Sports

Georgia Football vs. Florida Atlantic: Low Suspense, Big Money

The UGA Bulldogs are paying well for what everyone expects will be an easy home victory over the Owls.

Few of the 92,000 or so fans headed to Sanford Stadium on Saturday will be expecting a nailbiter as the , a 43-point underdog.

What the visiting team will be expecting for its trouble, though, is a big paycheck: UGA has agreed to fork over $1 million for the privilege of hosting Florida Atlantic without a reciprocal visit. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that's the most Georgia has ever paid a visiting team.

A key purpose of the game, which begins a long homestand for the Bulldogs, is to give the team a seventh home game for the season. UGA is expected to pull in $1.7 million for itself from the game.

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One fan commenting on the AJC story wasn't too impressed, though.

"As a huge dawg fan I am embarrassed that we are playing the Florida Atlantic Owls," dawg4u wrote. "It pays off for both teams but certainly not the fans. Who in their right mind wants to watch this?"

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Some folks will surely want to watch for the players, many of whom are being heralded after Georgia's win over Missouri last week.

ESPN DawgNation blogger David Ching says receiver Marlon Brown might have had his breakout game:

Brown made a 40-yard catch and run after fighting off a defender in single coverage. He made a graceful 2-yard touchdown catch and got his feet down before falling out of the end zone. He grabbed an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter between Missouri's Braylon Webb and Will Ebner, putting the Bulldogs ahead for good.

He was the player the Bulldogs apparently see in practice instead of the one who always seemed to be MIA or injured on Saturdays.

Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones was honored as the Walter Camp National Player of the Week. Jones racked up nine tackles, his first career interception, two forced fumbles and five quarterback pressures over Missouri.

Meanwhile, two recently missing players are expected to be back in action against FAU. Cornerback Sanders Commings and outside linebacker Chase Vasser are reportedly returning after being suspended for two games.

What's your prediction for Saturday's game? Will the Bulldogs beat the spread?


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