WHERE: Sanford Stadium

WHEN: Saturday, 4 p.m.

RECORDS: Georgia 1-0, Samford 1-0

TV/RADIO: SEC Community (Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Alyssa Lang) Georgia Bulldog Radio Community (Scott Howard, Eric Zeier, D.J. Shockley); Sirius/XM (158 or 191)

After throttling Oregon final week in Mercedes-Benz, the Bulldogs play their first sport inside Sanford Stadium since profitable final 12 months’s nationwide crown.

It guarantees to be fairly the ovation for Kirby Good’s squad, which can then go in regards to the enterprise of dismantling FCS Samford earlier than subsequent week’s SEC opener at South Carolina.

Within the Good period, Georgia is 31-4 at dwelling, together with 29-1 since 2017. The group’s .886 profitable share at dwelling underneath Good is the very best in class historical past.

As for as we speak’s contest, there’s some nostalgia for Good, as Samford is coached by Chris Hatcher, who gave him his first teaching job at Valdosta State in 2000. Good later turned the Blazers’ defensive coordinator after Will Muschamp turned the linebackers coach at LSU.

Good and Georgia are 1-0 towards Samford, profitable 42-14 in 2017.

RB Andrew Paul – ACL, out for the 12 months

WR Arian Smith – Ankle, anticipated be out for the 12 months

S Christopher Smith – Shoulder stinger, anticipated to play

CB Nyland Inexperienced – Hamstring, not anticipated to play

Offense

QB Stetson Bennett—Threw for a career-high 386 yards with three touchdowns (two passing, one dashing) towards Oregon. Search for the senior to have one other enormous day.

RB Kenny McIntosh—Led Georgia with 9 catches for 117 yards final week

RB Kendall Milton – Off to an awesome begin after dashing for a team-high 50 yards with two touchdowns—one dashing and one receiving.

RB Daijun Edwards—Solely carried the ball 4 time for twenty-four yards final week. Each totals ought to rise Saturday.

TE Brock Bowers—“Solely” caught two passes for 38 yards, however that was largely as a result of reality Georgia has no scarcity of offensive weapons. Don’t fear, nonetheless; these numbers will broaden on Saturday.

TE Darnell Washington—Higher stamina allowed him to take 35 reps towards Oregon. His hurdle of a hapless Duck defender after making a catch was one among final week’s highlights.

WR AD Mitchell—Had a high-quality first sport, catching 4 passes for 65 yards and a landing.

WR Ladd McConkey—Had 5 catches for 73 yards and a rating. Additionally rushed twice for 16 yards and one other landing.

LT Broderick Jones—Lastly reaching his potential.

RT Warren McClendon—Underrated by some, many consider McClendon is the very best offensive lineman on the group. Confirmed his versatility by enjoying each proper and left sort out towards Oregon.

C Sedrick Van Pran—Quarterback of the offensive line is turning into the most effective on the place within the SEC. Laid out some devastating blocks towards Oregon.

Protection

DT Jalen Carter—Solely had two tackles towards Oregon however spent all afternoon shoving Oregon’s offensive linemen backwards.

DE Mykel Williams—We knew Williams was going to see in depth reps, nevertheless it did qualify as a shock when he earned final week’s begin.

LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson—Performed a stable first sport, ending with three tackles.

LB Smael Mondon—Noticed in depth motion. There have been instances when he lined up incorrectly, however these are correctable errors.

OLB Nolan Smith—Didn’t play as a lot as you’ll suppose, however that was largely as a result of rating being what it was. Nonetheless led the group with three quarterback pressures.

CB Kelee Ringo—Sophomore cornerback is likely one of the finest within the league.

CB Kamari Lassiter—Was flagged by an official for a questionable unsportsmanlike penalty after making a tough sort out. In any other case, his first profession begin was a profitable one.

S Christopher Smith—Veteran is the eyes and ears of the secondary. Picked off a move towards Oregon, virtually taking it to the home.

S Malaki Starks—Freshman performed an incredible sport, main Georgia with eight tackles and intercepted his first profession move.

Clear up the “WTF” moments: Final week’s rating was actually spectacular however there was lots, particularly on protection, that went mistaken for Good and his assistants to concentrate on. Gamers lining up mistaken was an points, particularly at linebacker. Whereas the Bulldogs had been in a position to largely make up for these errors with effort and hustle, issues with alignment want cleansing up now earlier than starting SEC play subsequent week.

Keep wholesome: Except for some bumps and bruises, the Bulldogs got here away unscathed final week. This may clearly be a weekly key, nevertheless it’s actually one thing that actually must proceed earlier than heading to Columbia subsequent week.

Maintain the primary factor the primary factor: Samford gained’t essentially be intimidated coming to Sanford Stadium, because the FCS Bulldogs are used to enjoying Energy 5 colleges. Nonetheless, it is a sport Georgia ought to win simply. To do this, the Bulldogs merely want to come back out centered. It’s exhausting to think about a Kirby Good-coached group not doing that, however let’s see it. The Bulldogs speak on a regular basis about enjoying to a typical. Saturday is the proper alternative to take action.

… After a heated QB battle in spring and fall camp, Michael Hiers obtained the beginning nod towards No. 8 Kennesaw State after which proceeded to mild up the scoreboard by passing for 4 touchdowns, which is tied for probably the most touchdowns by a Samford QB in his first begin underneath head coach Chris Hatcher. Graduate large receiver Kendall Williams caught two of these touchdowns and had a profession night time by hauling in 9 passes for 187 yards and the 2 scores.

… Via his first seven seasons, Hatcher’s offenses have averaged extra factors than underneath some other head coach in program historical past. Coming into the season, Hatcher’s groups have averaged 34.7 factors per sport, forward of Bobby Bowden’s 28.57 common. Terry Bowden (1987-1992) averaged 27.92 factors per sport throughout his tenure whereas Invoice Grey (2001-06 / 25.68) and Pat Sullivan (2007-14 / 25.50) spherical out the highest 5.

… Samford has an all-time file of 2-79-3 towards the present members of the Southeastern Convention. Samford has performed an SEC group in 9 of the final 11 fall seasons however has not defeated a group from the SEC since 1934 (Ole Miss).

Let’s simply reduce to the chase. It is a sport that Georgia will win simply. No offense to Samford, however there’s merely not so much the Birmingham Bulldogs are going to have the ability to do to compete with Georgia, assuming Kirby Good’s Bulldogs are able to play. They are going to be. Prediction: Georgia 55, Samford 7