3 reasons why Georgia will beat Florida and 1 why they won’t

2. When the Georgia ground game gets going, it’s awfully hard to stop

While the passing game cannot be trusted for Georgia, and for good reason, the Dawgs have a tendency to lean on their ferocious ground game and have success. Though the offensive line did lose three starters to the 2020 NFL Draft, this new front-five is quickly developing an identity as a bunch of maulers in the trenches. They love to beat up the opposition by pounding the rock.

This was a strategy that worked out wonderfully for Georgia vs. the Kentucky Wildcats last week on the road. It was a ball-control offensive approach that allowed the Dawgs to find the end zone twice in a game that was a defensive struggle. Given that Kentucky is a solid defensive team, this bodes well for Georgia going up against a Florida squad that is better known for it passing attack.

Whether it is Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh or Kendall Milton running the football in Todd Monken’s Georgia offense, the Dawgs can feel confident about moving the sticks by sheer will with this offensive philosophy, especially in the second half. Being able to wear down Florida’s defensive front-seven will be a much-needed key to victory for Kirby Smart’s Georgia team.

It is not sexy, but it is effective. Georgia does not have the passing offense to keep pace with the Gators in a shootout, but if the defense can hold up its end of the bargain and the Dawgs can run the ball with conviction, they can dictate the pace of this rivalry game. Georgia has the defense and the ground game needed to dominate time of possession to eke out an impressive victory.