UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton: S1, Ep. 10: Georgia’s new QB

In this week’s episode, I talk JT Daniels’ big night vs. Mississippi State and breakdown UGA’s matchup with South Carolina and more!

Your friends at “UGA Football Live” and UGA Wire present your one-stop shop for all things Georgia football!

We are releasing episodes and interviews each week during the 2020 college football season, with a little bit of everything sprinkled in between.

In this week’s episode, I talk about the new chapter in the ever-changing book of Georgia quarterbacks – this time USC transfer JT Daniels and his big night vs. Mississippi State.

Does UGA have its signal-caller of the future?

Listen here on Spotify:

Or here, on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uga-football-live-with-j-c-shelton/id1533295384#episodeGuid=Buzzsprout-6557101

 

I also talk:

CFB Roundup

  • A recap of the biggest college football games of the weekend

Georgia vs. South Carolina 

  • I preview Georgia’s matchup with South Carolina this Saturday night, including key stats and players to watch.

Dawgs in the NFL 

  • My top performing former Bulldogs from NFL week-11 action.

Spread vs. J.C. 

  • I update my picks vs. the spread from last week and pick five new games in an attempt to look like I know what I’m doing.

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review! And check out our other episodes featuring former Georgia greats like Tavarres King (Ep. 3)  Keith Marshall (Ep. 4) Arthur Lynch (Ep. 6) Malcolm Mitchell (Ep. 7) Aaron Murray (Ep. 8) and Drew Butler (Ep. 9).

 

Watch: Georgia sack seals 31-24 win vs. Mississippi State

Check out Georgia’s sack that sealed a close win for the Bulldogs vs. Mississippi State in Athens. Details and analysis here.

I don’t think anyone saw this game shaking out the way it did but here we are, four pressure-filled quarters later and Georgia gets a close win at home vs. Mississippi State 31-24.

The Bulldogs rushing attack was stuffed, only gaining eight yards the entire game, but JT Daniels was incredible in his first career start as a Georgia Bulldog, he completed 28 of 38 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns.

Like the running game, the heralded UGA defense struggled mightily, especially on getting Mississippi State off the field.

The Bulldogs from Starkville converted on 7 of 13 first downs on their way to 358 total yards, including 336 yards passing and 22 yards rushing.

But even in a game where things didn’t go according to plan, the Georgia defense came up clutch when the team needed it most, sacking MSU quarterback Will Rodgers to seal the game for the Dawgs.

What a play by star linebacker and game captain Azeez Ojulari.

Watch it here:

I loved what I saw from JT Daniels and these Bulldog receivers tonight.

Freshman Trey Burton had 8 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns while star sophomore George Pickens caught 8 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Things are looking good for 2021, DawgNation!

 

Watch: Georgia takes the lead on 3rd and 20

Check out JT Daniels fourth touchdown pass of the night to give the Dawgs the lead late in the fourth quarter

We have a game folks. Georgia leads Mississippi State 31-24 with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter after a huge pass from new starting quarterback JT Daniels to star receiver Kearis Jackson.

On third down and 20 no less.

Check it out:

What a game so far for JT Daniels, he’s completed 27 of 35 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns.

The game is live now on the SEC Network.

 

Halftime: UGA Twitter reacts to slow start vs Mississippi State

No. 13 Georgia hasn’t gotten off to a good start vs. a struggling Mississippi State team. Here is what UGA Twitter has to say.

No. 13 Georgia hasn’t gotten off to a good start vs. a struggling Mississippi State team.

The game is tied 17-17 at halftime

Mississippi State’s offense led by freshman Will Rodgers was able to chew the clock and keep new Georgia quarterback JT Daniels and company off of the field for most of the half.

The Bulldogs have 193 yards of offense and have held the ball only 11 minutes, while MSU has 229 total yards, have had the ball for 19 minutes and have connected on a couple of big plays, including a long touchdown pass late in the second quarter.

Here’s what UGA Twitter is saying after a lackluster opening half.

Quick props to freshman receiver Jermaine Burton, who has had a monster half.

I love what I’ve seen from JT Daniels so far, but Georgia coach Kirby Smart will have to change things defensively to get pressure on MSU’s Will Rodgers, or this game will go into the fourth quarter.

We cannot keep backing off and letting Mike Leach tear up a soft zone all night.

 

Recapping JT Daniels first TD drive as a Georgia Bulldog

Check out JT Daniels first career touchdown as a Georgia Bulldog here.

Some can’t believe it, but we are watching JT Daniels actually play quarterback for Georgia football.

The USC transfer is getting his first game snaps in 14 months and his first as a Georgia Bulldog. And he’s looking pretty good, and most importantly – accurate.

Check out his first touchdown as a Dawg:

This one capped-rEoff an 11 play 69 yard drive that took 5:14 off the clock.

Daniels to Pickens is a beautiful thing to watch and I hope offensive coordinator Todd Monken can keep drawing up opportunities like these to get this Georgia offense moving in the right direction.

 

UGA announces captains ahead of Georgia vs. Mississippi State

No. 13 Georgia (4-2) takes on Mississippi State (2-4) tonight at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network. Here are Georgia’s captains for the game.

No. 13 Georgia (4-2) takes on Mississippi State (2-4) tonight at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

UGA has announced captains for the game, featuring linebacker Azeez Ojulari, tackle Jamaree Salyer and receiver Kearis Jackson.

Ojulari is one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC, totaling 22 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year, while Salyer has made every start at left tackle for Georgia this season.

Jackson leads the team in receiving and explosive plays in 2020. The sophomore receiver has 27 catches for 396 yards and two touchdowns.


Make sure you’re caught up on Georgia football for the game today! This week’s episode of the UGA Football Live podcast is live now.  I’m joined by former Georgia All-American punter Drew Butler to talk the Dawgs, his time at Georgia, the NFL and more. Listen here:

 

 

What to expect from JT Daniels vs. Mississippi State

USC transfer quarterback JT Daniels is set to make his first start as a Georgia Bulldog vs. Mississippi State. Here’s what to expect.

We are now in the JT Daniels chapter of the ever stressful Georgia quarterback drama.

The USC transfer quarterback is set to make his first career start as a Georgia Bulldog vs. Mississippi State in Athens on Saturday night.

After redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis’ start at signal caller vs. Arkansas in the season-opener, junior Stetson Bennett has received the majority of the snaps and has started each game until this week, which is due, in part, to a shoulder separation injury suffered in the loss to Florida.

We expected to see Daniels get on the field a bit earlier than the seventh game of the season and there were plenty of opportunities to get his feet wet, however Daniels’ mobility on his surgically repaired left knee has been an issue.

As the season has progressed, Georgia coach Kirby Smart has been more open about Daniels’ knee and mobility concerns.

“His mobility has been better,” Smart said in a press conference Wednesday.

Aug 31, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback JT Daniels (16) throws a pass against the Fresno State Bulldogs in the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As a freshman at USC in 2018, Daniels threw for 2,672 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He entered the transfer portal in mid-April after his sophomore season was derailed by an ACL tear.

Daniels was the third rated quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class behind Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields and while at USC, he showed flashes of an elite passer, like here on his first touchdown pass of his collegiate career.

But what kind of expectations should Georgia fans have for Daniels in his first start?

Put simply, the only expectations DawgNation should have is a Georgia win.

Coach Mike Leach and the Bulldogs from Starkville are limping into Athens. 17 players have either opted-out of this season or have transferred on top of more players being forced to miss tonight’s game because of COVID testing.

In turn, Georgia should make quick work of Mississippi State tonight and Daniels should preform well as a result, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here and make sure to remember who we are playing.

I’m looking for Daniels to show command of the offense by hitting the easy throws that we haven’t been able to hit all season.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken and company have done a good job of getting guys open, but Bennett and Mathis’ inaccuracy has been the issue.

If Daniels can hit those easy throws, show leadership and protect the football, I think we can walk away from this one feeling good about 2021.

 

 

 

Georgia vs. Mississippi State: Expert picks and predictions

No. 13 Georgia (4-2) takes on Mississippi State (2-4) tonight at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network. Here’s how we see the game going.

No. 13 Georgia (4-2) takes on Mississippi State (2-4) tonight at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

Coach Mike Leach and the Bulldogs from Starkville have struggled to get anything going after a big win at LSU to start the season.

Since then, Mississippi State has looked miserable offensively. Stanford transfer quarterback K.J. Costello and freshman Will Rodgers have combined to throw 14 interceptions to only 8 touchdowns.

And on defense, things don’t look much better. Statistically the Bulldogs rank No. 35 in the country allowing 359 yards per game, but the real issue is depth after COVID testing has limited Mississippi State’s roster to under 53 scholarship players.

That said, the game is on and Georgia, led by new starting quarterback JT Daniels, is looking to avenge a bad loss to Florida in Jacksonville.

UGA Wire staff has put together a number of score, stat and game predictions ahead of Saturday night’s matchup.

All odds are courtesy BetMGM.

Here are the picks:

 

What Mississippi State media is saying about Georgia ahead of Saturday night’s matchup

No. 13 Georgia is set to take on Mississippi State tonight at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network. Here is what Mississippi State media is saying.

No. 13 Georgia is set to take on Mississippi State tonight at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.

USC transfer quarterback J.T. Daniels is expected to make his first career start as a Georgia Bulldog after starter Stetson Bennett suffered a separated shoulder in the loss to Florida two weeks ago.

Mississippi State, 2-4 on the year, comes to Athens riddled with roster shakeups as 17 players have either opted-out or transferred and more are unavailable due to COVID testing.

Here is what Mississippi State media is saying about Georgia:

 

3 things to watch for in Mississippi State vs Georgia football game

“Georgia is reportedly starting Southern California transfer JT Daniels, who hasn’t played one snap all season. Junior Stetson Bennett has started every game for UGA, but he is still hampered by a shoulder injury he sustained against Florida on Nov. 7.”

 

Opponent preview: Georgia’s offense

By Collin Wilmes, SBNation

“Redshirt sophomore quarterback JT Daniels, a former five-star recruit who transferred from USC to Georgia earlier this year, is expected to make his long-awaited Georgia debut. Daniels was the starter at USC before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in the first game of last season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder threw for 2,672 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 11 games as a freshman.”

 

BONEYARD: A look ahead at Georgia

By Steve Robertson, 247sports

“Transfer J.T. Daniels is rumored to be the favorite to start under center this weekend. Daniels was one of the most highly coveted quarterbacks his senior season. Smart’s squad has been hurt by some attrition in the quarterback room, so there was more than enough room in the Bulldog inn for Daniels. Georgia always has skill position players, but the silver britched line of thinking is that some spotty quarterback play has held them back this season. There is no shame in losing to Alabama and Florida, but Georgia fans hoped and expected more this year.”


Make sure you’re caught up on Georgia football for the game today! This week’s episode of the UGA Football Live podcast is live now.  I’m joined by former Georgia All-American punter Drew Butler to talk the Dawgs, his time at Georgia, the NFL and more. Listen here:

How to watch, listen or stream Georgia vs. Mississippi State

It’s the battle of the Bulldogs, No. 13 Georgia vs. Mississippi State Saturday night in Athens. Here’s how to watch, listen or stream.

No. 13 Georgia vs. Mississippi State is set to be played after a long week full of questions on whether or not Mississippi State would be able to field enough players to compete due to COVID testing.

The Bulldogs from Starkville are 2-4 on the year and coming off of a win vs. Vanderbilt two weeks ago before missing last week after their game vs. Auburn was postponed.

Georgia, coming off of a postponement of its own, looks to finally avenge a tough loss in Jacksonville with a new face at quarterback.

USC transfer J.T. Daniels is set to get his first career start as a Bulldog after taking over for junior Stetson Bennett, who separated his shoulder vs. Florida.

Here’s how to watch, listen or stream tonight’s game:

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

TV: SEC Network via ESPN

Stream: ESPN app, fuboTV

Where: Sanford Stadium — Athens, Georgia

Satellite Radio: XM 191

Georgia Radio: Athens 960 AM/106.1 FM; Atlanta 750 AM/95.5 FM; Macon 106.3 FM; Augusta 580 AM/95.1 FM; Savannah 1400 AM/104.3 FM; Columbus 1460 AM/100.1 FM; Valdosta 105.9 FM; Rome 107.1 FM (IMG Radio-Scott Howard, Eric Zeier, Chuck Dowdle)

Betting:

Georgia  -25 (-110) Mississippi State +25 (-110)

Over/Under: 44.5 (O: -100 U: -121)

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook

Captains: Linebacker Azeez Ojulari, tackle Jamaree Salyer and receiver Kearis Jackson.

Matchup predictor: Georgia has a 93.7% chance to win, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

Series history: The Georgia Bulldogs lead the overall series with the Mississippi State Bulldogs 18-6. UGA is 11-1 against the other Bulldogs in their last 12 contests dating back to 1975, with the most recent matchup coming in 2017, a 31-3 Georgia win.

Prediction:

With 17 players lost to either opt-out or transfer and more lost to COVID testing, Mike Leach and the Bulldogs from Starkville are in for a very long day.

UGA is not happy about what happened in Jacksonville, so with Mississippi State’s struggles on offense and their lack of experience on defense – it’s going to be all Georgia.

Look for quarterback J.T. Daniels’ experience and passing ability shine in his first start as a Bulldog.

Georgia wins and covers the spread, 38-10.


Make sure you’re caught up on Georgia football for the game today! This week’s episode of the UGA Football Live podcast is live now.  I’m joined by former Georgia All-American punter Drew Bulter to talk the Dawgs, his time at Georgia, the NFL and more. Listen here: