The No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs (6-0) are set to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5) on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Nashville.
The Bulldogs looked like the best team in the country in last week’s 51-13 win over No. 20 Kentucky. The Georgia offense set aside its early-season miscues and scored on eight of its 10 drives.
The Wildcats’ offense was suffocated by the Bulldogs’ stout defense. After Kentucky racked up 329 rushing yards against Florida the week prior, Georgia held the Wildcats to 55 yards rushing and 183 total yards on the night.
The Commodores will have their hands full on Saturday. The Bulldogs are currently 31.5 point favorites, per BetMGM odds.
Here’s five reasons why Georgia covers the spread and a prediction:
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Georgia has outscored Vanderbilt 233-33 since 2017 and 117-0 over the last two matchups. The Commodores haven’t scored a touchdown since the 2018 matchup.
If the Bulldogs’ offense can produce points like they did against Kentucky, the 31.5 point spread is easily achievable.
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First-year starting quarterback Carson Beck is playing like one of the best signal callers in the SEC. The junior was named Co-Offensive SEC Play of the Week for his performance in Week 6.
Beck completed 28-of-35 passes for 389 yards with four touchdowns and one interception against a stout Wildcats defense.
Beck currently sits second in the conference in passing yards (1,886) and completion percentage (73%).
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While no one has stopped Brock Bowers this season, the Commodores may have more trouble than others.
Vanderbilt sits 13th in the SEC in defensive passing efficiency and have allowed 15 passing touchdowns so far this season.
Bowers has three-straight games with at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
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Georgia has posted two-straight shutouts against the Commodores and Vanderbilt’s offense won’t threaten the Bulldogs defense this year either.
Vanderbilt sits 12th in the SEC in points per game (29), while Georgia has the top-ranked scoring defense in the conference, allowing 14.2 points per game.
Vandy fans DID show up at Vanderbilt Stadium for #Georgia game (right corner) pic.twitter.com/W0RRoA3Cz1
— MikeGriffith32 (@MikeGriffith32) September 1, 2019
It’s always important the note the difficulty of playing on the road in the SEC. Conference opponents have some of the rowdiest environments in college football.
That’s not what the Bulldogs will face on Saturday. More Georgia fans will likely make the five hour trip to Nashville than the Commodores will have fans in attendance.
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31.5 points is a large margin, but with how Georgia has previously played against Vanderbilt, I don’t think that’s a stretch.
The Bulldogs’ offense will pick up where they left off against Kentucky and the defense will force Vanderbilt into obvious passing situations and come away with a couple of turnovers.
Georgia will enter its bye week 7-0 with a trip to Jacksonville up next.
Score: UGA 48, Vanderbilt 0
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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