Uga was escorted around midfield and then to his doghouse on the other side of the field. The bulldog had some spunk in him, and seemed pumped for the occasion. I say this as a dog-owner who looks way too much into these things.

So the unveiling is done, but not the hype. Uga's doghouse is still surrounded by photographers and camera-wielding people. I can't tell from here how he's handling it now, but I'm sure he's doing fine.

OK, football time.

11:53 a.m.

Georgia just announced that the game is indeed a sellout. That makes it 61 in a row, a streak that began with Mark Richt's first year.

Meantime, Georgia's running backs are going through catching drills, with suspended Caleb King acting as a defender.

11:47 a.m.

Based on the pregame stretch line, no surprises in Georgia's starting unit. Hey, when you're coming off a convincing win, there's finally no reason to tinker anymore.

We're about to watch Carlton Thomas test his hamstring in warmups.

Also, outside the stadium Georgia's 60-game sellout streak is on the line, as less than 200 tickets remain, a little more than a half-hour before kickoff.

11:05 a.m.

A few notes from the Dawg Walk (at least the version we see from the press box:

- Carlton Thomas is suited up, so he apparently will test his hamstring in warmups. If he can play, I wouldn't expect Ken Malcome to play today.

- Nick Williams, also dealing with a hamstring, is not dressed out. The safety-linebacker hurt his hamstring during last week's Tennessee game.

- Other injured players who are suited up: WR Marlon Brown (shoulder), OLB Cornelius Washington (concussion) and LB Richard Samuel (knee). Samuel has yet to play this year.

I asked Mark Richt this week if Samuel could be a candidate to play some tailback, but Richt said Samuel has been too hurt to even practice. (I don't think this means he'll get carries this week, but the Bulldogs have become so unpredictable with injury updates this year that I can't rule it out.)

- The suspended Caleb King is on the field in his jersey, wearing a cap.

10:50 a.m.

You are looking live at Sanford Stadium, on a cool but beautiful morning in Athens. Well I'm looking live at it.

In any event, Vanderbilt's players are on the field getting the lay of the land, and probably freezing their biceps off in sleeveless gray shirts.

The Dawg Walk is proceeding as I type, and a few minutes before kickoff we will have the "collaring" of Uga VIII.

A few pregame notes to give you your fix:

- Georgia is a 14-point favorite.

- Vanderbilt is looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since it won the 2009 season opener, to follow up a win in the Music City Bowl.

- The Commodores have 22 players from the state of Georgia, including eight starters. They include cornerback Casey Hayward (Perry) who will most likely be defending A.J. Green, punter Richard Kent (Marietta) and star tailback Warren Norman (Stone Mountain).

- We'll be on injury watch for both teams during warmups: Georgia tailback Carlton Thomas (hamstring) is probable, and his status should dictate whether freshman Ken Malcome plays; Vanderbilt is looking to get back its leading defensive player, Chris Marve, who had his knee scoped two weeks ago.