Florida @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2010 ) Florida 34, Georgia 31

THE STORY: Nearly counted out after losing its first two games, Georgia has won five straight since to put itself in the middle of the SEC East title race. The No. 21 Bulldogs will try to keep pace when they take on struggling Florida on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. The Gators have lost three straight — all to ranked opponents — to fall two games behind Georgia and South Carolina in the SEC East. Florida has won three straight in the series, including a 34-31 overtime win last season.

TV: CBS. LINE: Georgia -3

ABOUT FLORIDA (4-3, 2-3 SEC): Since taking an early 10-3 lead against Alabama, the Gators have been outscored 93-17 over the past 11 quarters en route to their three-game losing streak. The offense has sputtered without QB John Brantley, who injured his ankle in the second half of the Alabama game, but the Gators hope to have Brantley back against the Bulldogs. They also hope to get speedy RB Jeff Demps back in the lineup. Demps missed the Gators' 17-6 loss to Auburn with a ankle injury.

ABOUT GEORGIA (5-2, 4-1 SEC): The Bulldogs have won five straight for the first time since winning 11 straight over the end of the 2007 season and the start of the 2008 campaign. They've done it with an offense that leads the SEC during conference play with 245.8 passing yards per game. QB Aaron Murray passed for a career-high 326 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 33-28 win against Vanderbilt.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia claims a 47-40-2 lead in the all-time series, but the Gators say the Bulldogs have one fewer victory. Georgia claims a win in 1904, but Florida did not compete at the varsity level until 1906.

2. Florida last faced four consecutive ranked opponents in the regular season in 1971, going 1-3. In 2001, the Gators closed the regular season with three straight ranked teams and faced a fourth in their bowl game, going 3-1.

3. Georgia is the only SEC team to score first in every game season. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 61-10 in the first quarter.

PREDICTION: Georgia 23, Florida 20 — Even if he plays, Brantley will be rusty, and it will take the Gators' offense time to get up to speed.