Georgia Bulldogs vs. Missouri Tigers Betting Odds: Analysis and Prediction

Two SEC teams battling for the conference’s East Division title meet Saturday when the Missouri Tigers host the Georgia Bulldogs. The Tigers won last year’s meeting 41-26 on the road as 6.5-point underdogs and will try to keep Georgia from returning the favor at Memorial Stadium, with the Bulldogs opening as small road favorites.

Point spread: Bulldogs opened as 1.5-point favorites at Memorial Stadium, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (line updates and matchup report).

Odds Shark computer prediction: 30.0-29.8 Bulldogs

Why the Georgia Bulldogs can cover the spread

Georgia won the last road meeting with Missouri 41-20 two years ago as a one-point favorite, so the team knows what it takes to get a victory there. While the Bulldogs have underachieved a bit this season—failing to cover three of their past four games—they are still capable of running the table, winning the SEC and making it into the four-team playoff at the end of the year.

A lot of things obviously have to fall into place in order for that to happen, but Georgia has one of the best players in the country in running back Todd Gurley, who rushed 25 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns last week in a 44-17 rout of Vanderbilt and also completed a 50-yard pass.

Why the Missouri Tigers can cover the spread

The Tigers are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 home games and have some confidence knowing they upset the Bulldogs last year. Mizzou is also 4-1 ATS in its past five home games against SEC opponents, showing that the team knows how to get up for conference foes. The Tigers are also coming off a bye week that gave them extra time to prepare for Georgia and senior quarterback Hutson Mason, who has totaled just 268 passing yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in the last two games combined. Even though containing Gurley will be the top concern for Missouri, making Mason try to win the game should be the goal if the Tigers are going to pull off the win.

Smart pick

The Bulldogs have gotten erratic quarterback play from Mason this season, otherwise they may still be unbeaten with a better shot at the national title. Instead, they essentially face a must-win situation here on the road against a very good Mizzou team that knows it too can put itself in good position for the East Division title with a victory. Georgia is just 1-5 ATS in its last six road games and has gone 0-4 versus the line in its past four conference games away from home. Expect those trends to continue as the Tigers win again as dogs and cover the spread for the fourth time in five games overall.

Trends

• The total has gone OVER in five of Georgia's last five games
• Missouri is 15-4 ATS in its last 19 games

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.