There is officially only one day until Georgia football returns for the 2020 season, kicking off in Fayetteville, Arkansas against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Dawgs are favored by a whopping 26.5 points (odds courtesy of BetMGM) but there are still some marquee matchups to be seen played out on the field this Saturday.
Georgia LB Nakobe Dean vs. Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd:
Arkansas senior running back Rakeem Boyd has shown his ability to catch passes in the past, catching a total of 19 last season. The Razorbacks’ new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles will likely try and get creative with this matchup and get Boyd much more involved in the passing game. Georgia sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean will need to read Boyd and Briles well this game to not only contain Boyd as a rusher but also as a receiver. Eliminating Boyd from this game will most likely paralyze Arkansas’ offensive scheme, and it all starts with Dean.
Georgia RB Zamir White vs. Arkansas LB Bumper Pool:
Georgia running back Zamir White is coming off of his biggest game in last years Sugar Bowl, where he rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. White also has had a strong preseason camp, his knee looking as healthy as ever. Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool has some great instincts at the linebacker position and is also a very solid athlete. He was second on the team in tackles and had five pass breakups in 2019. White will open up a lot of options for Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken, forcing Pool to focus on the run game. With the addition of junior running back James Cook, ready to take on a much bigger role with D’Andre Swift now in the NFL, Georgia’s running backs could be a matchup nightmare for the Hogs’ linebackers.
Georgia QB D’Wan Mathis and OC Todd Monken vs. Arkansas DC Barry Odom:
Georgia’s offense and Arkansas’ defense both feature a number of new faces this year. There will be a lot of feeling the other team out early on in this game since neither side has had much of an opportunity to scout the other. Monken is well know for taking advantage of mismatches so lookout for some deep balls thrown to sophomore wide receiver George Pickens in the Arkansas secondary. Monken will also probably try and use Cook a lot in the short receiving game once Pickens starts to draw multiple defenders deep. Georgia has the edge on paper here but they are still starting redshirt freshman quarterback in D’Wan Mathis, who no one has seen much of lately. Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom will likely lay some early pressure on Mathis and the new Georgia offensive line. Mathis and the Dawgs offense will need to stay poised and put trust in Monken’s play calling even if they take some hits early on.
Georgia’s secondary vs. Arkansas WR Treylon Burks:
Arkansas sophomore wide receiver Treylon Burks is a complete offensive Swiss-Army Knife. He stands at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and was used in the Arkansas run and pass game very well his freshman season. He was the Razorback’s leader in receiving yards as a freshman but had no touchdowns. Kendal Briles will definitely try and get Burks involved early with some big plays but he will need to get past a mean Dawgs secondary in Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, Mark Webb and DJ Daniel. This should be one of the best matchups of Saturday’s game.