Florida Georgia Betting – Bulldogs Feast On Anemic Florida Offense
Online betting players have watched Florida own Georgia in recent years of one of the SEC’s biggest rivalries, and the Bulldogs will have that in the back of their minds when the two collide this weekend. Florida’s offense has been absolutely brutal this year, and the Bulldogs are going to pounce as soon as the opening whistle goes.
- What: NCAA football betting
- When: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 PM
- Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonvile, FL
- Pick: Georgia Bulldogs -2
What’s On The Line
This is a strange edition of the “World’s Largest Cocktail Party” as neither team is ranked, but the Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3) are still in the SEC East hunt after a 44-31 win at Kentucky gave them three straight victories. The Gators (4-3, 2-3) are coming off a bye week and a win would keep them in a thick of things, which is all they can ask for after a truly disappointing year. The Gators have 17 of the last 20 in this series, and there’s a lot at stake for both programs here. The coaches don’t like each other, the fans don’t like each other and the players don’t like each other.
Offensive Matchups: Florida Georgia Betting
Florida hopefully used their off-week to fix an offense that is 89th in the country, and it has to be especially tough on coach Urban Meyer watching Cam Newton become the Heisman favorite at Auburn; Newton left Florida when Tim Tebow decided to come back for his senior year. John Brantley is no Tebow or Newton, but he’s also played through injuries, and a lot of playmakers have been missing, like Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey.
The Bulldogs are 62nd in total offense, but 39th in points scored, and they’re a balanced squad. But the Gators sometimes have problems stopping the run, which could have Washaun Ealey licking his chops after 157 yards and five touchdowns at Kentucky. This takes a lot of pressure off of freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, but if they decide to go to the air, Georgia has one of the best receivers in the country in A.J. Green.
Betting Edge: Georgia
Defensive Matchups: Florida Georgia Betting
The Gators are being kept in games by their defense, especially a 10-7 loss at home to Mississippi State a couple of weeks ago. Florida is 14th in the country defensively, including 13th against the pass and that is due to an outstanding secondary led by safety Ahmad Black. But Florida doesn’t have much of a pass rush anymore, which could leave the secondary chasing around Georgia’s receivers. The run defense is 41st in the nation, and they’re going to need a total team effort to slow down Ealey.
Georgia comes in 19th in total defense, but they’re more apt to give up the big play than Florida, especially through the air as they’re 57th in pass defense. The Bulldogs have two of the best linebackers in the SEC in Akeem Dent and Justin Houston, as Dent is a run-stuffer while Houston brings the heat off the edge. Houston will look to pressure Brantley all day long and if he can do that, the Florida offensive struggles will continue.
Betting Edge: Florida
Notable Injuries: Florida Georgia Betting
Demps (foot) and receiver Andre Debose (ankle) are big question marks for this game, while Florida may also have kicker Caleb Sturgis (back) in the lineup.
Linebacker Michael Gilliard (hamstring) is the only major concern for the Bulldogs.
Betting Edge: Georgia
Outlook and Pick: Florida Georgia Betting
NCAA football betting odds have the Bulldogs as a 2.5-point favorite in this contest, and as we said, they’ve lost 17 of the last 20 against the Gators in this rivalry. But the Bulldogs are going to make a statement this week, as we’re not sure of how much retooling Florida did with their offense during the week, and we’re not even sure if it matters: Brantley just doesn’t look to be a good quarterback. The defense can only hold out so long for the Gators, and the Bulldogs are going to try and wear them down with Ealey, who had 70 yards on the ground against the Gators as a freshman last year. It’s a good thing that it isn’t a long trip back to Gainesville for Meyer and the Gators, because this will hurt. Take the Bulldogs in your sports betting book.
Blake’s Pick: Georgia Bulldogs
