First look: Top story lines, betting odds for UGA 2020 football opener vs. Arkansas
After all the waiting, all the chaos of the summer, football is finally here.
Georgia kicks off the 2020 season on Saturday as the Bulldogs hit the road to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. They enter Fayetteville as a heavy favorite, but there is still plenty of intrigue about how exactly the team will look in Kirby Smart’s fifth season at the helm.
No. 4 Georgia at Arkansas game info, betting odds
Time: 4 p.m. Eastern
Place: Fayetteville, Arkansas (Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium)
TV: SEC Network
Line: Georgia -26 (VegasInsider)
Arkansas (David) vs. Georgia (Goliath)
This is about as lopsided of a matchup as you’ll see in the SEC.
The Bulldogs have won three consecutive SEC East crowns and are gunning for a fourth, along with a shot at a conference and national title. The Razorbacks, on the other hand, haven’t won an SEC game since topping Ole Miss 38-37 on Oct. 28, 2017. Arkansas is widely picked to finish last in the SEC West while Georgia is a heavy favorite to win the East.
Kirby Smart faces an old friend
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline on Saturday.
Sam Pittman will be making his debut as the Arkansas head coach after four years serving as Georgia’s offensive line coach. Smart praised Pittman this week, saying “he helped build the foundation of what we have now.”
Extreme makeover, UGA offense edition
It’s been an offseason of transformation for the Georgia offense.
The Bulldogs welcome in new offensive coordinator Tood Monken, who will be making his debut on Saturday. Monken brings with him a philosophy that emphasizes the downfield passing game, which is a stark contrast to the aerial attack Georgia has seen in recent seasons.
Speaking of the passing game, the Bulldogs will have a new quarterback for the first time in three seasons. Jake Fromm is in the NFL, meaning the hotly-contested quarterback battle will finally conclude this weekend.
Smart is hopeful USC transfer J.T. Daniels will be cleared by Saturday. If he’s not then redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis will get the start, although Mathis has been making a strong play for the job even if Daniels is healthy.
3 Razorbacks to watch, including Feleipe Franks
RB Rakeem Boyd: Boyd served as the bellcow of the Arkansas offense in 2019, posting 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns on 184 carries. The Hogs will likely emphasize a physical running game with Pittman at the helm, so look for Boyd to get the ball early and often Saturday.
QB Feleipe Franks: Franks arrives in Fayetteville after transferring from Florida. He threw for 2,457 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions as the starter in 2018, but he lost the starting quarterback job last season to Kyle Trask. Franks hasn’t fared well against Georgia in two games, completing 20-of-40 passes for 135 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. That should give the Georgia defense plenty of confidence to face him in a new uniform.
LB Bumper Pool: Aside from having one of the best names in college football, Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool is one of the best defenders in the SEC. He leads the returning Razorbacks with 94 tackles a season ago. If the Bulldogs want to get the running game going, they will have to account for Pool on every snap.