Buffalo at No. 6 Georgia
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:21 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Spread: Georgia by 38
Watchability: Georgia true freshman RB Todd Gurley tore up August scrimmages, prompting teammates to call him “special.” It’s the first chance to see Gurley and fellow frosh Keith Marshall, who’ll get plenty of carries in a committee led by sophomore Ken Malcome.
Shining stars: Georgia: QB Aaron Murray. The fourth-year junior, who threw a school-record 35 TDs last year, opens what could be a Heisman campaign. He’s passed for 6,198 yards in two seasons. Murray has five of his top six receivers back, including senior Tavarres King (47 catches, 705 yards, 8 TDs). Buffalo: RB Branden Oliver. The 5-foot-8, 202-pounder went off for 1,395 rushing yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore last year and is on preseason watch lists for the major national awards. Also a dangerous kick returner, Oliver set a school record for all-purpose yards with 1,706.
Who could steal the show: Georgia: WR Marlon Brown. The senior has just 28 catches in an injury-plagued career, but is 100 percent and poised to finally break out. The starting split end caught six passes for 103 yards and two TDs in Georgia’s first scrimmage. At 6-5, 222 pounds, Brown could be Murray’s favorite red zone target. Buffalo: CB Najja Johnson. A 6-foot junior from metro Atlanta, Johnson will be revved up to play in his home state. He led the MAC with 15 pass breakups last year and should have opportunities for picks against the gunslinging Murray.
You going? Ranking the road trip: Red and black tailgating tents will pop up all over Athens shortly after sunrise for this early kickoff. Then nearly 93,000 fans will jam Sanford Stadium to watch their beloved Bulldogs whip the Bulls “Between the Hedges.” After the game, it’s an easy walk to restaurants, bars and music venues. It’s hard not to have a good time in one of the nation’s best college towns.
Magic number for Georgia: 13.5. That’s how many sacks All-American OLB Jarvis Jones got last season, or one per game. Expect at least one Saturday.
Magic number for Buffalo: 1. That’s how many TDs junior QB Alex Zordich has thrown in nine career games, against six INTs. It will be a long day for the newly named starter in Athens.
The game comes down to: LB Khalil Mack, who led Buffalo with 5.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles, is suspended for this game for violating an unspecified team rule. That leaves the Bulls no chance of slowing down Georgia’s multi-dimensional attack. The only question is when coach Mark Richt calls off the dogs.
Prediction: Georgia 48, Buffalo 10
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
