It's an SEC showdown on Saturday afternoon as the second-ranked Florida Gators take on the 10th ranked Georgia Bulldogs. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 pm start time and it will be televised nationally on CBS. Currently the odds for the game have Florida favored by a touchdown.
In what used to be called the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs meet on the football field in a game that will be played at Everbank Field, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Maybe we are missing something, but we aren't entirely sure why Florida is favored by a touchdown on a neutral field, even if the game is being played in Florida. This Georgia team might not be the best team in the country, but they are damned good. It's clear they are ranked 10th in the BCS standings for a reason. Currently they are 6-1 overall on the season but sport a 2-5 record against the spread. The Gators, on the other hand, have won all seven games played this season and are an impressive 6-1 against the number.
Florida has a dominating defense and is pretty good offensively. They aren't great offensively, but they are good enough mixed with that swarming defense to put the Gators nearly atop the college football world. This isn't Tim Tebow's Gators. Florida averages 30 points per game offensively and doesn't throw the football much. Why? Because they really don't need to throw the football. Florida ranks 25th in the country at 213 yards rushing per game. Through the air they average just 138 yards per game. Jeff Driskel leads the attack under center. He's thrown just one interception all season. Speaking of interceptions, it's probably worthy to note that Florida sits at +11 in the turnover department this season. That's pretty good.
Georgia has outscored opponents by 15 points per game this season with the Bulldogs' only loss coming at the hands South Carolina, where they were punked by four touchdowns in Columbia. But if there's one opponent (other than South Carolina) that they really don't wanna see, it's Florida. The Bulldogs are just 4-18 in the last 22 meetings with the Gators, but did win last season's game, 24-20. Florida had -19 yards rushing in that game.
Opponents have scored just 12.1 points per game against Florida this year, which is good for fourth nationally. They're also seventh in the country at allowing just 282 total yards per game. Add to that they've won six straight games against the spread. Not bad. Georgia clearly was looking ahead to this game last week, barely beating Kentucky by 5 points when the Bulldogs were favored by nearly four touchdowns. They've dropped three straight ATS.
Georgia QB Andy Murray is legit and it probably the best quarterback the Gators have seen this season. He's thrown for 16 touchdowns this season, but will he be able to get past the Gator defense and into the end zone? Oddsmakers believe it's going to be tough for the Bulldogs.
Two things worth noting — all six of Florida's covers this season have come in SEC play. Georgia has struggled as an underdog the last three seasons as well, losing all eight games against the spread.
This is going to be a close game, in our opinion. Getting a touchdown seems like a lot for Georgia, who should and will be able to move the football in this one. Surprisingly enough, the Bulldogs have been able to run the football effectively this season. If they are able to move it downfield on Florida, they're going to cover the spread, there's no doubt about that.
Free Pick: Florida 24, Georgia 21
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