Saturday's Peach State College Football Report, pregame
12 p.m.
Georgia (3-0) at Missouri (3-0)
Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN
Web: www.mutigers.com; www.georgiadogs.com
Line: UGA by 14.5
Radio: Macon, WQBZ-FM, 106.3; Dublin, WEDB-FM, 98.1; Milledgeville, WKSR-FM 1-2.3; Sandersville, WSNT-FM, 99.9.
Central Georgians on Missouri’s roster: Three. Senior Tavon Ross of Bleckley County is the No. 3 Sam LB, and has three tackles in three games. Junior Justin Smith is a wideout from West Laurens, who has played in four games and has one catch while battling injuries; freshman Jatorian Hansford is a linebacker from Mary Persons, and has a tackle and tackle for loss in two games. There are 11 Georgians on the roster.
Scouting Report: In pretty much every area, Georgia has a solid advantage. Quarterback? Missouri’s Drew Lock is highly likely to give Georgia’s defense a workout. He’s completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,062 yards so far, and has positive yardage. He kept outmanned Missouri in the game last year.
If Missouri has a decent crowd that gets into the early start – 11 a.m. at home – and the Tigers can avoid giving up the big play or turnover early, Lock can make it interesting for awhile.
To read
J.R. Reed has been through a bit
Goal on defense: Keep Lock from getting comfy
1 p.m.
GMC (0-3) at College of DuPage (0-3)
Glen Ellyn, Ill.
TV: None
Web: None
Radio: None
Line: None
Central Georgians on College of DuPage’s roster: No roster available on website.
2 p.m.
Western Michigan (1-2) at Georgia State (1-2)
Georgia State Stadium
TV: None
Web: ESPN Plus; www.georgiastatesports.com
Radio: None.
Line: WMU by 7.5
Central Georgians on WMU’s roster: None. There is one player from Georgia on the roster.
Scouting Report: The major advantage for the Panthers will be the weather. It’ll be warm, and the Broncos haven’t been farther south this season than, well, home.
Georgia State has to get the offense going. The Panthers are outscored 40-17.7, while the Broncos get three more points a game than they allow. Keeping WMU’s defense on the field on a hot day is crucial.
To read
Final non-conference home game for the Panthers
3:30 p.m.
Clemson (3-0) at Georgia Tech (1-2)
Bobby Dodd Stadium
TV: ABC
Web: www.ramblingwreck.com
Radio: Macon, WQMJ-FM 100.1; Dublin, WDBG 103.1-FM; Milledgeville, WMGG-AM 1450; Tennille, WJFL-FM 101.9; Thomaston , WTGA-AM 1590.
Line: Clemson by 15.5
Central Georgians on Clemson’s roster: One. Lyn-J Dixon of Taylor County is a true freshman running back who has 115 yards on 11 carries in two games, no negative yards. There are 20 Georgians on the roster.
Scouting Report: Few are giving Tech any chance, and rest assured, the boos will come early today, like before the punt team hits the field on the first three-and-out.
The Tigers haven’t been overly sharp this season, surviving Texas A&M and taking a little time to get going against Georgia Southern. They’ll have the louder crowd by far today, and the split in Bobby Dodd will be interesting as Tech fans start to bail on a team that could easily be 3-0.
Expect something funky from Tech. Granted, that’s often a given from Paul Johnson, but moreso when the Jackets are so roundly counted out.
To read
Braun ready for huge task vs. Clemson D-Line
4 p.m.
The Citadel (0-2, 0-2) at Mercer (2-1, 1-0)
Five Star Stadium
TV: None.
Web: ESPN Plus; www.mercerbears.com; www.sportsmic.com
Radio: WNEX-FM 100.9
Line: Mercer by 5 (Sagarin Ratings)
Central Georgians on The Citadel’s roster: Destin Mack is a freshman DB from Tattnall who is seventh on the team with five tackles in two games. There are 26 Georgians on the roster.
Scouting Report: The Bears have to avoid being a little flat after the huge win at Samford last week.
QB Robert Riddle ad PK Cole Fisher took Southern Conference player of the week honors, and the Bears received some top-25 votes.
"We talked extensively about that [Sunday]. We have a team meeting at 3:15 p.m. [every Sunday] and one of the things we talked about is our celebration from the Samford game ended right at 3:15 p.m.,” Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb said at his Monday press conference. As good as we played, we still made some crucial mistakes and had some crucial penalties that we have to eliminate. But as good as we played, we can still play better and that's the thing that these young men recognize when they come in…'wow, you're right, coach, we can play better.' “
The Citadel has lost to top-12 Wofford by seven and to Chattanooga by one in overtime. This is a pretty decent 0-2 team, and one that’s had a week off – thanks to Hurricane Florence - to fix why the Bulldogs are 0-2.
The Bulldogs are an option team that has thrown 21 passes in two games. Samford can try that many in a half.
"Yeah, it's a challenge, but it's something that we knew we were going to have to do all year,” DB Eric Jackson said. “It's something that we prepare for and this team is in our conference, so we play them all the time. It's expected, we know what's coming and we're ready for it."
These teams are very even in most notable stat categories, with similar strengths and weaknesses. Mercer’s defense has to get off the field against an offense that leads the conference in time of possession at nearly 35 minutes a game, seven more minutes than the Bears. On a warm day, a defense can get tuckered out later. And note that The Citadel is 7-for-10 on fourth down, which can tire a defense out, too.
The teams played in October last year, Mercer winning 24-14 and hold the Bulldogs scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs actually outgained the Bears 381-311, but four turnovers doomed the home team.
To read
6 p.m.
Clark Atlanta (0-3) at Kennesaw State (2-1)
Fifth Third Bank Stadium
TV: None
Web: www.ksuowls.com
Radio: None
Line: None
Central Georgians on CAU roster: Clark Atlanta website does not have a 2018 roster, nor other 2018 updates.
Savannah State (0-2)at Florida A&M (1-2)
Bragg Memorial Stadium
TV: None
Web: ESPN3; www.famuathletics.com
Radio: None
Line: None
Central Georgians on FAMU’s roster: None. There are nearly 10 Georgians on the roster.
SUNDAY
4:30 p.m.
FVSU (1-2) at Benedict (1-1)
Charlie W. Johnson Stadium
TV: None
Web: www.benedicttigers.com
Radio: None
Line: None
Central Georgians on Benedict’s roster: DB Robert Cummings is a junior from Central. WR Johnny Willis is a sophomore from Dublin. OL Xavier Wesley is a freshman from Central. There are nearly 40 players from Georgia on the roster.