Georgia vs. Missouri Prediction, Game Preview

This showdown played a huge role in the SEC East title chase over the last few years, but this time around, Georgia (4-2) is hanging by a thread after two straight devastating losses, while Missouri (4-2) is looking to somehow get back in the race after getting housed at home by Florida. Check out the Georgia vs. Missouri prediction and game preview.

Georgia vs. Missouri Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Game Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
Network: SEC Network

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Why You Need To Care

Where’s the Mizzou offense? It’s going missing over the course of the season, with last week’s 21-3 loss to Florida was particularly galling – the Tigers weren’t even close. This starts a run of three games away from Columbia in the next four, but it’s not all that bad the rest of the way starting with Vanderbilt up next. However, with the power outage the Tigers are suffering through, it could be a battle just to get to six wins to go bowling.

Georgia got stomped over by Alabama two weeks ago in what was supposed to be a statement game, and last week against Tennessee it lost Nick Chubb for the year to a knee injury. There goals are still there, though. Win out, go 10-2, take the East, beat the West for the SEC title, go to the playoff. But first, the offense has to find its mojo again after blowing key chances late in the giveaway to the Vols, while the defense has to find a groove again after getting ripped apart in the second half. After this it’s the Florida game in two weeks, and that’s effectively it – the Dawgs will be heavily favored the rest of the way.

Why Missouri Will Win

Offense, bad. Defense, good. The Tigers continue to play solid defense even though it’s not getting any help or any support from the struggling attack. The Georgia offense rebounded from the bad performance against Alabama to move the ball well against Tennessee, but it the team ready to get into a fight? Missouri’s run D isn’t allowing much of anything, failing to give up more than 145 rushing yards on the year. The game for the Bulldogs will be in the hands of Greyson Lambert, and he’s been struggling completing just 25-of-57 passes over the last two weeks, and now he’s going to be under consistent pressure from the terrific Tiger pass rush.

Why Georgia Will Win

Can Missouri handle the Georgia front seven? Missouri might be able to crank up big things behind the line, but the Bulldogs are phenomenal at disrupting things in the backfield, too. Everything has to be working perfectly for the Tigers to get the woeful offense going, and they’re not going to get the chance with needing to find a power game that hasn’t been there. Last week, Florida got up, made Missouri throw, it didn’t happen, and it was a relatively easy win. A few early scores might end it for the Bulldogs.

Player Who Matters

Nick Chubb might be a special back with NFL skills, but so is Sony Michel. It was the 5-11, 212-pound Michel, not Chubb, who was supposed to be the next big thing for the Georgia backfield after earning 2013 Florida Player of the Year honors. He’s the next back up in the Georgia world, and he should blossom now with the full-time role, running for 145 yards against Tennessee with Chubb down. Also a tremendous receiver, he has 12 catches for 174 yards and three scores on the year, and now he’ll be used in a variety of ways.

What’s Going To Happen?

Georgia isn’t going to have too much of a problem. The offense might not always be pretty, and the Tigers will come up with their share of key stops, but Michel will be strong and the passing attack will survive a big performance from the Mizzou front four. The MU power outage will continue.