It may not be Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, but it’s still an intra-Peach State battle as the Georgia Bulldogs (7-3, 5-3 in the SEC) welcome the Georgia Southern Eagles (7-2, 5-1 in the Sun Belt) to Samford Stadium.
How to watch Georgia Southern vs. Georgia on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
It may not be Georgia’s usual in-state rivalry, but it could still be a lot of fun!
The Bulldogs took a step towards saving a lost season with a 20-13 win over Auburn last week. The offense only scored one touchdown and the quarterback situation continues to look lost, but the Dawgs picked up a win that they needed badly. If UGA can close the season out with three straight wins, including one over Georgia Tech, that would certainly inject some calm into what’s been a tumultuous season that has made Mark Richt ask some very hard questions.
Georgia Southern may be new on the FBS scene, but it won't walk between the hedges timidly. The Eagles are bowl-eligible and as competitive as any Sun Belt program under head coach Willie Fritz. They run a difficult offensive scheme and rank 21st in efficiency on offense. These two teams are just one spot apart in the S&P+ rankings. There have certainly been crazier upsets in college football.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Radio: Georgia, Georgia Southern
Online streaming: WatchESPN Link
Spread: Georgia favored by 16 points.
Make friends: Underdog Dynasty is the source for Georgia Southern and other Sun Belt teams, while UGA fans can get on down to Dawg Sports to chat about the matchup.
Three big things to know
1. Giant killer?
It's been talked about to the point of cliche, but if we're talking about the Eagles taking on an SEC opponent, we have to remember their landmark 26-20 upset of the Florida Gators in 2013. Georgia Southern is a proud program that has won national titles at the FCS level and isn't afraid to take on anybody. They won't blink in a tight game, even against the in-state SEC powerhouse.
2. Triple threat
The Eagles run a modified triple-option offense that blends Gus Malzahn and Paul Johnson in a way that can be difficult to prepare for. On a short week, after an emotional win on the Plains over Auburn, Georgia’s defense, which has given up 200-plus yards on the ground in two of the last three games, will be challenged.
Georgia’s punt returner won SEC special teams player of the week for his 53-yard touchdown return against Auburn last week. With the Bulldog offense struggling, McKenzie could be an incredibly valuable weapon. But the Eagles have allowed all of four punt return yards on the entire season.
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