Talk about a scenario that not many people predicted before the season. The biggest game in the SEC East comes Saturday when No. 12 Missouri goes on the road to face No. 2 Georgia. The month of November is underway and the home stretch of the College Football Playoff race is here. With a win over the Tigers, the division will more or less belong to the Bulldogs again as they hold a two-game lead. Meanwhile, Missouri would tie with UGA and win the head-to-head tiebreaker if it was able to pull off the upset.
The Bulldogs defeated rival Florida 43-20 last week, extending their winning streak to 25 games. Quarterback Carson Beck had a solid performance in Georgia’s first full game without star tight end Brock Bowers, who had ankle surgery two weeks ago. The defense was all over Florida’s offensive line early on, allowing the Dawgs to pull away and never look back.
The Tigers were missing last week, which makes this game even more exciting. Brady Cook and Luther Burden III have developed into one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the country, and there is no doubt that coach Eli Drinkwitz used the off week to develop a unique game plan for the undefeated Bulldogs
Let’s break down the match and make our picks for the big game between the Hedges.
Follow along LIVE updates as Georgia takes on Missouri
How to watch Georgia vs. Missouri live
Date: Saturday November 4th | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia
TV: CBS | Live broadcast: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
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Georgia vs. Missouri: What you need to know
It’s all on Cook: The junior signal-caller is third nationally in completion percentage on passes of 15 or more air yards without being pressured at 59.6%, trailing only LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy. What’s interesting is that Georgia has struggled mightily in the sack department – which is a 180-degree turn from previous seasons. The Dawgs average just two sacks per game, ranking ninth in the conference. Coaches always talk about explosive plays determining the outcome of a game. If Cook can hit a few through the air, it will go a long way toward potentially pulling off an upset at Mizzou.
The development of Beck: The first-year starter has surpassed the 300-yard passing mark in four of Georgia’s last five games, including last week when he threw for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an average of 11.3 yards per attempt. Coach Kirby Smart and coordinator Mike Bobo have done a fantastic job integrating him into the lineup and making him the focal point of the offense. This is a huge stage for Beck. The eyes of the college football world will be on this matchup, and if he continues his recent tears, he could be in the mix as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
“He is smart. He understands the game,” Smart said. “He played a lot of snaps. He is more experienced than one would give him credit for; He had a lot of that when he got here. He didn’t just develop it further. I mean, he was a good quarterback. He had great behavior comes to the fore. He has all the attributes of a man who can win games with his arm, his mind and, if necessary, his feet. And he did it well and the goal is to continue to improve. “
Cody Schraders big day? There aren’t many people outside of the SEC who have been paying attention to the star running back for the Tigers, but that could change on Saturday. Schrader is second in the SEC with 100.88 yards per game and had a fantastic performance against South Carolina, where he rushed for a career-high 159 yards and two touchdowns. Smart knows his Bulldogs will need to keep an eye on Schrader, even as the Tigers’ passing attack takes the spotlight.
“Toughness. Just incredible toughness. He doesn’t let the first man attack him,” Smart said of Schrader. “He’s a different guy who looks like he’s always been there. I feel like I’ve always seen this kid play for them and people bounce off him when he meets them. He plays on special teams. He embodies what a… football player should be and what a football player committed to his university. I mean, he had games early in his career where he was the star, then he wasn’t, then he was, then he wasn’t. He stayed on course and was extremely physically active.
Georgia vs. Missouri Prediction, Tips
SportsLine consensus odds
Georgia will take the win, but the trend is your friend if you invest in this one. The Bulldogs have a 2-4-1 record in games against FBS opponents this season, while the Tigers have a 5-2 record in their FBS matchups. Smart knows exactly how dangerous the Tigers’ offense is. So expect Dawgs’ running back Daijun Edwards to handle the ball a lot to keep Cook on the sideline. Limited possession results in a game that, while not particularly competitive, is reasonably close on the scoreboard. Therefore, the Tigers should cover, but not win. Pick: Missouri +15.5
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