Odds Greyson Lambert Beats out Brice Ramsey for Georgia Starting QB Job

Georgia's three-man quarterback battle appears to be down to two.

According to Seth Emerson of DawgNation.com and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Faton Bauta has been relegated to third on the depth chart, leaving redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey and Virginia graduate transfer Greyson Lambert as the two remaining options for head coach Mark Richt.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Emerson noted that Ramsey and Lambert have been rotating with the first and second teams during the media viewing period over the last two practices, while Bauta was running with the threes. That rotation had been even up to this point in fall camp.

That's enormous, and it's about all Georgia fans should have expected during fall camp due to Lambert's late arrival from Virginia in late July and a slightly tweaked pro-style system under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer that demands players learn much quicker than under former coordinator Mike Bobo.

Player	Comp./Att.	Comp. %	Yds	TDs	INTs
Greyson Lambert	187-of-336	55.7	1,972	11	13
Brice Ramsey	24-of-39	61.5	333	3	2

What are the odds Lambert beats out Ramsey for the starting job?

I'd say Ramsey still has a slight edge on the former Cavalier. We'll go with Ramsey at 3-1 and Lambert close behind at 5-1. It's very close—I won't give Richt what he truly wants.

"I'd like to know and have peace," he said on Saturday. "I'm looking for some peace."

The rubber will truly meet the road over the next few weeks now that they're splitting first-team reps between the two of them rather than three.

Lambert's biggest asset is the experience he gained while serving as the starting quarterback in Charlottesville. No, the stat line isn't exactly Heisman-worthy. He tossed 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over the last two seasons, but he did light up Florida State with 220 yards and three touchdowns late last year in Tallahassee—not too shabby.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

But can he adapt to the system—which demands a quick learner—in only a month?

That work with Schottenheimer this spring is what Ramsey has working in his favor, and unless Lambert wows the coaching staff over the next week leading up to the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe, it will likely be what earns Ramsey first-team snaps in the opener.

With that said, though, how long will Ramsey have a hold on the starting job?

It's not like Georgia has a daunting schedule out of the gate, with the Warhawks at home followed by a road trip to Vanderbilt in Week 2. Ramsey will likely "win" the starting job, but it'll likely be more like winning the first spin of a roulette wheel at a casino. Ramsey might win the first spin, but that doesn't mean he's going to leave the casino with a pocket full of cash.

Whoever wins the job, Georgia has to find a way to stretch the field. 

With maulers up front and a deep running back corps led by superstar Nick Chubb, the eventual winner of the quarterback competition will have to keep defenses honest, pose a threat deep and prevent opposing defenses from bringing eight or nine in the box to slow down the running game. Georgia managed just 34 passing plays of 20 or more yards a year ago, which was the fourth-worst mark in the conference.

The first two games will likely be auditions for the two remaining contenders, with Ramsey going in as the leader while Richt and Schottenheimer find out which one is the best gamer. Ramsey has the arm strength and familiarity of the offense to get the first shot, but the underdog—Lambert—will still have a chance.

It should make for an interesting early-season battle before the Bulldogs host South Carolina in Week 3.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. 

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.