Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, 10/30/2010, 3:30 PM EST; TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Georgia -1.5
Current Betting Line: Georgia -3
Opening Total: 47.5
Current Total: 47
Current Moneyline: Georgia -145 / Florida +125
Florida is coming off a much needed bye week after dropping three straight games to Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State in consecutive weeks. “These next couple games are huge for us,” senior safety Ahmad Black said. “We need to get urgent about everything and urgency is a key factor.” Despite all the troubles, the Gators still control their own destiny in the SEC East. With wins in their final three conference games, the team would win the division title for the third straight year. This series has had a history of sending the winner to the conference championship game, as the victor has represented the Eastern Division on 12 occasions in the 18-year history of the SEC championship game. Florida is 5-1 ATS in its last six neutral site contests and the NCAA football lines page has them listed as a three-point underdog.
The Gators biggest problem this season has been 14 turnovers in seven games after giving up just 16 all of last season. Florida head coach Urban Meyer was also asked this week how tough it is to watch Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton play each week after transferring from Florida to a junior college following his freshman year. “It’s really hard, I’ll tell you that.” Current Gators signal caller John Brantley must improve upon the team’s 3-for-11 mark in the red zone during the three-game losing streak to possibly prove victorious in this contest. He may receive some help with the possible return of wide receiver Chris Rainey from suspension, but is availability will be determined later in the week.
Georgia heads to EverBank Field to take on the Gators in a neutral-field clash in a series that they hold a 47-39-2 edge in. The Bulldogs also hold a 40-37-1 advantage in games played in Jacksonville. “Florida has won the East I don’t know how many years in a row,” said head coach Mark Richt. “Florida is a team that still controls their own destiny, so there is no doubt we need to step it up.” Richt’s own team has stepped up its performance by winning three straight games and now looks to snap a three-game losing streak to Saturday’s opponent. A big factor in this contest may be the club’s plus-seven turnover ratio, which is second in the SEC. The team is 6-2 ATS in its last eight neutral site games.
The Bulldogs have averaged 45.8 points in their four wins and managed to score just 17.3 points in four losses. Georgia ranks fifth in the SEC in scoring offense at 31.5 points per game and the running game will welcome back Caleb King, who is returning from a suspension. On the other side of the ball, the defense leads the conference in rushing defense, allowing 99.2 yards per game. Florida may be able to exploit the Bulldogs’ secondary in this contest, coming in ranking sixth in the SEC, giving up 207.5 yards per game.
Bettors will be interested to know that the Gators are 2-6 ATS in their last eight conference games, while the Bulldogs are 3-7 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
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