Here’s everything you need to know about Georgia at Missouri.

When: Today
Where: Columbia, Mo.
Game Time: Noon ET
TV: CBS
Current Line: Georgia (-1.5)

Game Buzz: The winner of this game is the SEC East favorite, though far from a lock to head to the SEC Championship. Georgia must contend with the suspension of RB Todd Gurley, while Missouri must shake pretty mediocre play in seven of its last eight quarters. Florida and Kentucky will be watching closely.

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

NO. 13 GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Players To Watch:

  • QB Hutson Mason
  • RB Nick Chubb
  • WR Malcolm Mitchell
  • TE Jeb Blazevich
  • OL John Theus
  • OL Kolton Houston
  • LB Leonard Floyd
  • LB Jordan Jenkins
  • CB Damian Swann
  • LB Amarlo Herrera

Keys For Georgia:

  • Keep emotions in check. It’s been a crazy, albeit rough week for Georgia football. With the news of Todd Gurley’s suspension, the Bulldogs are now without their best player and team leader. The best thing Georgia can do is act like it never happened. Obviously, Gurley can’t play, but for Nick Chubb and Hutson Mason, it’s important they don’t try to overcompensate and do too much in Gurley’s absence. Turnovers would be the likely outcome, if so.
  • Fend off Shane Ray and Markus Golden. Easier said than done, but UGA’s ability to pass protect today is even more important now that Gurley is out of the game. Nick Chubb is a talented back, but he’s no Gurley, so a depleted UGA running game should allow for more passing situations. Ray and Golden are as talented as any defensive ends in the SEC. They’ll be bringing the pressure all night. Mason’s comfort within the pocket is essential to his success, so stoping Ray and Golden must be priority No. 1 for the UGA offensive line.
  • Get receivers involved early. Todd Gurley’s absence puts a lot of pressure on everyone else within the UGA offense, especially those involved in the passing game. Mason must get things going early with his receivers. They don’t have to be big passing plays, but they must have enough success to build Mason’s confidence and keep the Missouri defense honest. Because at the end of the day, UGA’s best weapon is the run game and the more Missouri has to worry about the passing game, the more things open up for Chubb and others in the backfield.

Glaring weakness to watch: Secondary. Missouri’s passing attack isn’t racking up a ton of yards, but they score a lot. With Georgia’s vulnerability in the middle of the field, Maty Mauk and the Missouri wide receivers should take advantage and have a big game.

Most interesting part of the game: How Georgia responds with no Gurley. We’ll get a real good idea today of just how good this UGA team is without Gurley. There’s a possibility No. 3 won’t suit up again for the Bulldogs, so Georgia needs a strong game against Missouri in order to keep its season afloat.

Team buzz: The news of Todd Gurley’s suspension changed everything for Georgia. They are still a talented team and could still win the SEC East, but losing the best player on your team and quite possibly the nation is not an easy thing to overcome. Mark Richt is a veteran coach and he’ll have his guys ready, but I’m just not convinced that the emotional blow of it all won’t be too much for this team to overcome.

NO. 23 MISSOURI TIGERS

Players To Watch:

  • QB Maty Mauk
  • RB/KR Marcus Murphy
  • WR Bud Sasser
  • DE Shane Ray
  • DE Markus Golden
  • LB Michael Scherer

Keys For Missouri:

  • Make Hutson Mason beat you. Yes, I know Todd Gurley is out. But that doesn’t change this key for the Tigers. UGA has a good offensive line. Missouri has allowed a 100-yard rusher in four of five games this season. And the Nick Chubb/Brendan Douglas combination has potential even if it isn’t terrifying. The Tigers have to play the run first and attempt to force Georgia to throw, which will allow Missouri to rely on its excellent pass rush.
  • Get something out of pass-catchers not named Bud Sasser. Tight end Sean Culkin has fallen short of being a major factor in the passing game, but he’s close. Seniors Darius White and Jimmie Hunt should return from injuries. The inexperienced backups should learn from the disastrous game against South Carolina. Overall, this group has to help Sasser and QB Maty Mauk.
  • Win the game-changing plays late. Missouri likely will play a ton of close games the rest of the season. Against South Carolina, with the outcome at stake, the Tigers made nearly every play. It won’t be a surprise if Mizzou needs to dominate the final few minutes of this game in order to win.

Glaring weakness to watch: Lack of depth — This roster gets into trouble quickly if key starters get injured, as we saw against Indiana and South Carolina. SEC play lives up to its rough and tumble reputation. Will it affect the Tigers here?

Most interesting part of the game: Whether Mauk can slice through a Georgia secondary known to give up yards.

Team buzz: The Tigers lost to more or less a middling Big Ten team at home, then knocked off South Carolina on the road in a rousing comeback. This is only the second SEC game for Missouri, while the Gamecocks, for example, are preparing for their sixth conference contest. Is this team the SEC East frontrunner? Is it a mediocre seven-win group? We’ll know more this week.