Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Georgia won its season opener at Arkansas 37-10. We breakdown what went wrong and what went right here.
After an abysmal first half where Georgia found itself down 7-2 at one point, the Bulldogs were able to find some rhythm and came back to beat Arkansas 37-10.
The resurgence was due, in part, to junior quarterback Stetson Bennett, who got the call when redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis was pulled after just five drives.
Hear what former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray had to say about the Dawgs’ quarterback play here:
Let’s break down the good versus the bad from UGA’s win in Fayetteville.
The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 37-10 following a slow first half start. Here’s how UGA Twitter reacted.
The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 37-10 following a slow start. Georgia forced three Arkansas turnovers and shut down the Razorback rushing attack to make things easier for the offense.
Georgia’s offense, which struggled in the first half, was solid under quarterback Stetson Bennett. Bennett helped Georgia play cleaner, and he connected with George Pickens to get UGA’s first touchdown of the season.
Defensive back Eric Stokes had a pick six to give Georgia a 27-10 lead late in the third quarter. His interception helped put the game out of reach.
While it wasn’t pretty, Georgia opened the season with a blowout win against a scrappy Arkansas team. Kirby Smart and company know they’ll have to start better against Auburn this week.
Here’s how Georgia football Twitter reacted to Georgia’s uneasy win over one of the lesser teams in the SEC in Arkansas:
Like I said before…. I sleep well knowing Richard Lee LeCounte III is an American football safety and is commanding the UGA secondary ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/scRsq8N5dC
— 🔑LEE Ring🐶 (@HBTFD1) September 27, 2020
Richard LeCounte was spectacular despite giving up Arkansas’ only touchdown. He finished the day with two interceptions.
Georgia offense SHUT OUT in 1st half to Arkansas — the worst statistical defense over last 3 years
• 1/11 on 3rd down
• 2.8 yards/play
• 10/22 45% passing
• 0 points (2 from safety)— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) September 26, 2020
Let’s remember… this was just the 1st quarter for UGA! New QB, new OC, revamped oline! They will get it together, Gotta be able to run the ball better @UGAAthletics @PuntandPass @UGAfootballLive
— Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11) September 26, 2020
I don't know whose idea those throwback UGA uniforms were but that person makes good life decisions.
— Dr. SEC (@thedrsec) September 26, 2020
Panic and discord within the UGA Football twittersphere following a 27-point victory is the normalcy I’ve needed in 2020.
Welcome back SEC Football, you beautiful bastard.
— Logan Booker (@LoganMBooker) September 27, 2020
It's how you finish.#ATD #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/BURGldBZiF
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 26, 2020
Georgia Bulldogs football team do three consecutive plays without a penalty challenge
— Amanda Mull (@amandamull) September 26, 2020
1 – 0#GoDawgs #BeatAuburn pic.twitter.com/MYfUsmkYqk
— UGA United (@UGAUnited) September 26, 2020
we waited 10 months for Georgia football and the first score for the Dawgs is a safety.
couldn’t get more 2020 than that lmao
— Alyssa Purser (@AlyssaPurser) September 26, 2020
Largest margin of victory during SEC opening week:
1) Georgia (27)
2) Alabama (19)
3) Florida (16)
3) Auburn (16)
5) Mississippi State (10)
6) Texas A&M (5)
7) Tennessee (4)— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) September 27, 2020
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
Watch RB Zamir White scores his first touchdown of the 2020 season here!
This Georgia offense has finally come to life. The Bulldogs now lead 34-10 over Arkansas due to this run by redshirt freshman phenom Zamir White.
Watch it here:
TOUCHDOWN!!! ZEUS!!!!@zeus1_34 pic.twitter.com/ySDx8d8rmC
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
Those cuts made by White are reminiscent of a D’Andre Swift or Todd Gurley.
So glad to see him healthy and running with conviction after fighting back from multiple knee injuries in his young career.
Let’s hope to see more runs like this moving forward, this offensive line is really getting some push now.
Watch this clutch Georgia run that set up the first UGA touchdown of 2020!
After an awful start, the Georgia offense is finally on the board against Arkansas due to a great throw and catch between junior quarterback Stetson Bennett and star receiver George Pickens.
They can thank this run by redshirt freshman phenom Zamir White:
ZEEEEUUUUSSSS!!!@zeus1_34 pic.twitter.com/NCAzKY6H04
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
We are finally seeing the Bulldog offensive line create space for White and sophomore James Cook.
Let’s hope Bennett continues to show the poise he has and maybe hand a few more off like this to Zeus!
Georgia has scored its first points of the 2020 season but not by a Zamir White run or George Pickens catch. UGA’s defense came through with a safety early in the second quarter to cut the Arkansas lead to 5. Watch it here: …
Georgia has scored its first points of the 2020 season but not by a Zamir White run or George Pickens catch.
UGA’s defense came through with a safety early in the second quarter to cut the Arkansas lead to 5.
Watch it here:
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis has had a rough time so far and running back Zamir White only had two touches in the first quarter – we are going to need a lot more of this Bulldog offense to compete for the College Football Playoff.
Watch new UGA quarterback D’Wan Mathis connect to star receiver George Pickens for a big first-down conversion here!
Georgia has a starting quarterback.
Coach Kirby Smart and staff elected to start redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis over USC transfer J.T. Daniels and he has shown some ability early on in the first half.
This particular throw to George Pickens may be a foreshadowing of things to come for the Bulldog offense :
D’Wan Mathis @DwanM3 to George Pickens @geo_Thagoat pic.twitter.com/UZ4UoO5JPk
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
Love how Mathis stood tall and got it to Pickens with not much room to work with; hopefully we get to see more of this moving forward!
Check back here for more highlights and analysis during the game.
Former Georgia running back D’Andre Swift gives his thoughts on the UGA quarterback situation. Details and analysis here!
Georgia is set to kick off its 2020 season versus Arkansas at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network and currently has not named a starting quarterback.
The Bulldogs were hit with adversity early this September when Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jamie Newman decided to opt-out of the 2020 season citing, concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
This left Georgia with redshirt sophomore USC transfer J.T. Daniels and redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis as potential signal callers.
We have received news today that Daniels has still yet to be cleared for gameplay from his ACL tear last year, which means we will most likely see Mathis make his college football deput in Fayetteville.
Lions running back, former Georgia football star D’Andre Swift gave his thoughts on the Georgia quarterback situation recently in an interview with Campus Lore.
“I know Coach Smart is going to make the best decision for the team,” Swift said. “But, me personally, I would like to see D’Wan Mathis out there. I think he will bring a different style of play. I have been reading up on him and he has looked great in camp. He is ready and looked real mature. I want to see him out there. I definitely want to see him out there.”
There may not be as much of a battle as reported, if Daniels’ can’t get cleared from his knee injury that occured last October.
It should free Mathis up to run things without the thought of Daniels’ over his shoulder every play, but against teams like Auburn and Alabama, the Bulldogs may need all hands on deck to get the offense going.
Read how to tune in to UGA vs Arkansas for the Georgia football 2020 season opener here!
We have football! The Southeastern Conference kicks off its 10-game schedule today.
No. 4 Georgia travels to Arkansas to face former offensive line coach Sam Pittman and former Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks.
Georgia vs. Arkansas
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Stream: Watch ESPN
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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)
Line: Georgia -28
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Over/under: 52
Matchup predictor: Georgia has a 91.1% chance to win, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Series history: Currently, Georgia leads the series 10-4. UGA won the last matchup in 2014.
Prediction: Georgia wins 38-13
Captains: Senior DL Malik Herring, senior DB Richard LeCounte, junior tackle Jamaree Salyer.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
