Vanderbilt Commodores at #5 Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, September 22, 2012, 7:45 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia
Opening Line: Georgia -14
Current Line: Georgia -15 1/2
Opening Total: 53
Current Total: 50 1/2
Opening Money Line: Georgia -550 / Vanderbilt +425
Current Money Line: Georgia -700 / Vanderbilt +500
In a series that dates back to 1893, the #5 Georgia Bulldogs host the Vanderbilt Commodores. This is the 73rd meeting between the schools. Georgia leads the series 52-18-2, including 28-7 in Athens. Georgia has won 5 straight in the series and 16 of the last 17, including a 33-28 win last year in Nashville. The game has been decided by 10 points or less in four of the last six years.
Vanderbilt is coached by James Franklin. The Commodores are 1-2 with a home loss to South Carolina 17-13 and a loss at Northwestern 23-13. The Commodores got their first win last week with a 58-0 pasting of Presbyterian. Vanderbilt is averaging 399.7 yards per game, including 208.7 passing yards and 191 rushing yards. On defense, the Commodores are giving up 248.3 total yards per game, including the third ranked pass defense nationally with just 100.7 yards per game and 147.7 rushing yards. The Commodores are outscoring opponents 28-13.3 this season. Vanderbilt is 2-1 ATS and the total is 0-2 this season.
Vanderbilt was a 39.5 point favorite against Presbyterian at home last week, and there was no total. The Commodores were never threatened by the Blue Hose. Vanderbilt took a 27-0 lead at halftime capped off by a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown late in the half. The Commodores would cruise to a 58-0 win. Vanderbilt forced 2 Presbyterian turnovers.
Vanderbilt had 605 total yards including 410 rushing yards. Quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, a Wyoming transfer, started in place of Jordan Rodgers. Carta-Samuels completed 13 of 20 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Running back Zac Stacy had 8 carries for 174 yards and an 86 yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Brian Kimbrow had 14 catches 137 yards and a touchdown. Presbyterian had 149 total yards and 7 first downs.
Rodgers has completed 30 of 56 passes (53.6%) for 431 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception. Franklin hasn’t named his starter for the Georgia game yet, but reports say Carta-Samuels will get the nod. The Commodores could use both quarterbacks against the Bulldogs, or just one. Stacy has 34 carries, 258 yards and a touchdown. Kimbrow has 20 carries, 156 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Matthews has 18 catches for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chris Boyd has 11 catches for 175 yards.
Georgia is 3-0 this season under coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs have home wins over Buffalo 45-23 and Florida Atlantic 56-20 and a road win at Missouri 41-20. Georgia is averaging 517.7 total yards per game, including 295 passing yards and 222.7 rushing yards. On defense, Georgia is allowing 345.3 yards including 200 passing yards and 145.3 rushing yards. The Bulldogs are outscoring opponents 47.3-21 through 3 games. Georgia is 1-2 ATS and all three games have gone over the total.
Georgia was a 41.5 point favorite last week at home against Florida Atlantic, and the total was 52.5. Florida Atlantic tied up the score at 14 early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs scored 42 unanswered points to take control of the game. The Owls returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth but missed the extra point to make it 56-20. Neither team would score for the rest of the game, and FAU got inside the huge number. Georgia had 8 penalties and 4 turnovers. The Bulldogs forced 2 turnovers including a 35 yard pick six in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs had 713 total yards including 328 rushing yards. Quarterback Aaron Murray completed 14 of 19 passes for 342 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception, along with 3 carries for 20 yards and 2 touchdowns. Receiver Michael Bennett had 4 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Arthur Lynch had 3 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall both had over 100 yards rushing and a touchdown. The Owls had 318 total yards including 185 passing yards.
Murray has completed 51 of 80 passes (63.8%) for 842 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, along with the two rushing touchdowns against FAU. Gurley has 28 carries, 276 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Marshall has 32 carries, 182 yards, and a touchdown. Ken Malcome and Christian LeMay will also get significant carries. Bennett has 17 catches, 265 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tavarres King has 10 catches, 211 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Marlon Brown has 11 catches, 150 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Vanderbilt is 5-1 ATS in SEC games, 21-6 in September, 6-2 after gaining more than 450 yards, 8-3 overall, 5-2 on grass, and after allowing less than 170 passing yards, 7-15 after allowing less than 100 rushing yards, 4-9 against teams with winning records, 6-14 after a cover, 7-19 after allowing less than 275 total yards, 4-13 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 2-7 in road games against teams with winning home records, 2-8 in road games, and 0-4 after allowing less than 20 points.
Georgia is 11-1-1 after rushing for more than 200 yards, 5-1 against teams with losing records, 5-1 after passing for 280 yards or more, 4-1 after failing to cover, 3-7 in September, 1-4 overall, and on grass, 0-5 at home, and 0-4 after gaining 450 yards or more. Four of the last five games in this series have gone over the total.
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