Posted:
#26
Florida at Georgia
KICKOFF: Saturday, 3:30 ET
SURFACE: Grass
TV: CBS
SERIES: Georgia leads 46-37-2
2007 RANKINGS: Gators: offense 23rd (3rd SEC), pass 44th (3rd), run 23rd (3rd), defense 44th (8th), pass 95th (12th), run 15th (2nd); Bulldogs: offense 80th (7th SEC), pass 84th (8th), run 50th (6th), defense 25th (4th), pass 13th (4th), run 47th (6th)
POLLS: Georgia (20th AP, 19th coaches); Florida (9th AP, 11th coaches)
PREDICTION: Florida 20-10
Georgia is hoping to deal Florida its third loss of the season. ( / Associated Press)
KEYS TO THE GAME: Florida has dominated this rivalry lately, winning 15 of the last 17 meetings. Florida head coach Urban Meyer has a 13-4 record against ranked opponents in his career, including an 11-4 mark with the Gators. He attempts to join Ray Graves and Steve Spurrier as the only Florida coaches to win their first three games against the Bulldogs. Georgia's best defense will be a good offense. The Bulldogs must keep Florida off the field. A ball-control attack seems the most likely answer, but with just one proven tailback in Knowshon Moreno, QB Matthew Stafford will have to make some big plays in the passing game for Georgia to win.
FAST FACTS:
Gators — WR Andre Caldwell caught his first touchdown pass of the season and had a season-high six receptions against Kentucky ... DE Jermaine Cunningham was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording a career-high 2.5 sacks (minus-17 yards) and seven tackles at Kentucky ... The Gators lead the conference and rank fifth nationally in third-down conversions at 53 percent (42 of 79).
Bulldogs — QB Matthew Stafford threw two crucial interceptions last year in the loss to Florida ... Redshirt freshman RB Knowshon Moreno carried a career-high 28 times in a win over Vanderbilt. He'll likely carry the load again with Kregg Lumpkin and Thomas Brown out ... The Bulldogs have scored 14 points or less in seven of the last nine meetings with Florida.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Gators
QB Tim Tebow — The sophomore leads the nation in passing efficiency (177.5) and leads the SEC in completion percentage (66.1). He has accounted for 27 touchdowns this season, tied with Shane Matthews (1990) for the sixth-highest single-season total in Florida history.
WR Percy Harvin — He leads the team with 795 all-purpose yards, averaging 113.6 per game. Over the last five games, he is averaging 16.7 yards per catch and 93.6 receiving yards per contest.
PR/KR Brandon James — He had his fourth return this season of 50-plus yards with a 61-yard kick return against the Wildcats. He leads the SEC in punt-return average (18.9) and ranks second in kickoff returns (30.6).
Bulldogs
QB Matthew Stafford — As a freshman, Stafford had his struggles against the Gators. In a 21-14 loss last season, he completed 13 of 33 passes for 151 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
RB Knowshon Moreno — The redshirt freshman must keep the chains moving and keep Florida's offense off the field. He's coming off a career performance against Vanderbilt, during which he carried the ball 28 times for 157 yards.
LB Dannell Ellerbee — The junior played huge while fellow starters Brandon Miller and Marcus Washington were out with injuries. Ellerbe has led the Bulldogs in tackles the last two games.
INJURY WATCH:
Gators
QB Tim Tebow — The left-handed passer hurt his right shoulder against Kentucky but says he is fine to play against Georgia, although he will probably be limited in contact drills this week in practice.
Safety Major Wright (broken thumb) and receiver Riley Cooper (broken finger) both had surgery Oct. 22 to repair the damage sustained in the victory at Kentucky. Both could return for the Georgia game.
DT Clint McMillan (shoulder) is expected to play Oct. 27, but the status of offensive lineman Carlton Medder (heel) and CB Wondy Pierre-Louis (shoulder) is uncertain.
Bulldogs
RB Kregg Lumpkin underwent surgery on his injured knee last week and hopes to be back by the bowl game.
LBs Marcus Washington (shoulder) and Brandon Miller (calf) are questionable for the game against Florida. Both are expected to return to practice this week.
WRs Mikey Henderson (hamstring) and A.J. Bryant (knee) are probable, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
RB Thomas Brown (collarbone) is doubtful.
https://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7373094?MSNHPHMA
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