No. 2 Georgia got back on track in a significant way two weeks ago in a 30-15 victory at then-No. 1 Texas. Now, the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) are tasked with maintaining their positive momentum after a bye week as they take on rival Florida (4-3, 2-2) in a game with massive implications for both.
The Gators are also coming off a bye after a 48-20 beatdown of Kentucky in which freshman quarterback DJ Lagway impressed with both his arm and legs. It was the most complete performance of the season for the Gators, who have been markedly better after a sluggish 1-2 start.
Since starting quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury in an overtime loss at Tennessee on Oct. 12, Lagway has taken over the full-time job. The early returns were magnificent against the Wildcats as he needed just seven completions to amass 259 yards passing. However, playing Georgia marks a significant uptick in competition after the Bulldogs were ruthless defensively in their convincing win over the Longhorns.
Georgia has won the last three games in this series, all in convincing fashion. How the Dawgs get it done Saturday is irrelevant. But with even bigger tests against Ole Miss and Tennessee looming in November, a victory is essential for UGA as it seeks to maintain the championship-caliber play it showed against Texas. At +340, the Bulldogs are currently the betting favorite to win the national title, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
Georgia vs. Florida: Need to know
Beck’s blemishes: Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has thrown eight interceptions over Georgia’s past four games, which is two more than he threw all of last season. The Bulldogs have twice finished with under 300 yards of total offense after never finishing with fewer than 300 yards in any game during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. The Dawgs have been electric in spurts, but their offensive production on the whole has been inconsistent. It’s not all Beck’s fault, but his recent imprecision is a concerning issue that needs to be rectified if UGA is going to reach its potential.
Napier’s hot seat: Third-year Florida coach Billy Napier started the season on the hot seat. That heat only intensified following a 1-2 start marked by double-digit home losses against Miami and Texas A&M. But the Gators have won three of their past four games, and the only loss was an overtime defeat at Tennessee after starting quarterback Graham Mertz and top running back Montrell Johnson were each knocked out of the game with injuries. Are the Gators making the sort of on-field strides needed to buy Napier another year? Showing it here would go a long way toward stabilizing the program.
Familiar foe: Florida is a familiar foe for Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, who totaled 1,472 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on the ground while spending his first two seasons with the Gators. Etienne’s decision to transfer to a rival program after playing a pivotal role for Florida was a shock, but he’s made the most of it. After splitting carries with Montrell Johnson at UF, he’s been Georgia’s top back, leading the Bulldogs in rushing with 422 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s added another 20 receptions, which is just one off his career high.
How to watch Georgia vs. Florida live
Date: Saturday, Nov. 2 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: EverBank Stadium — Jacksonville, Florida
TV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
Georgia vs. Florida prediction, picks
All three of Florida’s losses have come against teams currently ranked in the top 10 that are a combined 21-2. The Gators now get a fourth crack at a team in that stratosphere, and there is mounting evidence suggesting they can compete. The Gators have won three of their last four games — all against Power Four competition — by an average of 18.7 points. The only loss in that stretch was an overtime defeat at Tennessee. Though they were written off after a poor start, the Gators have a pulse and can make this a competitive game against a team that has been inconsistent. If sports betting apps are willing to give you the Gators and two-plus touchdowns, take them. Pick: Florida +16
All odds via Caesars Sportsbook. Check out the latest Caesars promo code to get in the game.
SportsLine’s proven computer model is calling for five outright upsets in Week 10 of college football. Visit SportsLine now to see them all, plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times.
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