With Clemson and Alabama steamrolling opponents in the first two weeks and LSU emerging a serious challenger, Georgia has been flying somewhat under the radar so far.
The No.3 ranked Bulldogs moved to 2-0 last weekend after dispatching Murray State 63-17 to follow up a 30-6 road win over Vanderbilt in Week 1.
Beating an FCS—the second tier of college football—program such as Murray State might not be the most reliable indicator of progress, but Georgia nevertheless looked impressive.
Jake Fromm went 10-for-11 for 166 yards and one touchdown, before coach Kirby Smart handed minutes to back-up quarterbacks Stetson Bennett and Nathan Priestley.
Bennett completed nine of his 13 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns and Smart was pleased to have had the chance to give replacements a taste of the action.
"I'm happy he got to play," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "He needs all the experience he can get. He can get reps in practice, but to go out in a game and play is important for his confidence."
The Bulldogs offense racked up a total of 561 yards, with Zamir White and D'Andre Swift combining for 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns over 14 carries, while George Pickens and Eli Wolf both had four receptions for 78 and 73 yards respectively.
Georgia's relatively easy start to the season continues this weekend, when Arkansas State visits Athens on Saturday. Following a 37-30 defeat against SMU Mustangs in the first week of the season, the Red Wolves bounced back with a convincing 43-17 road win against University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Logan Bonner finished 22-for-37, throwing for 284 yards and two touchdowns and Arkansas State established its running game from the start, racking up over 200 rushing yards.
The Red Wolves' offensive line has been remarkably solid but beating Georgia in Athens remains extremely unlikely, not least as Fromm is still unbeaten when leading out the Bulldogs at home.
Furthermore, with harder challenges laying ahead, Smart will be stressing his team the need to keep its perfect start intact.
Over the next five weeks, the Bulldogs face two teams currently ranked in the top-25—No. 7 Notre Dame at home and No. Florida on the road—as well as a trip to Tennessee and will be determined to do so with a 3-0 record.
Here's all you need to know ahead of Saturday.
When and where is the game?
The Georgia Bulldogs host the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, September 14.
Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
TV coverage
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Live stream
A live stream will be available via ESPN's digital platforms, WatchESPN and the ESPN app, as well as via fuboTV.
Series record
The two programs have crossed paths just twice, with Georgia playing at home and winning on both occasions.
The most recent encounter came in 2001, with the Bulldogs winning 45-17.
Odds
According to Oddschecker, Georgia is a 33-point favorite and is 23/25 to win and cover the spread, while the over/under bar in terms of points scored is set at 58.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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