Idaho State
N/A0-0
Georgia
8th SEC6-6
Idaho State @ Georgia preview
Sanford Stadium
Trying to shake off a heartbreaking overtime loss to rival Florida, Georgia hosts FCS school Idaho State on Saturday in a classic payday game.
The Bulldogs (4-5, 3-4 SEC) fell 34-31 in overtime last Saturday, losing for the 18th time in the last 21 meetings to the hated Gators. Georgia’s four turnovers included a pivotal overtime interception thrown by freshman Aaron Murray.
The Bengals (1-7, 0-6 Big Sky) also enter off an overtime loss. Their 23-20 defeat to Montana State was their seventh straight after a season-opening win.
This is the first time Georgia has ever played a Big Sky opponent. Idaho State will get a $525,00 check from Georgia for making the trip.
Having squandered its chance at the SEC East title, the Bulldogs probably won’t be highly motivated, but they need to win to keep their bowl hopes alive. Georgia needs two more victories to avoid missing a bowl for the first time since 1996. Assuming the Bulldogs win Saturday, they’ll have to win at Auburn (No. 2 in the BCS) on Nov. 13 or against Georgia Tech on Nov. 27.
If they do finish 6-6 or 7-5, Georgia could end up in the Music City, Liberty or Birmingham bowl.
The Bengals don’t pose much of a threat. They rank last in the Big Sky in scoring (17.6 points) and total offense (230.8 yards per game) and have allowed 35 sacks. Quarterbacks Russel Hill and Kyle Morris have combined to throw eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Perhaps Idaho State’s best player is Tavoy Moore, who had returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
For the Bulldogs, Murray has shown plenty of promise. He’s completed 60.4 percent of his throws for 2,079 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he’s also been picked off six times, mainly against Georgia’s toughest competition.
Murray has a wealth of targets including tight end Orson Charles, receiver Kris Durham and future first-round NFL pick, receiver A.J. Green. Durham most likely won't play after suffering a bruised lung against Florida, according to coach Mark Richt.
Bulldogs defensive end Justin Houston leads the SEC with nine sacks. He’s the biggest playmaker on a unit that gives up 20.8 points, which ranks sixth in the conference.
A big win Saturday won’t begin to quiet critics who believe Richt has taken Georgia as far as he can. All the Bulldogs can hope for is an emphatic, injury-free victory that puts them one win closer to postseason play.
The Bulldogs (4-5, 3-4 SEC) fell 34-31 in overtime last Saturday, losing for the 18th time in the last 21 meetings to the hated Gators. Georgia’s four turnovers included a pivotal overtime interception thrown by freshman Aaron Murray.
The Bengals (1-7, 0-6 Big Sky) also enter off an overtime loss. Their 23-20 defeat to Montana State was their seventh straight after a season-opening win.
This is the first time Georgia has ever played a Big Sky opponent. Idaho State will get a $525,00 check from Georgia for making the trip.
Having squandered its chance at the SEC East title, the Bulldogs probably won’t be highly motivated, but they need to win to keep their bowl hopes alive. Georgia needs two more victories to avoid missing a bowl for the first time since 1996. Assuming the Bulldogs win Saturday, they’ll have to win at Auburn (No. 2 in the BCS) on Nov. 13 or against Georgia Tech on Nov. 27.
If they do finish 6-6 or 7-5, Georgia could end up in the Music City, Liberty or Birmingham bowl.
The Bengals don’t pose much of a threat. They rank last in the Big Sky in scoring (17.6 points) and total offense (230.8 yards per game) and have allowed 35 sacks. Quarterbacks Russel Hill and Kyle Morris have combined to throw eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Perhaps Idaho State’s best player is Tavoy Moore, who had returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
For the Bulldogs, Murray has shown plenty of promise. He’s completed 60.4 percent of his throws for 2,079 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he’s also been picked off six times, mainly against Georgia’s toughest competition.
Murray has a wealth of targets including tight end Orson Charles, receiver Kris Durham and future first-round NFL pick, receiver A.J. Green. Durham most likely won't play after suffering a bruised lung against Florida, according to coach Mark Richt.
Bulldogs defensive end Justin Houston leads the SEC with nine sacks. He’s the biggest playmaker on a unit that gives up 20.8 points, which ranks sixth in the conference.
A big win Saturday won’t begin to quiet critics who believe Richt has taken Georgia as far as he can. All the Bulldogs can hope for is an emphatic, injury-free victory that puts them one win closer to postseason play.