Missouri vs. Georgia: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

A hobbled No. 7 Georgia team returns home to take on a crafty No. 25 Missouri Tigers squad that features one of the nation's elite offenses.

The Bulldogs survived a scare last week in a 34-31 victory over Tennessee but paid the ultimate price in the form of injuries.

Star running back Todd Gurley is doubtful, and backup Keith Marshall and receiver Justin Scott-Wesley are out for the season per ESPN's David Ching, while Michael Bennett can return late in the year. Another star receiver, Malcolm Mitchell, is also out for the year.

Things have been better for the Tigers, an undefeated team that has yet to be truly tested but touts an offense that scores 46.6 points per game behind the arm of senior quarterback James Franklin.

The following is everything fans need to know about the exciting SEC matchup that could swing either way.

When: Saturday, October 12 at noon ET

Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.

Television: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

Betting Lines (via Vegas Insider)

• Over/Under: 63.5
• Spread: Georgia (-8)

Tigers Injury Report (via USA Today)

Ernest Payton

CB

09/01/2013

is expected to miss the remainder of the season

Out

knee

Bulldogs Injury Report (via USA Today)

Collin Barber	P	10/06/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri	Questionable	concussion
Michael Bennett	WR	10/06/2013	is out indefinitely	Out	knee
Paris Bostick	S	08/08/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	toe surgery
James DeLoach	LB	10/06/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri	Questionable	concussion
Todd Gurley II	RB	10/09/2013	is doubtful for Saturday's game against Missouri	Doubtful	ankle
Quayvon Hicks	FB	10/08/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri	Questionable	ankle/knee
Austin Long	T	08/17/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	academics
Keith Marshall	RB	10/07/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Tray Matthews	S	10/09/2013	is doubtful for Saturday's game against Missouri	Doubtful	hamstring
Malcolm Mitchell	WR	09/01/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
Connor Norman	S	10/06/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri	Questionable	concussion
Ryne Rankin	LB	10/06/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri	Questionable	illness
Jonathon Rumph	WR	10/06/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Missouri	Questionable	hamstring
Justin Scott-Wesley	S	10/07/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Tramel Terry	WR	08/31/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee
Reggie Wilkerson	CB	08/08/2013	will miss the entire season	Out	knee

 

Can Aaron Murray Overcome the Injuries?

Georgia allows a little over 30 points per game, so Missouri and its high-flying offense will have little trouble scoring enough points to win.

In order to match, Georgia needs senior quarterback Aaron Murray to be on top of his game. Murray could not ask for a better opponent at this juncture given the fact the Tigers have the worst pass defense in the SEC as confirmed by Bulldogs' beat writer Radi Nabulsi:

Murray is playing the best ball of his career with over 1,500 yards passing, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions in five games.

Unfortunately thanks to injury, he will have to rely on freshman running back J.J. Green (17 carries for 129 yards versus Tennessee) and receiver Chris Conley as his best weapons.

Now is the perfect time for Murray to show he has an ability to elevate the play of those around him. If he cannot, the Bulldogs will have a difficult time keeping up.

Prediction

Missouri is led by James Franklin, a man who has 1,685 yards, 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions to his name in five games.

The dual-threat senior has the ability to drive the Bulldogs' defense mad, much as he did last season when the Tigers gave Georgia a game behind Franklin's 294 total yards and two scores:

Last year saw Murray lead the Bulldogs to victory as he tossed three touchdowns, but he was backed by the combo of Gurley and Marshall, who rumbled for 97 yards and a score while keeping the Tigers' defense honest.

This year will play out differently but with the same result. Murray has the talent to rise above the injuries and exploit the conference's worst pass defense at home as the Tigers are blindsided by their first taste of real competition in 2013.

Final Score 

Bulldogs win 44-34

Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling.

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