No. 3 Georgia’s quest to be the primary workforce to repeat as College Football Playoff champions begins Saturday afternoon in a well-known place towards acquainted faces. The Bulldogs will tackle No. 11 Oregon and former Auburn beginning quarterback Bo Nix as 17-point favorites inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium — which, in fact, is the annual website of the SEC Championship Sport. In the meantime, ex-Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning — one of many architects of final season’s protection in Athens — will probably be taking up his mentor, Kirby Sensible, in Lanning’s first recreation as a head coach.
Bulldogs senior quarterback Stetson Bennett IV went from walk-on to hero when he led the Dawgs to a nationwide championship, incomes him first-team snaps in an offseason for the primary time since highschool. Can Bennett choose up the place he left off on the finish of final season?
Let’s preview the matchup and make picks in for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Sport between the Bulldogs and Geese.
Georgia vs. Oregon: Must know
The Bulldogs are nonetheless loaded on protection: The 2022 NFL Draft contained a definite crimson and black tint, with 5 members of the 2021 protection going within the first spherical and 15 gamers general transferring on to the subsequent stage. Do not let these numbers idiot you, although. Georgia continues to be loaded on that aspect of the ball.
Defensive deal with Jalen Carter would be the centerpiece of the new-look defensive position and veteran linebacker Nolan Smith is again. Anchoring the second stage is senior Robert Beal at SAM, and the secondary continues to be stable with nook Kelee Ringo and security Christopher Smith. Is it going to be pretty much as good as final 12 months’s protection? In all probability not — asking for that’s unrealistic — however the truth that some key cogs are again together with extremely touted prospects to fill within the gaps ought to make this a top-10 protection but once more.
Will Nix flip issues round?: The senior quarterback for the Geese is aware of Georgia from his time at Auburn, however he wasn’t precisely a difference-maker. Nix went 75 of 133 passing (56.4%) for 694 yards (231.3 YPG) with one landing and two interception in three video games towards the Bulldogs. Is that going to alter now that he is taking part in within the Pacific Northwest? Possibly. He has some respectable receivers and tight ends to work with and familiarity with offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham from their time along with the Tigers. Nix has been had loads of highs and lows all through his profession, however there would not appear to be a lot in-between. He will must be at his greatest on Saturday afternoon.
How will Bennett deal with a singular offense?: There is a narrative on the market that the senior quarterback for the Bulldogs continues to be a recreation supervisor regardless of a stellar fourth quarter in January that led to the nationwide title win over Alabama. He misplaced a number of key vast receivers, together with Jermaine Burton and George Pickens, however Georgia has one of many deepest and most gifted tight finish rooms in school soccer historical past. Will Brock Bowers and Co. assist their quarterback out and open up one-on-one matchups deep downfield? That is the thought for offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and it will be fascinating to see Bennett function it in motion.
Find out how to watch Georgia vs. Oregon reside
Date: Saturday, September 3 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia
TV: ABC | Reside stream: fuboTV (Strive free of charge)
Georgia vs. Oregon prediction, picks
Featured Sport | Georgia Bulldogs vs. Oregon Geese
The hangover from final 12 months’s title in Indianapolis is lengthy gone. Georgia will present that it is not going to be complacent and dominate Oregon in what ought to be a de facto dwelling recreation. Lanning is aware of the way to assault Georgia’s offensive personnel, however stopping it’s going to be a a lot larger downside. Search for Georgia to return out on a mission early, put on Oregon down and lean on the Geese within the fourth quarter to drag away and canopy. Prediction: Georgia (-17)
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