11.5 point spread sets stage for No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 17 Florida
The two teams have not met while both were ranked since 2020, and a loss for Florida would likely end its playoff run.
By Samir Patterson ·
Georgia holds an 11.5 point advantage over Florida in a Saturday showdown that carries heavy weight for the College Football Playoff.
The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta and will air on ABC. It marks the first time since 2020 that these two rivals have met while both held top 25 rankings.
The rivalry has shifted in recent years. Georgia won eight of the last 10 meetings against Florida, including the previous five contests. In those 15 matchups, the Gators have scored more than 30 points only twice.
Both teams took a break after different results in Week 7. Georgia lost to Auburn in a game defined by turnovers. Florida beat Texas 27-24 to build momentum. Georgia has not lost a regular season game since 2019.
Florida needs to win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The team must improve its performance on third downs and rely on running back Jadan Baugh to sustain drives. This is the first of three consecutive ranked games for Georgia, which is trying to secure a first round bye.
The SEC slate includes other high stakes games on Saturday. No. 12 Ole Miss hosts Auburn at 12:45 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. Ole Miss is a 13 point favorite.
Ole Miss comes off a 34-27 road loss to Texas. Auburn lost 38-17 to LSU after its upset of Georgia. Ole Miss will play without star running back Kewan Lacy, who dislocated his shoulder against Texas. Makhi Frazier is expected to handle most of the carries.
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown may test the Ole Miss defense. The Rebels have allowed an SEC high 161.1 rushing yards per game. LSU held Auburn to 66 rushing yards in their last meeting.
The conference features nine ranked teams this week. Georgia is No. 3, Kentucky is No. 9, Alabama is No. 10, and Texas is No. 11. Ole Miss is No. 12, LSU is No. 15, Tennessee is No. 16, Florida is No. 17, and Missouri is No. 23.
Georgia leads the conference in scoring offense at 43 points per game and allows just 15.86 points per game. Tennessee leads in sacks with 35. LSU averages 510 offensive yards per game. Georgia and Kentucky are the only teams in the SEC with one loss.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is out for the season with a foot injury. He underwent surgery. Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy returned to full practice after recovering from a gunshot wound sustained in May.
