Last meeting: Florida 38, Georgia 20 (2014)
All time series: Georgia, 49-41-2
Time/TV: 3:30pm on CBS (also streaming on CBS Sports app)
Pregame betting line: Florida, 2.5
Summer analysis and prediction: Florida 26, Georgia 20.
What to watch for: Treon Harris gets his second straight start after Will Grier was suspended for a positive PED test. What, exactly, will he do? He was given a minuscule role in last year’s game, going 3-6 for 18 yards and rushing for 21 yards, and other than that, just staying out of the way. But the new (read: real) offense Jim McElwain installed lets the quarterback do more, and Harris showed some real promise in a tight loss to LSU two weeks ago.
Florida key to the game: Lock down in the red zone on defense. Georgia doesn’t have a great offense to begin with, but Sony Michel and Keith Marshall are two solid running backs who are guaranteed to get the Bulldogs some yardage in between the 20’s. But when Georgia does get into the red zone, Florida has to limit the offense’s production to field goals (and turnovers, if possible).
Georgia key to the game: Stop Florida’s rushing attack and dare Treon Harris to beat them through the air. If Harris has success throwing the ball… well, then they’re screwed anyway, because scoring a lot of points on this Florida defense will be a challenge.
Prediction: I’m extremely worried about this game. No, I don’t really see a single matchup that favors Georgia on the field. But history proves that you can throw the teams’ records and X’s and O’s out the window in this rivalry. The 20 year curse is all too real, and it’s apparently the Bulldogs’ turn now. Then again, Florida did win last year. But the team on the bottom of the 20 year see-saw has to win sometimes, as neither team can go on a 20 game winning streak… alright, this is making my head hurt. Enough. Florida struggles mightily for awhile, but recovers in time to beat Georgia and essentially wrap up the SEC East. Florida 24, Georgia 17
