CBS Sports analyst backs Florida to cover against Georgia in Week 9

CBS Sports analyst Tom Fornelli is predicting No. 20 Florida will cover the 12.5-point spread against No. 3 Georgia on Saturday in Atlanta.

He’s picking the Gators plus-12.5 in their clash with the Bulldogs. Both teams have struggled against expectations, with Florida‘s average margin against the spread declining from plus-10.38 through September to minus-16.00 in October. Georgia’s declined from plus-10.25 to minus-6.00 over the same span.

Fornelli cites Florida’s first-year offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s history of success moving the football against the Bulldogs.

During Faulkner’s tenure with the Yellow Jackets, he guided the offense that consistently ranked in the top half of the ACC. In his final season, Faulkner helped Georgia Tech average 7.09 yards per play, which ranked No. 9 nationally.

Faulkner has years of experience sustaining drives against a Kirby Smart defense. In three games against Georgia, his unit went three-and-out only twice, according to the article. While the UGA defense is considered elite, it is also vulnerable in the red zone, allowing 5.0 points per opponent red-zone possession, which ranks No. 130 nationally.

Fornelli believes sustained offensive possessions could limit Georgia’s opportunities. Long drives may be effective in limiting Gunner Stockton’s chances to put points on the board.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: CBS Sports analyst backs Florida to cover against Georgia in Week 9

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.