Bulldogs-Gators Line at Georgia -3 – Week 9 2011

The Bulldogs-Gators line was coming in at -3 in favor of Georgia after opening at -2.

Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Georgia -3 & 49

Opening Line & Total: UGA -2 & 49.5

No. 22 Georgia and slumping Florida square off for their yearly meeting in Jacksonville, FL on Saturday afternoon.

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has been an annual celebration for Florida, which has won 11 of the past 13 meetings (8-4-1 ATS) with Georgia. But currently, it’s the Gators that are doing the losing (three straight SU and ATS defeats), while the Bulldogs are riding a five-game win streak (4-1 ATS). The one non-cover was last week’s 33-28 win at Vanderbilt behind 326 yards and 3 TD from Aaron Murray. The Gators offense has been dreadful, scoring a total of 27 points during the three-game skid, but QB John Brantley (ankle) is expected to return to the field. Turnovers could go a long way in determining the winner here. Florida’s last defensive turnover occurred more than 13 quarters ago, and Georgia has only two multi-TO games this year. The Gators offense has 10 giveaways in the past four weeks, while Georgia’s defense has nine takeaways in its past four contests.

Murray is eager to avenge last year’s 34-31 loss to Florida when he tossed three interceptions to ruin a 313-yard, 3-TD effort. The sophomore has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six of his seven games this season, totaling 16 TD and 7 INT on the year. RB Isaiah Crowell used the bye week to rest his injured wrist and he should be able to start this rivalry game. The freshman has three 100-yard games against SEC opponents already, but has been held to 93 yards on 29 carries (3.2 YPC) in the past two games.

Georgia’s defense ranks sixth in the country in yardage (273 total YPG) and has been especially proficient in defending opponents’ aerial attacks. The Bulldogs rank sixth in passing efficiency defense (97.90) and ninth in passing yardage (171 YPG).

Florida has not lost four straight games since 1988. Brantley will certainly give his team a boost, but he did not have a great game in Jacksonville last year, completing 16-of-25 passes for 193 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT. He has not reached 230 passing yards in any of his five games, but Brantley’s 9.2 yards per attempt ratio is pretty strong. The bye week also helped Jeff Demps heal from his bum ankle. Demps is averaging 8.3 YPC this season and he had 81 total yards and a touchdown against the Bulldogs last year. The Gators are hopeful Demps will inject some life into a ground game that has 194 rushing yards (64.7 per game) in its past three contests. Leading rusher Chris Rainey (500 rush yds) has only 89 yards (2.2 YPC) since piling up three straight 100-yard games earlier in the year. But Rainey had 241 all-purpose yards in last year’s meeting with Georgia, and could be a huge factor again on Saturday.

Other than its lack of turnovers, Florida’s defense has been mostly good this year. The Gators allowed a ton of yards to the nation’s top two teams (Alabama and LSU), but held Auburn to 278 total yards last week.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter