Week 9 NCAA Football Preview

for the always competitive Florida rivalry game Saturday says it all: Bulldogs +14. That's the most lopsided spread for Georgia since the program’s coaching overhaul in 2001.

"I don't care about no point spreads or anything like that," safety Kelin Johnson declared to the Macon Telegraph. "You can't really go into the game worrying about what everybody else says. We're going to play for ourselves, and we're going to keep playing hard."

Unfortunately for Georgia, simple effort and intensity hasn’t brought results, contributing to the large spread.

The reigning SEC champions haven't lost three conference games in a season since 2001, but that streak is in peril. The Bulldogs have already lost conference battles to Tennessee (a 51-33 blowout after the Bulldogs had been leading 24-7 midway through the second quarter) and unranked Vanderbilt (a 24-22 loss as -14½ favorites), putting them outside the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1996.

"I'm not sitting here trying to make excuses for this season. We're not as good as we've been," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the Telegraph. "We have to get better. If we can keep from shooting ourselves in the foot, I don't know how good we can be."

Most of the recent struggles can be pointed at Georgia’s lack of consistency on the field.

The 'Dogs had to make a midseason change at quarterback after their implosions against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, sitting down senior quarterback Joe Tereshinski lll in favor of true freshman Matthew Stafford. The change hasn’t helped. Stafford threw three interceptions against unranked Mississippi State in his first start and his completion percentage is only 53.6 percent.

On defense, a team that had been giving up only 6.8 points per game in its first five has allowed 99 points in its last three, a gaudy number that could get uglier. The Gators average 27.3 per game coming into Jacksonville.

"Right this minute, I can't think of a place where we have an advantage," Richt said of the matchup with Florida. "I'm not going to lie to you; we're tired; we're banged up, but that's the way the schedule is set. It's just what we have to play. We have to find a way to prepare our team without wearing them down."

Their only steady weapon seems to be their running attack. With a talented group led by junior Kregg Lumpkin, the Bulldogs have been able to average 131.4 yards. Equaling that number could be the key to covering and even defeating the Gators. Florida's only loss against the Auburn Tigers was the first time they had given up more than 100 yards all season.

"We're struggling right now, it's obvious," Richt said to the Telegraph. "But quite frankly, the season isn't over yet. Some people think it is, but there's still a lot of football to be played and a lot of history to be made."

QUICK HITS

The Volunteers look to avenge last year's 16-15 loss to Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks when they meet at Williams-Brice Stadium. But covering or even winning won't be easy despite the Volunteers' high ranking, the Gamecocks are no longer the cakewalk they were before Spurrier and his staff arrived.

They've already given teams like Auburn a run for their money and have gone 5-1 against the spread.

"I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge of going against a guy like Steve Spurrier, his scheme," Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo told reporters. "Coach [John] Chavis is an excellent [defensive] coordinator as well and I'm sure he has some tricks up his sleeve, too. So we'll be prepared."

The Longhorns dodged a Texas-sized bullet in their 22-20 come-from-behind win against Nebraska, and they'll need a better outing to insure victory at Texas Tech.

Although Texas has beaten the Red Raiders by an average of 32.5 the past two games, the pressure will still be with quarterback Colt McCoy to produce a decisive blowout. McCoy has only been 4-3 ATS since taking over for Vince Young as starting quarterback.

TOP PHOTO: Kregg Lumpkin and the Georgia running attack has been the only steady weapon for the Bulldogs. (AP Photo)

*Game is being played at Alltel Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Note: All NCAA football lines subject to change.

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