Georgia @ Colorado preview
Folsom Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2006 ) Colorado 13, Georgia 14
The return of receiver A.J. Green might not solve all of the Georgia Bulldogs' problems, but it certainly can't hurt.
The preseason All-American wideout will make his season debut Saturday as the Bulldogs look to snap their first three-game losing streak since 1990 when they visit Boulder, Colo., to take on the Colorado Buffaloes.
The Bulldogs stumbled to a 1-3 start — and their first 0-3 start in Southeastern Conference play since 1993 — while their star receiver served a four-game suspension for selling his jersey from last season's Independence Bowl to an individual meeting the NCAA's definition of an agent.
Meanwhile, Colorado is off to a 2-1 start and is looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since opening the 2008 season with three consecutive victories.
The Buffaloes are coming off a bye week after a 31-13 home win against Hawaii on Sept. 18. Colorado trailed the Warriors 10-0 at halftime, but rallied with its strong running game, racking up 252 yards on the ground. Tailbacks Rodney Stewart (106 yards) and Brian Lockridge (109 yards) each topped the 100-yard mark.
Junior quarterback Tyler Hansen also got in on the second-half outburst, throwing two touchdown passes. Hansen has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 558 yards with four touchdowns and one interception through three games.
Two of those touchdown passes have gone to former walk-on Scotty McKnight, who became the school's all-time leading receiver in the opener against Colorado State. McKnight has 179 career receptions, 12 more than Michael Westbrook.
The Bulldogs hope the return of their top receiver will provide a boost to a struggling offense as they look for their first road win of the season after losses at South Carolina and Mississippi State.
They were in danger of being kept out of the end zone for the second time in three games before redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray hit Tavarres King for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 1:38 left in last week's 24-12 loss at Mississippi State.
Green, a junior, has led the Bulldogs in receiving each of the past two seasons, compiling 109 receptions for 1,771 yards and 14 touchdowns in 23 games. He missed three games last season because of injuries.
In Green's absence, senior Kris Durham has emerged as Murray's favorite target. With 17 receptions for 324 yards, Durham already has surpassed his career-highs in both categories.
Murray, who has completed 61 percent of his passes for 879 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions, might be able to take advantage of a depleted Colorado secondary. The Buffaloes lost their starting nickel back to injuries in each of their first three games. Parker Orms tore his anterior cruciate ligament on the third play of the opener against Colorado State, Travis Sandersfeld fractured his ankle in a loss to Cal and Paul Vigo suffered a leg injury against Hawaii.
The teams have met only once, with Georgia rallying for a 14-13 win in Athens, Ga., in 2006. Colorado is playing host to a SEC team for only the second time and the first since a 44-0 loss to LSU in 1979.
Colorado will honor its 1990 co-national championship team at halftime.