Georgia vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Game Preview


This should be wild. Is it possible Georgia Southern (7-2) can crank up its amazing offense and pull off the shocker against the SEC team late in the year like it did in 2013 against Florida? Georgia (7-3) isn’t exactly ripe for the picking, but this could be a very, very dangerous game. Check out the Georgia vs. Georgia Southern prediction and game preview.

Georgia vs. Georgia Southern Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

Network: ESPNU

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Why You Need To Care

Georgia Southern got past the 31-13 dumping by Appalachian State a few weeks ago to roll to two straight wins, and almost certain bowl bid, and with a shot at ten wins this year still on the board. The tremendous option attack keeps on rolling with the No. 1 ground game in college football, but this should be more than just a decent test run before Georgia has to face Georgia Tech. With Georgia State to close out the regular season, next week shouldn’t be a problem. As good as everything else has been for the program this year, though, beating Georgia would be truly fantastic.

Georgia Southern is really good, but Georgia really can’t lose this game. Mark Richt is on a warm seat after another year without a national title, or even an SEC championship, but beating Kentucky and Auburn over the last two weeks 47-16 combined helped the cause a bit. However, a loss to Georgia Tech next week would be a problem, and losing the home finale would really be an issue.

Why Georgia Southern Will Win

The running game really is that special. The Bulldog linebackers are talented enough and athletic enough to neutralize the option from time to time, but they’ve been hit for 200 yards or more three times in the last five games with Tennessee, Florida, and last week, Auburn, all cranking out yards in chunks. How good are the Eagles on the ground? They had an off day against Troy, and they still rumbled for 325 yards and four touchdowns. With 400 yards or more in five of the last eight games, it’s going to do what it does. Georgia is going to have to keep up offensively.

Why Georgia Will Win

While the Georgia Southern offense can rip off rushing yards in chunks, one of the big keys is being able to come up with manageable third and fourth down situations. Georgia’s defense has been fantastic at forcing teams to come up with long third down tries, and since the Eagles can’t and won’t throw the ball, the more 3rd-and-5 situations, the better. The Bulldogs allow teams to convert just 30% of their third down chances, and while time of possession doesn’t matter all that much to Georgia, this week, it’ll be a big deal. Grind the offense, keep the GSU attack off the field, and everything will work.

Player Who Matters

In 2013, Georgia Southern QB Kevin Ellison missed all three of his passes against the Florida Gators. However, he ran the option to near-perfection, took off for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and he ended up combining with Jerick McKinnon to pull off the 26-20 upset. The GSU offense was worked more around Matt Breida running the ball – he averages nine yards per pop with 1,242 yards on the year and 14 scores – but in a game like this and in this environment, it’s Ellison’s game.

What’s Going To Happen?

When it works, it REALLY works. When it doesn’t West Virginia wins 44-0. Georgia Southern might be catching Georgia at the exact right time on the exact right day. The defense won’t be able to slow down the Georgia ground attack, but Ellison and Breida will make Bulldog fans sweat bullets deep into the fourth quarter.

Georgia vs. Georgia Southern Prediction

Final Score: Georgia 34, Georgia Southern 27, Line: Georgia -13.5, o/u: 50.5

Must See Rating: 5: The Night Before – 1: Donny! … 3