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Georgia 48, Missouri 21: Bulldogs Put This One Away Before Missouri Could Settle In

Missouri opened with the football on Saturday, but Georgia wasted little time making sure the Tigers’ first possession would be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Raylen Wilson picked off Austin Simmons on Missouri’s very first snap, setting Georgia up at the Tigers’ 7-yard line. Two plays later, Nate Frazier was in the end zone, and the Bulldogs were already well on their way to a 48-21 win that appeared even more lopsided than the score indicates.

With the win, Georgia moved to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the SEC, thanks in large part to a 21-point first quarter and a 31-0 cushion before Missouri managed to find the end zone.

There was not much suspense in this one, unless you were curious how quickly Georgia could put things out of reach.

After Frazier’s opening touchdown, Gunner Stockton led a four-play, 60-yard drive that he capped with an 8-yard run of his own. Frazier added another score from three yards out before the quarter ended, giving Georgia three rushing touchdowns before Missouri’s offense had much chance to get its bearings.

Peyton Woodring’s 41-yard field goal made it 24-0, and Stockton found Isiah Canion for a 12-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter.

Missouri finally answered when Simmons connected with Naeshaun Montgomery for a 15-yard score, but Georgia still carried a 31-7 lead into halftime.

By that stage, Georgia had already made its intentions for the afternoon clear.

Georgia looked more physical in the run game, more efficient through the air, and generally sharper early on, when the outcome was still in question.

Stockton turned in an efficient day, completing 18 of 24 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Craig Dandridge Jr. continued to emerge as a consistent target, hauling in six catches for 85 yards, and Isiah Canion chipped in as another trustworthy option.

Frazier handled the finishing touches, carrying 14 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns, with his third score—a 3-yard run—stretching the lead to 41-7 midway through the third quarter.

At that point, any real suspense was gone.

Missouri managed two touchdowns against Georgia’s deeper rotation, while Chauncey Bowens tacked on a 5-yard score for the Bulldogs. Those late points did their best to dress up the final score, but the afternoon was never really in doubt.

Georgia finished with 468 yards to Missouri’s 286 and held the Tigers to 102 rushing yards. The Bulldogs accumulated 23 first downs and controlled possession for more than 32 minutes.

Kirby Smart will no doubt find a few things to circle in the film room. Missouri did manage touchdowns on three straight possessions after falling behind 41-7, and Georgia’s advantage faded once the outcome was no longer in question.

But that is the kind of nitpicking that comes with a team expecting bigger things.

Since the Auburn loss, Georgia has outscored Florida, Ole Miss, and Missouri by a combined 138-36, which is about as clear a response as you could ask for.

Subtlety has not been part of the equation.

Saturday was just the latest example of Georgia not needing four quarters to prove it was the better team.

The Bulldogs only needed one.

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