Georgia football favored to bounce back vs. Florida in SEC East showdown

ATHENS — Georgia football has opened as a 7 1/2-point favorite over red-hot Florida in Saturday’s SEC East Division showdown in Jacksonville, Fla., according to VegasInsider.com.

The No. 7-ranked Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) and No. 9-ranked Gators (6-1, 4-1) are both coming off bye weekends.

Georgia is coming off a 36-16 loss at No. 4-ranked LSU in its most recent outing, while Florida has momentum after rallying from a 21-3 road deficit at Vanderbilt to score a 37-27 win.

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said he’s not surprised by the success first-year Gators head coach Dan Mullen is having, pointing to the athleticism and talent on the Florida roster.

Georgia won last season’s rivalry game in Jacksonville, 42-7, but Florida players at SEC Media Days in Atlanta said the game was closer than the final score.

“Definitely so,” said linebacker David Reese ll. “That game, we let that one slip away.”

“Most definitely,” offensive lineman Martez Ivey insisted. “That game was way closer than what the scoreboard put out last year.”

Gator defensive lineman Cece Jefferson agreed, and took the argument to another level, saying “that score doesn’t determine who’s the better team.”