Florida-Georgia Preview Capsule

The Associated Press

Florida (3-3, 2-3 SEC) vs. No. 9 Georgia (6-1, 4-1), 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

Line: Georgia by 13.

Series record: Debatable. Florida insists it trails the all-time series 49-40-2, refusing to include a 1904 game in Macon, Georgia, because the Gators didn’t begin playing varsity football until two years later. The Bulldogs count the 52-0 victory and call the series lead 50-40-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Georgia’s three-game winning streak in the series, the Bulldogs’ spot atop the SEC East and quite possibly Florida coach Will Muschamp’s job. The Bulldogs control their destiny in the division and can move a step closer to clinching the East with a victory. Florida has lost seven of its last 10 games under Muschamp.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida’s ground game vs Georgia’s run defense. The Gators want to pound the football in hopes of avoiding turnovers, which have been a problem the last four games. It might not work against the Bulldogs, who rank second in the SEC in rushing defense.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida: Freshman QB Treon Harris makes his first career start, replacing ineffective junior Jeff Driskel. Florida has a run-oriented game plan, but Harris has to be able to make plays to give the Gators a chance to win in Jacksonville for the first time since 2010.

Georgia: Nick Chubb has 68 carries for 345 yards and three touchdowns in Georgia’s last two games, starting both in place of suspended junior Todd Gurley. The 228-pound freshman is averaging 5.75 yards a carry and could pose problems for Florida, which allowed huge ground yardage to Alabama and LSU.

FACTS & FIGURES

Nine of last 12 games in series, including previous four, have been decided by eight points or less. … Both teams coming off bye weeks, the third time that’s happened in series history. … Both teams will wear dark uniforms, the first time that’s happened since 1970. … Muschamp is 0-7 in this series, going 0-4 as a Georgia player (1991-94) and 0-3 as Florida’s coach. … Florida holds the nation’s longest streak without being shutout, at 328 games. … For as anemic as the Gators have been offensively, they lead the nation in red-zone efficiency, having scored on 21 of 22 trips inside the 20-yard line. …Georgia hasn’t won four in a row in the series since 1983.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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