The Georgia Bulldogs were a team many expected to compete for a National Championship this season. With a plethora of talent including star quarterback Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley leading the way, the Bulldogs appeared to be on a short list of squads that could potentially upend the defending National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite dropping a 38-35 season-opening game at Clemson, the Dogs remain in the hunt thanks to four-straight victories but with a crucial SEC match-up on the way, Georgia hopes recent injury won't derail any high expectations.
While narrowly defeating Tennessee in last weekend's overtime thriller was a definite positive, head coach Mark Richt watched as his team endured multiple injuries to key members of the program. Gurley was absent from last weekend's victory due to a sprained ankle and while there is a chance the future NFL back will play in Georgia's next game against Missouri, the team will be without its second-leading rusher after Keith Marshall suffered season-ending knee injury against Tennessee. Wideout Justin Scott-Wesley is also out for they year due to a knee injury but Richt still holds hope that Gurley will be a go this weekend, even if his early preparations are built with the mindset that his starting back not suiting up.
"Is he going to play this game? He could," Richt said to reporters. "We're not counting him out, but we have to prepare as if he won't play. I think we're fine. We're ready to go to battle again Football is a physical game with injuries, and other teams have injuries. Some guys are very excited about the opportunity to make more contributions."
Those contributions Richt mentioned will certainly be needed this weekend against a Missouri Tigers team that ranks in the Top 40 in all four of the major statistical categories. Currently eighth in the nation with over 46 points per game, the 5-0 Tigers are also 15th in rushing yards (258.8/pg), 32nd in passing yards (285.0/pg) and 40th in total points against (22.4/pg). Though a marquee win hasn't exactly been enjoyed through five games - with the team defeating Murray State, Toledo, Indiana, Arkansas State and Vanderbilt to begin the 2013-2014 slate - the Tigers believe in their ability to take down one of the SEC's best on the road.
"We always see opportunities in the games we play and we want to go in confident, but not overconfident," Missouri quarterback James Franklin, who has thrown for over 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, said recently. "This week we are playing Georgia and going to go out there and do our best to win."
Georgia vs. Missouri: DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Saturday, October 12
TIME: 12:00pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
