Georgia vs. Troy Complete Game Preview

After a brutal two-game opening stretch that began with a big win over Clemson and concluded with a disappointing loss to South Carolina, the Georgia Bulldogs will get a chance to iron out a few wrinkles against the Troy Trojans on Saturday.

While this game is rightfully expected to be a win for head coach Mark Richt's Dawgs, plenty can be learned and accomplished against less formidable opposition.

Here's what you need to know about this game:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 20

Time: 12 p.m. ET

Place: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia

TV: SEC Network

Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network, Troy Sports Radio Network

Spread: Georgia by 35.5 per Odds Shark

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all stats from Sports-Reference.com.

Georgia's Keys to Victory

Rainier Ehrhardt/Associated Press

Put bluntly, Georgia should win this football game.  If the contest comes down to the successful navigation of just one or two keys, then something has gone terribly wrong for the Bulldogs.  Accordingly, here are a few themes worth watching—though the game itself will be decided by Georgia's overwhelming talent advantage.

Hutson Mason's Big Day

Hutson Mason has yet to start against a lower-tier opponent.  In his four starts, the quarterback has played two ACC teams (Georgia Tech and Clemson), one Big Ten power (Nebraska) and an SEC East rival (South Carolina).  Only one of those contests (Clemson) came at home.

This week, Mason will get a chance to build some confidence.  Whether some of his star receivers (such as Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley) are back from injury remains to be seen, but the Bulldogs will have a noticeable advantage on the outside either way.  Look for Mason to amass big yardage over the game's first three quarters before watching from the sideline.

To be clear, Mason has not had a bad start to the season.  While his statistics may not rival what Georgia fans grew to expect with former quarterback Aaron Murray, he has performed more than adequately.  Through two games this year (both against Top 25 opposition), Mason has completed nearly 71 percent of his passes and has not thrown an interception.

Defensive Back Opportunities

The loss to South Carolina served as a harsh reminder of the work left unfinished in Georgia's defensive secondary.  Though Gamecock quarterback Dylan Thompson was slightly less dominant in the second half, most of that can be attributed to the home team getting away from the pass and nursing a lead with the running game.

There are many unanswered questions in the defensive backfield, and don't be surprised to see a wide array of young Bulldogs trying to provide solutions.  Expect more substitutions and more reps for young talents as defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt continues to mold this unit.

If healthy, look for Shattle Fenteng to take some snaps.  J.J. Green, the converted running back, could also get some reps.

Troy's Keys to Victory

Hal Yeager/Associated Press

The Troy Trojans are 0-3 with losses to Alabama-Birmingham, Duke and Abilene Christian, so an upset is highly unlikely.  Ironically, their chances of shocking the Bulldogs were hurt by Georgia's loss to South Carolina.  The Dawgs will enter this game as heavy favorites but somewhat humbled after their trip to Columbia.  Accordingly, they may be slightly more diligent in their preparations for Troy.

Here are some things Troy should look to do against the Dawgs.

Throw the Football

Before suffering a concussion in the third quarter this weekend, freshman quarterback Brandon Silvers was playing pretty well.  He may not have the biggest arm in college football, but his accuracy is worth some attention.  He completed more than 70 percent of his passes in each of his first two games (against UAB and Duke).  And Georgia has a tendency to allow a lot of completions.

If Troy can connect on a few short passes early, the Trojans could frustrate a young Georgia defense and keep things competitive for a prolonged period.

Stop Gurley

Nobody has stopped Todd Gurley as of late. He's accounted for 135 or more yards of offense in seven of his last eight games.  But the one team to bottle him up over that stretch may surprise you.  Appalachian State held Gurley to just 87 yards of offense on 16 touches.

That should be the goal of the Trojan defense.  Georgia's offense is too talented not to get yards, but why not strive for taking Gurley out of the equation?  Stack the box to any extent necessary, but make sure he doesn't break free repeatedly.  

Make Mason be the hero, not Gurley.

Georgia Players to Watch

Rainier Ehrhardt/Associated Press

Sony Michel

While Nick Chubb has garnered attention for his bruising runs, fellow freshman running back Sony Michel has quietly started the season just as solidly.  In two games, Michel has carried the ball 10 times for 51 yards and added four receptions for 53 yards.

His run after a catch for a touchdown on the first drive against South Carolina showed just how explosive he can be in space.  He'll get those types of opportunities often against Troy, and he should continue to find success.  Assuming Georgia gets out to an early lead, Michel could have the best day of his young career as Gurley observes from the sideline.

Look for this freshman star to go over 100 yards in total offense Saturday.

Lorenzo Carter

Carter, another freshman, also had a big game against South Carolina.  He registered three tackles and pressured the quarterback once, but his first-half fumble recovery was obviously the high point of his evening.

Look for Carter to continue seeing more and more playing time. Against Troy, his size (6'6", 237 lbs) and athleticism will negate any rawness in his game.  Carter will pursue the quarterback relentlessly Saturday and will likely register his first career sack.

Most importantly, however, this game will give Carter experience, which is invaluable at this phase in his career.

Troy Players to Watch

Hal Yeager/Associated Press

Chandler Worthy

A 5'9" senior from the Peach State, Worthy had the speed to play in the SEC but lacked the size coming out of high school.  Nevertheless, he's been a major contributor at Troy since his freshman season, when he hauled in 22 catches for 392 yards and four touchdowns.

He's already caught 12 balls for 157 yards this year, but he's also a threat to be used in the running game on end-around reverse plays.  In 2012, he racked up 79 rushing yards on 11 carries, and he ran for 44 yards and one touchdown last season.

Worthy, who has returned 62 kickoffs for 1,383 career return yards, has accounted for over 3,000 all-purpose yards over the course of his career.  That number is too big to ignore, no matter how small in stature he may appear.

Femi Odaibo

Odaibo had himself a game this weekend against Abilene Christian, registering three tackles and two interceptions.  The senior lines up primarily as a nickel defensive back and has been a force in the secondary (when healthy) since transferring from Santa Barbara City College in 2013.

Last year, he registered nine solo tackles in the Trojans' season opener against UAB, and he's more than capable of making one-on-one tackles.  But his big-play ability makes him a threat to passers.  At 6'0" and 198 pounds, he won't make things easy for Bulldog receivers lining up in the slot.

What They're Saying

Hal Yeager/Associated Press

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney

Bulldogs Staying Positive

According to GeorgiaDogs.com, Richt remains optimistic about the season despite the recent setback.  

"The good news is there's a lot of things we can get better at," he observed.  "We will get better.  Our guys are eager to work hard and we'll be fine."

Undoubtedly, that mentality is necessary, but it's also justified.  The season is still young, after all.

Georgia's Secondary Concerns

Richt also pointed out a few recurring problems in the secondary.  

"We jumped on some underneath routes that opened up some things behind us," he noted.  But he also recognized that much of South Carolina's success in the passing game was a result of well-thrown balls and good receiving.

This type of game should be good for rectifying some errors. 

Troy Also Looking to Rebound

According to TroyTrojans.com, Troy head coach Larry Blakeney was equally disappointed in the Trojans' recent loss to Abilene Christian.  

"We are in the [throes] of sadness after losing a game to a team that everybody thinks we were supposed to beat," he offered after the game.

He added, "I tried my best to warn everybody.  We tried to be as good as we could be.  We did some good things."

Prediction

Rainier Ehrhardt/Associated Press

Georgia often starts slowly against opponents from smaller conferences, but the Bulldogs have never really been threatened by such foes.  This game will be no exception.

Hutson Mason will take his shots downfield, and a healthy dose of running from a stable of backs will result in another solid performance by the Georgia offense.  Defensively, this game should provide a tremendous opportunity for the Dawgs to grow and break in some new personnel.

Georgia wins comfortably.

Final Score: Georgia 48, Troy 14