Buffalo @ Georgia preview

Georgia faces a much easier start this season with Buffalo on Saturday after No. 5 Boise State pulled away from the Bulldogs in the second half of their 2011 opener. Georgia, which rebounded from an 0-2 start with 10 consecutive victories to reach the SEC championship game last season, returns all-SEC quarterback Aaron Murray and nine starters from the nation’s fifth-ranked defense. As many as four Georgia starters could miss the game because of suspensions and several running backs look to take over for Isaiah Crowell, who was dismissed from the program. The Bulls won three times last year in coach Jeff Quinn’s second season at the school, but begin without junior linebacker Khalil Mack. The first-team All-MAC selection is suspended for the opener.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, SEC Network, MSG. LINE: Georgia -37.5

ABOUT BUFFALO (2011: 3-9): The Bulls were picked in the preseason poll to finish fifth in the MAC's Eastern Division. Buffalo figures to miss Mack, who led the Bulls with 5½ sacks last season. The offense will be focused on junior Branden Oliver, who set a school record with 1,395 rushing yards last season and scored 13 touchdowns.

ABOUT GEORGIA (2011: 10-4): Murray returns to the helm of the Bulldogs' no-huddle attack. The junior threw for 35 touchdowns last season. Ken Malcome starts the season as the successor to Crowell, but highly touted freshmen running backs Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley are expected to contribute immediately. One area of early season focus will be replacing three starters on the offensive line who were selected in the NFL draft this spring.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia’s 35-21 loss to Boise State in last season’s opener was only the second in 11 season openers under coach Mark Richt.

2. Murray passed for 3,149 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns in 2011.

3. The Bulls are 0-3 against current SEC schools. Buffalo won its last game against a Top 25 team, upending No. 12 Ball State in the 2008 MAC championship game 42-24.

PREDICTION: Georgia 49, Buffalo 10