The biggest SEC East game of the season is upon us as #5 Georgia meets #8 Florida in Jacksonville in what should be a fascinating matchup to determine the winner of the division. Georgia has owned the series of late, winning the last three and six of the last nine. This one will be a showcase of two completely different styles as Florida brings in their high flying offense and suspect defense against Georgia’s elite defense and stumbling offense. Key injuries continue to pile up for the Dawgs on defense, so Stetson Bennett and the offense are going to have to start to carry their own weight if Georgia is to have any chance of escaping this one with a W. Here are a few things to watch for in this SEC slugfest:
Who Will Cover Kyle Pitts?
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
All-SEC safety Richard Lecounte III was unfortunately involved in a serious motorcycle accident following Georgia’s win over Kentucky last weekend and will miss this game as well as a few more. First and foremost, thankfully, his injuries were non-life-threatening, and he will make a full recovery. In a football sense, this is a massive loss for Georgia. Not only is Lecounte the heart and soul of this elite unit, but he was expected to be involved in a lot of the gameplan to help slow down All-American TE Kyle Pitts. Pitts has been unbelievably dominant so far this season, and Georgia must find a way to limit him if they are to have any chance.
Expect junior safety Christopher Smith to start in Lecounte’s place, as he has the most experience and saw some game-time earlier this season against Auburn after Lecounte was ejected for targeting. Kirby Smart and defensive coordinator Dan Lanning are going to have to scheme well in order to blanket Pitts, with some combination of CB Tyrique Stevenson coupled with safety help over the top the most likely solution. This is probably the most important matchup of the game as Gators QB Kyle Trask loves to look Pitts’ way. How Georgia counters will go a long way in determining the winner.
Can Stetson Bennett Take Care of the Ball?
Turning the ball over a few times on the road against Alabama isn’t the end of the world for a former walk-on QB making his first primetime start. Following that up by throwing two bad interceptions against Kentucky is more of a problem. For all the good that Stetson Bennett IV did in the first few games of the season, taking care of the ball and keeping the offense moving, he has regressed back to the mean the last two weeks. A few ugly throws coupled with a ton of batted balls has left fans wondering if Bennett really gives Georgia the best chance to win. The game against Kentucky really highlighted how limited this offense is when they don’t take care of the football. Georgia ran the ball at will and should’ve ended with at least two more touchdowns, but untimely interceptions killed momentum and led to an ugly 14-3 final score.
That simply won’t cut it against the Gators. If Bennett continues to turn the ball over, that will only put more onus on Georgia’s defense to completely stop a Florida offense that seems unstoppable. Simply put, Georgia will lose. This is probably Stetson’s final stand as the starting QB, and what he chooses to do with it will go a long way in determining what type of season Georgia has. Make smart decisions, and Georgia probably wins this game and sets up a rematch with Alabama in Atlanta. Make bad decisions, and Florida probably wins this one in a route and changes the trajectory of the SEC East. No pressure, Stetson.
Is George Pickens Healthy and Ready to Go?
George Pickens was a major point of emphasis of mine in previewing the last game against Kentucky, only for word to come out soon after that he had a pectoral injury and would miss the game. Georgia’s offense missed him dearly as they had no outside presence in his absence. Kirby Smart said Pickens is still a bit banged up but will play this weekend, which is a major boost to Stetson Bennett and the offense. Even though his target volume and production is way down compared to what we expected so far this season, Pickens is still by far the best playmaker on this team. Georgia needs him involved in order to stretch the field and open up the between-the-numbers routes and the run game.
Having Pickens healthy increases the space available for Kearis Jackson to exploit over the middle, and it is no coincidence that Jackson’s numbers were down last week in his absence. One player doesn’t make a team, but this one could sure help fix a stagnant offense. Look for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to try to get Pickens involved early and force the Gators to respect the outside throws. It may be Georgia’s best bet of finding a rhythm on that side of the ball.
Georgia vs Florida Prediction
This one is almost impossible to predict as both teams play such a different style of football. Florida is closing the gap on Georgia in the East, but do they have the mental strength to get up for a game of this nature? Georgia has been here before and knows what it takes to win this game, so the mental edge has to go to the Dawgs. However, the defensive injuries and offensive ineptitude make Georgia a tough sell. As a fan, I hope we see the offense step up and take care of the ball as the defense slows down Trask and co. enough to win a 28-24 type game. As an unbiased writer, however, I see the injuries and uneven QB play being too much to overcome as Florida gets over the hump in a 28-21 win.
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