Time: 7:30 PM EST, Saturday, Sept 15
Spread: GEO -41.5
Total: 52
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Florida Atlantic has never faced Georgia, and enters the game as 41.5 point underdogs according to college football oddsmakers. The Owls are 0-9 all-time against top 25 opponents. Their opponent, Georgia, has won 30 of their last 31 against non-conference teams.
Last year, the Owls went 1-11 and lost all of their Sun Belt conference games. Their lone win came against UAB, and they won by only a field goal. So, in some ways, this year could already be considered a success after winning their opening night game against Wagner, 7-3. Last week was another blowout loss for the Owls though, as they dropped to Middle Tennesee by two TDs.
QB Graham Wilbert has a high rating of 171.8 and its largely due to his 77.8% completion ratio, as he’s connected on 35 of 45 passes for 386 yards. Last year, as a sophomore, he threw for 1,459 yards, with a 52.4% completion ratio. His improvement could be the key to the Owls besting last year’s one win season. Athlon magazine predicts two wins for the Owls this year. They’ll take improvement as it comes.
GEORGIA
From my season preview on the Bulldogs:
Last year, the Bulldogs ranked 2nd in the SEC in passing yardage with 224.5 per game. It ranked 48th in the nation, and QB Aaron Murray is entering his third season at QB. He already has set some Bulldog records and has a lot of good passing options to aid his cause, even with Orson Charles having headed to the NFL and the likelihood that Malcolm Mitchell plays both ways and thus less offense.
Senior Tavarres King had 47 receptions for 705 yards last year, and should lead the way this year, too.
RBs were inconsistent and shaky last season, and the dismissal of Isaiah Crowell was a scare that may not even matter in the end, because the Bulldogs have some other options this year. Both freshman Todd Gurley and Ketih Marshall have impressed so far, and sophomore Ken Malcome will likely start in the opener with Richard Samuel playing TB and FB.
Blocking, however, may be an issue for the ‘Dogs. They lost three seniors from the DL and have no returning seniors up front. They have a lot of expectations for freshman John Theus, who was a top recruit in the nation. Last year, the blocking wasn’t great either, but it must improve if they are going to overtake LSU and win the SEC.
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Murray has completed 37 of 61 passes for 500 yards and six TDs in the Bulldogs’ two victories.
Gurley and Marshall have combined for 243 yards on 40 carries between them, with Gurley accounting for three touchdowns, while Marshall has yet to score. Gurley’s 9.2 yards per carry ranks him among the best in the nation.
Last week, against Missouri, Murray threw for 242 yards with three TDs and only one interception, while Gurley ran for 65 yards on 10 carries, with a TD. Their lead receiver senior Marlon Brown, a 6’5″ 216 pound stud from Memphis, caught eight receptions for 106 yards (13.3 yards per reception).
Betting Trends:
Fla Atlantic 21-44 ATS in their last 65 games after allowing 450+ yards previous game, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs teams with winning home records, 7-19 ATS in their last 26 following an ATS loss, 0-7 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 200+ rushing yards their previous game, and 2-12 ATS in their last 14 on the road.
Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 40+ the previous game, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 following an SU win, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 non-conf games, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 at home.
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