Georgia @ Missouri preview

Missouri’s much-anticipated Southeastern Conference debut didn’t need any extra juice. But with seventh-ranked Georgia coming to a sold-out Faurot Field on Saturday, Tigers defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson took a swipe at the Bulldogs, calling their style of play “old-man football.” Georgia didn’t take the bait and get involved in a trash-talking war, and Richardson was promptly banned from talking to the media. But it’s another subplot to this intriguing matchup pitting Mizzou’s high-octane spread attack against Georgia’s traditional pro-style offense. The Bulldogs could have trouble containing Tigers dual-threat QB James Franklin after Georgia allowed Buffalo’s signal-caller to run for 89 yards on 14 carries. Missouri will be hard-pressed to stop Georgia freshman Todd Gurley, who amassed 227 yards and three touchdowns on 10 touches (100 yards on eight carries, 127 yards on two kickoff returns).

TV: 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Georgia -3.5

ABOUT NO. 7 GEORGIA (1-0, 0-0 SEC): The Bulldogs were picked to repeat as SEC East champions. Quarterback Aaron Murray is a darkhorse Heisman candidate who threw for 258 yards and three scores without an interception in Georgia’s 45-23 victory over Buffalo. The Bulldogs played without three suspended starters - safety Bacarri Rambo, linebacker Alec Ogletree and cornerback Sanders Commings. Commings and outside linebacker Chase Vasser remain suspended for Saturday, with coach Mark Richt yet to clarify the status of Rambo and Ogletree. Wide receiver Marlon Brown (hamstring), cornerback Malcolm Mitchell (ankle) and running back Richard Samuel (hip) all were limited in practice, but expected to play.

ABOUT MISSOURI (1-0, 0-0 SEC): The Tigers’ 62-10 victory over Southeast Louisiana might have been too easy as Missouri led 28-0 after running 12 plays. The Tigers scored on an interception return, a fumble return and two punt returns by Marcus Murphy, the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Week. Franklin has an array of dangerous targets, including senior wideout T.J. Moe and freshman Dorial-Green Beckham, the nation’s No. 1 recruit. Each caught three balls in the opener. Missouri was picked to finish fourth in the SEC East, behind Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia won the only previous meeting 14-0 in the 1960 Orange Bowl.

2. Mizzou RB Kendial Lawrence has run for 492 yards over his last five games.

3. Tigers LB Will Ebner (neck) and G Jack Meiners (knee) are listed as questionable.

PREDICTION: Georgia 31, Missouri 27