College Football Must See – #13 Georgia Bulldogs at #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys

I’m not sure there is a better trio of offensive weapons anywhere in the country than what Oklahoma State has in QB Zac Robinson, wide receiver Dez Bryant (87 catches last year) and running back Kendall Hunter (1555 yards in ’08). There is no question you are going to have to score a lot of points to beat this team. However, the Cowboys have always had problems when going up against the stronger teams, and a lot of that boils down to the fact that this defense is often not that well-equipped.

BetOnline NCAA Football Betting Odds: OKLAHOMA STATE -5, Total 61.5

Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• GA has covered one of its last five games
• GA has won 17 of its last 20 games SU
• GA has played four of its last six games OVER the total
• GA has won its last eight road games SU
• GA has played 15 of its last 21 road games UNDER the total
• OSU has covered one of its last five games
• OSU has won 10 of its last 14 games SU
• OSU has lost four of its last six games SU
• OSU has covered four of its last six games
• OSU has won seven of its last nine games SU
• OSU has played four of its last six home games OVER the total

This team has not allowed less than four yards a carry since 2003, and surrendered 28 points per game to opponents last season. Coach Mike Gundy has some hope because he’s got a full linebacker corps returning and has stuck some junior college transfers into the mix on the defensive line.

The question is whether Georgia is a team that can generate the kind of offense to exploit Oklahoma State’s weaknesses. The Bulldogs lost two first-round draft choices to the NFL – quarterbacks Matthew Stafford, who was the first overall choice (to Detroit) and running back Knowshon Moreno, who went to the Broncos. Other losses included wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi and fullback Brannan Southerland.

The Bulldogs are not helpless, however. Fifth-year senior quarterback John Cox has been patiently waiting his turn and has spent a lot of time in Mark Richt’s offense. A.J. Green (56 catches last year) returns and is an All-America candidate at wide receiver. Caleb King, the leading returning rusher, will not make the trip to Stillwater as he has a hamstring injury. Don’t let that bother you, Richard Samuel, who like King was highly-touted when recruited to Athens, has size (6’2", 220 lbs.) and speed, and should be an adequate replacement, with scatback Carlton Thomas there to complement him. Georgia added Orson Charles, considered by many to be the top tight end coming out of high school this year.

Richt also has eight starters back on defense and a mentality where his team is rarely if ever intimidated when visiting. In fact, the Bulldogs have won eight straight road games and 18 of the last 21. That makes them a very viable underdog in this one, so we’re taking the points with Georgia, the five-point dog in the BetOnline NCAA college football betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: GEORGIA +5 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)