Georgia came remarkably close to following the predicted script, overpowering Arkansas 45-17 in Fayetteville and opening SEC play with the kind of physically dominant performance expected from one of the nation’s top teams.
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Predicted Score: Georgia 42, Arkansas 17
Actual Score: Georgia 45, Arkansas 17
The Bulldogs controlled the game where it mattered most — on the ground. Georgia rushed for 254 yards while holding Arkansas to an almost unbelievable 17 rushing yards. Quarterback Gunner Stockton contributed 97 yards on seven carries, including a 62-yard run, while Chauncey Bowens scored three rushing touchdowns. Nate Frazier added 75 yards and another score. Georgia finished with 464 total yards and possessed the football for more than 35 minutes.
Arkansas had some success throwing the football, producing 283 passing yards, but the Razorbacks could never establish enough balance to keep Georgia’s defense guessing. Chris Marshall caught seven passes for 104 yards, yet Arkansas spent much of the afternoon trying to recover from an early deficit.
Georgia led 21-3 at halftime and stretched that advantage to 31-3 by the end of the third quarter. Arkansas scored twice in the fourth, but by then the outcome had been decided.
The result was almost an exact match to the prediction. Georgia scored three more points than expected, while Arkansas landed precisely on the predicted 17. More importantly, the Bulldogs looked every bit like a serious SEC championship contender. Their ability to run the football and completely erase Arkansas’ rushing attack made this one of the most convincing SEC performances of the weekend.
