Good Friday afternoon, Dawg fans!! Another glorious weekend of college football is just around the corner as we head into the final stretch of the season. The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off a much-needed bye week after their thrilling 43–35 win over the Ole Miss Rebels. The Dawgs are now making their way down to Jacksonville to take on the Florida Gators. The Gators are also coming off a bye week, one that was far more chaotic than Georgia’s as they parted ways with Head Coach Billy Napier following their 23–21 win over Mississippi State. Georgia enters this one as a 7.5-point favorite and is now ranked fifth in the country with a 6–1 record. Meanwhile, the Gators sit at 3–4, looking to finish the back half of their season on a positive note. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 3:45 p.m. and will be televised on ABC, with coverage beginning at 3:30.
Alright, let’s get into it. While these two teams’ records tell very different stories, it’s worth noting that both rosters are filled with talent. The key things I’ll be watching for in this matchup are Georgia’s ability to continue its offensive success against a quality Florida defense and whether the Dawgs’ defense can keep D.J. Lagway from having one of his better performances of the season.
The Dawgs’ offense put together its best performance of the season a couple of weeks ago against Ole Miss. Gunner Stockton was lights out both on the ground and through the air, accounting for 348 total yards and five touchdowns. The Georgia backfield added another 162 rushing yards as the offensive line created lanes all game long. Georgia will look to replicate that kind of production this week against a Florida defense that allows an average of 20 points per game, 24 against SEC opponents, and 14.7 against non-conference teams. The Gators have the athletes to keep up with Georgia’s offense and will likely make it a priority to pressure Gunner Stockton early to get him uncomfortable.
That said, if Mike Bobo continues to dial up plays to push the ball downfield, the Dawgs should have no trouble putting up points. It’s worth noting that Georgia will be without wide receiver Colbie Young for the rest of the season after he suffered a leg injury against Ole Miss. Look for Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas to step up in the vertical threat role and see more targets and receptions, as he has been relatively quiet this season.
Now, let’s talk about whether the Dawgs’ defense can limit D.J. Lagway. Georgia made some crucial stops late in the Ole Miss game, but up until that point, the defense struggled mightily. The Rebels’ offense moved the ball with ease, scoring five times on eight total drives. The Dawgs cannot afford a repeat performance, especially against a quarterback as talented as Lagway. While Lagway has had an inconsistent season, with a 9:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio, he still possesses the physical tools and natural talent to do real damage if given time in the pocket. If Georgia’s defense can pressure him consistently, he’s likely to make mistakes. However, if he gets time to throw, expect him to take deep shots downfield and test Georgia’s secondary, which has struggled at times, particularly in the first half of games.
Prediction
UGA 34 – Florida 20
This could easily be viewed as a potential trap game for the Dawgs. We often see teams perform better immediately after firing their head coach, and sometimes even pull off an upset. Do I think that will happen with Florida tomorrow? No, but Georgia must be prepared for that possibility. You never know if the Gators suddenly find their rhythm.
For Georgia, this game is an opportunity to show they’re peaking at the right time. Will the Dawgs start playing their best football on all sides of the ball and prove themselves as a legitimate national title contender? Or will inconsistency continue to linger into the back half of the season? We’ll find out soon enough. Have a great rest of your Friday and enjoy your weekend. As always, GO DAWGS!
