NO. 4 GEORGIA (6-0, 3-0 SEC) VS. MISSOURI (1-4, 0-3)
7:30 p.m. › Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. SEC Network & 102.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
Georgia’s ground game is coming off a 423-yard performance — its largest rushing output in 30 seasons — in last week’s 45-14 victory at Vanderbilt, and the Bulldogs will try to extend their dominance tonight. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel combined for 288 yards last week and are having fun as a senior tandem, but second-year Georgia coach Kirby Smart insists the Tigers can make things difficult. “They move a lot up front,” Smart said. “They’ve always been a penetrating, gap defense. They get in a 4-3, but they’ve started to play a little more odd fronts. They do a lot of games up front, which allows them to get some tackles for loss. They’re fourth in our conference in tackles for loss, and I just think they do a good job of creating negative plays by what they do.” Missouri ranks 98th nationally in rushing defense, having allowed an average of 193.4 yards per game this season, and the Tigers yielded 117 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries by Kentucky’s Benny Snell last Saturday night.
ONE TO WATCH
Missouri junior quarterback Drew Lock ranks second in the Southeastern Conference with an average of 294.0 passing yards per game but is just 10th in efficiency, having completed 92 of 175 passes (52.6 percent) for 1,470 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. “He’s got one of the quickest releases and one of the strongest arms I’ve seen,” Smart said. “He knows where to go with the ball. He knows who to stare down to read them. He’s very efficient at doing what he does, and it’s tough to defend because you think they’re a passing offense, but they ultimately want to run the ball first.’’ The Bulldogs limited Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur to a 172-yard performance, so Lock will have to produce much more than that to give his Tigers a chance.
IN THE END
This marks the third Missouri-Georgia meeting inside Sanford Stadium, with the Bulldogs having lost the 2013 encounter and having escaped 9-6 two years ago. These programs are very different right now, with the Tigers residing at the bottom of the SEC and Georgia trying to challenge Alabama for league supremacy. “This season has been a blast,” Georgia sophomore tight end Isaac Nauta said. “We’ve been winning, and we want to keep notching W’s. We’re taking it day by day and week by week and just preparing for the next game. We’re not looking back, and we’re not going to look far ahead.” Georgia is off next weekend before facing Florida in Jacksonville, so as long as the Bulldogs maintain focus before their break, this one shouldn’t be close.