Georgia vs. Missouri: Complete Game Preview

While the recent shakeup in the SEC West steals headlines, the leaders of the SEC East quietly prepare for a matchup with major divisional implications this Saturday.

This weekend, the Missouri Tigers (4-1 overall, 1-0 in SEC play) will host the Georgia Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) in what should be an instant classic.  Though the loser of the contest won't be eliminated from contention, it's hard to dispute the advantage the winner will hold in the already crowded division standings.

Perhaps more importantly, however, this game will be considered the best win of this still-young season for the victor and provide momentum for that team as it heads into the second half of the 2014 campaign.

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

• Date: Saturday, October 11
• Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
• Place: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri
• TV: CBS
• Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network, Tiger Network Radio
• Spread: Georgia (-1.5), per OddsShark.com

Georgia Keys to Victory

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason

A Quick Start

In its lone previous trip to Missouri, Georgia started the game famously slow before relying on a feverish defensive effort headed by Jarvis Jones to tame the Tigers.  Clearly the more talented team in 2012, Georgia did not garner a lead in the game until the final minute of the third quarter.  When all was said and done, the Bulldogs came away with a 41-20 victory.

While star running back Todd Gurley has proven capable of taking over games, relying on a clutch late-game effort is not ideal—especially when on the road against a ranked opponent.  Georgia does not need Jones-like heroics in the second half.  Georgia needs a quick start.

Limit Turnovers

Missouri is one of the better teams in the country at forcing turnovers, and under head coach Gary Pinkel, that has always been a priority.

For Georgia, securing the football in the ground attack and avoiding ill-advised passes into coverage is paramount.  Quarterback Hutson Mason did not throw an interception in his first three starts of the season, but he's thrown three in the last two games against Tennessee and Vanderbilt.  That trend must be curbed.

Turnovers at any point in this game will be crippling.  Missouri knows how to force them, but more importantly, the Tigers know how to score off of them.  Georgia cannot give away possessions, much less points.

Missouri Keys to Victory

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Establish the Passing Game

Mason may receive a lot of criticism for stifling Georgia's passing attack, but Missouri's Maty Mauk has not fared much better statistically.  Mauk has thrown 58 more passes and, accordingly, has racked up more yardage and touchdown passes, but he's also thrown more interceptions, and he trails Mason in completion percentage and quarterback rating.

Mauk must take advantage of a Georgia secondary that is porous and depleted by a recent exodus of talent.  After all, Georgia has lost two defensive backs to dismissal over the past two weeks and one more to a lasting medical issue.  A big game from Mauk may be all it takes for Missouri to pull away.

Contain Gurley

You cannot stop Gurley, and even hoping to contain him has proven futile this year, but Missouri must find a way to make his yardage difficult.

Two weeks ago, the Tigers held South Carolina's Mike Davis to 104 yards on 22 carries.  Most notably, Davis did not post a run in excess of 17 yards.  A similar defensive effort against Gurley and the Bulldogs likely results in a win for Missouri, and with Georgia's passing game still struggling, this should be the point of emphasis. 

Holding Gurley close to the 100-yard marker won't be regrettable, even if yards are given up in the passing game.

Georgia Players to Watch

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Todd Gurley

Good luck not watching Todd Gurley on Saturdays from here on out.  As the junior running back proved this past Saturday, he's a highlight waiting to happen.

Gurley's 773 rushing yards in just five games stand out, but so does his jaw-dropping ability to continually deliver excitement to any game—regardless of circumstance.  Even against a clearly inferior Vanderbilt team, he managed to stun fans with a 50-yard pass completion.

He may not be relied upon to carry Georgia's passing game against Missouri, but he'll still be the bulk of the team's offense.

Malcolm Mitchell

Mitchell returned to the field as a wide receiver last weekend for the first time since tearing his ACL in the 2013 season opener.  Though he recorded just one catch, his return was welcomed by the team and fans alike.

In Mitchell, the Dawgs have a true deep threat—something that has been missing all season.  And the junior will be ready to impress against Missouri.  After all, the last time he played against the Tigers, he lined up as a defensive back in 2012.  Let's see what he can do at his more natural position on Saturday.

Missouri Players to Watch

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Russell Hansbrough

Missouri has a talented running back of its own in Russell Hansbrough.  The 5'9" junior running back had a breakout year in 2013 as a member of a talented backfield committee, but he's well on his way to surpassing high expectations in 2014.

Already he has notched over 400 rushing yards and six touchdowns on just 67 carries.  Hansbrough boasts a potent combination of lower body strength, vision and elusiveness, and his relatively small stature makes him difficult to wrangle among the giants in the trenches.

Look for Hansbrough to be relied upon early as the Missouri offense feels out the Georgia defense.  If the Tigers find success on the ground early, this could be a career day for him.

Shane Ray

Shane Ray has been an absolute terror from his defensive end position this season.  In just five games, he's registered 11.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and eight sacks.

In some regards, that type of production does not come as a surprise given the success Ray experienced as a reserve last year.  But at the same time, no one is ever expected to record those kinds of numbers in just five games.  Truthfully, Ray's statistical line would be impressive for an entire season.

If he adds to that already impressive box score on Saturday, the Georgia offense will be in deep trouble.

What They're Saying

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Georgia's Two Quarterbacks

Redshirt freshman quarterback Brice Ramsey got some looks for Georgia on Saturday against Vanderbilt, but head coach Mark Richt says this isn't an indictment of starter Hutson Mason, per Seth Emerson of The Telegraph.

Richt added, "It did work out well.  I think there's always a chance that we'll continue to do that.  I'm not gonna sit here and say for sure what we're gonna do because I don't know for sure.  But it's definitely a possibility to keep doing that type of thing."

Missouri Pass Rush Remains Fierce

Kony Ealy and Michael Sam may now be cashing NFL checks, but this Missouri pass rush remains stout.  As Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel told Tod Palmer of The Kansas City Star, Shane Ray and Markus Golden may be even better prospects.

"Don't tell Kony and Michael I said that," he clarified.  "I'll get a text or two tonight probably.  But (Golden and Ray) are explosive guys, man.  They come off the corner and create a lot of problems."

Prediction

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Missouri's offense did not reload the way some anticipated, though losing three leading receivers, a veteran quarterback and a star running back doesn't bode well for smooth transitions.  To that end, this Georgia defense, which continues to improve, should be able to put forth a respectable effort against the Tigers.

And as has been the case all year, the question remains: How do you stop Todd Gurley?

Missouri has tons of talent on the outside of the defensive line, but Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has proved plenty adept at scheming around talented defensive ends.  Just ask Jadeveon Clowney last year or Vic Beasley this year.  The Bulldogs love to run away from talented pass-rushers.

Ultimately, Georgia is the more well-rounded team here.  Though neither team has overwhelmed consistently in all three phases, Georgia's running game remains one of the biggest threats in the conference, and that makes road games a little less daunting.

Georgia wins a close game and vaults into the second portion of the season with a 5-1 record and a lot of momentum.  Missouri will be back to the drawing board as the rest of the SEC East attempts to rally past Georgia as the season closes.

Final Score: Georgia 42, Missouri 38

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