The conference slate gets started right off the hop for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Missouri Tigers. The \u2018Dawgs will see what one of the SEC newcomers brings to the table nice and early in the season. <\/p>\n
#7 Georgia Bulldogs at Missouri Tigers Matchup<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n For Mizzou, it\u2019s an excellent chance to set the tone for the campaign, in front of a frenzied home crowd at Faurot Field.<\/p>\n The most intriguing part of this game is, without question, the quarterback match-up. Georgia\u2019s Aaron Murray and Mizzou\u2019s James Franklin are two of the most exciting QBs in college football, and both teams lean on these players a lot in order to be successful. While Murray is a more traditional passer, Franklin brings a phenomenal blend of aerial capability and scrambling to the position. Franklin was on auto-pilot last week against lowly FCS chump S.E. Louisiana (he only attempted 21 passes and six rushes) but expect his A-game this week at home versus Georgia.<\/p>\n Murray\u2019s ascendancy, meanwhile, has been gradual but steady. Now a junior, the undersized Florida native has started since Day One as a freshman. He\u2019s already thrown for over 6,000 yards and 62 TDs in his Georgia career; Murray should shatter all of David Greene\u2019s career records at the school before his done (especially if Murray stays for his senior season). For the \u2018Dawgs, losing starting RB Isaiah Crowell to malfeasance certainly hurts, but Todd Gurley looked good last week, ripping off over 100 yards and rushing and 12.5 yards per carry. It was good enough to grab SEC Freshman of the Week honors for Week 1. The passing game mainly funnels through Murray, and the talented WR Tavarres King. \u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n The predictions for this game would settle more firmly in Georgia\u2019s favor if it weren\u2019t for hijinks and subsequent school reprimands; having Crowell and All-American safety Bacarri Rambo out is a definite blow. Still, if the Tigers are to pull the upset, in will have to be done primarily with Franklin. Georgia\u2019s \u201cD\u201d might just be able to key in on him; though the Mizzou attack looked good last year, it wasn\u2019t putting those gaudy stats up in the SEC \u2013 against a strong defense every week. On the other hand, the home-field advantage and the \u201clet\u2019s prove ourselves in a new schoolyard\u201d factors clearly favor Missouri. Indeed, this could be the closest game to call this week.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll call for Georgia to leave Columbia with a narrow victory \u2013 Murray to slightly out-duel Franklin, and for RB Gurley to continue to impress as a freshman \u2013 just as South Carolina\u2019s Marcus Lattimore did a couple seasons ago, and Georgia\u2019s Crowell did last year. Regardless, anticipate a great game here on Saturday night in the Show-Me State.<\/p>\n
\nSaturday, Sept. 8, 2012, 7:45 pm EST
\nVenue: Faurot Field, Columbia MO
\nGambling Odds from Sportsbook.com:
\nSpread: Georgia -2.5, Missouri +2.5
\nMoneyLine: Georgia -140, Missouri +120
\nOver\/Under: 54.5<\/strong><\/p>\n