Georgia Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Florida in Week 9
Here’s the Week 8 preview and prediction for Saturday’s massive SEC rivalry game between Florida and Georgia football.
This preview might be a bit longer than these pieces tend to run, but as this game has national title implications it is more important than it was earlier in the season.
I predicted earlier this year that Georgia was on an express freight train to win the SEC East. Georgia has looked amazing thus far, but this is Georgia, who has an unfortunate penchant to literally drop the ball at the most inopportune moments.
In addition, for the more superstitious among you, it’s also Halloween season. It’s fitting that this game, with its trend of emotionally-driven upsets, takes place annually near the witching hour. It has seemed that Georgia’s past games in this series have been cursed in some way.
Georgia has a marked tendency to stumble and there is stlll a lot of football left to play. Outside of in-state rival Georgia Tech, no other game this season will present the challenge that this game will. Florida will be trying to keep their SEC East hopes alive and Georgia has their eye on a national title berth. If you watch only one game this Saturday, make it this one.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Georgia vs. Florida game:
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Jacksonville, Fla.
Venue: EverBank Field, Memorial Stadium
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS Sports
Keys to Victory
Georgia is walking into this game with a perfect record, but past history has shown that records and talent mean nothing in this rivalry.
Case in point, in 2012, the Bulldogs toppled the No. 2 Gators 17-9. In 2002, Georgia entered the game 8-0 and ranked 4th in the country. Florida was unimpressive that year, to say the least. The Gators had Ron Zook at the helm — enough said. Despite the ‘Dawgs impressive record and superior talent, the 2002 game was a nerve-wracking slugfest that culminated with a 20-13 Gator victory.
This game is always about history and emotions and decades of outright hostility. In this history, UGA has been the loser in recent years. The ‘Dawgs have lost the last three games in this series, but this may be the year that they break that streak. Georgia has the talent to do so, having disposed handily of its last four SEC rivals with an average score of 43-11.
Betting Odds
Odds via SportsBook Review
Point Spread: Georgia -12.5
Over/Under: 44
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Prediction
Smart money is on the Bulldogs on Saturday. On paper, the Bulldogs should take this one, but when emotions are on the line logic goes out the window. This game is going to be far closer than Kirby Smart and company would like. So yes, I will give the edge to Georgia, but I expect Florida to cover the spread. In this tense, combustible SEC battle talent often doesn’t matter. This one will go to the ‘Dawgs, but it’s going to be tight.
Final Score: Georgia 20, Florida 17