The Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs are coming off much different games ahead of their bye week, and that could resonate in a big way when they kick off on Saturday afternoon.

This is the first time the two teams will be facing each other in Atlanta, with the traditional location in Jacksonville under construction for the next two seasons. They will play at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida next season.

This is primed to be a big one for each team, with the Gators needing a win to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race, and the Bulldogs trying to prevent losing back-to-back games.

Who do our experts have winning this game? It’s almost unanimous.

Florida 31, Georgia 27

This Florida Gators team is one that has found itself. After destroying Ole Miss in The Swamp, they promptly got blown out by both Missouri and South Carolina. What they found against Texas in their big upset win was a formula that works: ball control.

Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner has found a way to do just that against Georgia in the three meetings he’s had with the Bulldogs, including 2024, when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets held the ball for over 37 minutes. With Vernell Brown III returning, this is primed for another upset in favor of the Gators.

– Tyler Forness, A to Z Florida

Georgia 38, Florida 23

Georgia has had two weeks to stew over a gross home loss to Auburn that toppled them from the No. 1 spot. Conversely, Florida has had two weeks to bask in the afterglow of a 27-24 win over Texas on the road.

The Gators are hard to figure out week to week. Their defense shuts down Ole Miss and keeps Texas under control, but it also gets gutted by Missouri and South Carolina. They also appear to have a quarterback controversy brewing between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones.

I’ll bet on Georgia slowing the Florida ground game and forcing whoever gets the starting nod into some tough spot. This one is competitive for a while, but Georgia pulls away in Atlanta early in the fourth quarter.

– Craig Smith, A to Z Miami

Georgia 31, Florida 17

Georgia bounces back in a big way against Florida, coming away with a 31-17 victory in the latest edition of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Gunner Stockton has a much-needed bounceback performance after some recent struggles, looking more comfortable in the pocket and making better decisions with the football. Georgia’s offense finds a rhythm early, mixing in the running game to keep Florida’s defense guessing while Stockton makes enough plays through the air to put points on the board. The Bulldogs won’t necessarily dominate every drive, but they’ll do enough offensively to maintain control of the game.

On the other side of the ball, Georgia’s defense makes life difficult for the Gators throughout the afternoon. Florida has a few stretches of success, but costly mistakes and turnovers derail its chances of keeping pace. The Bulldogs do a good job applying pressure, forcing Florida into difficult situations and taking advantage when the Gators make mistakes. With Stockton playing his best game in a while and the defense delivering when it matters most, Georgia pulls away in the second half to secure a convincing 31-17 win over its biggest rival.

– Ryan Roberts, A to Z Notre Dame

Georgia 34, Florida 24

Florida, Georgia, a game with pretty big implications later in the season. Florida has had an elite defense and has run the ball well at times. Georgia converts third downs at a very high rate, and Florida’s defense has allowed some leaks there. But this is a -10.5 Georgia line, and you have to believe that the game could be closer than that. This is a rivalry, and the two teams match up well, with each team’s strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the ball. Georgia has the better players and the better coach. Give me the Bulldogs.

– Justin Churchill, A to Z Oklahoma

Georgia 35, Florida 25

The world’s largest cocktail party may have a change in venue this year, but the stakes, hype, and anticipation might be higher than ever. While Florida has a pair of ugly losses, the Gators also have two of the better wins in the conference after beating Texas and Ole Miss. The problem for Florida is that they are catching a rested Bulldogs team whose last game was a loss to Auburn.

That’s a tough spot to be in for the Gators, as Kirby Smart will have his Dawgs barking. Georgia’s offense has been sloppy with the football at times, so a Gators defense that hasn’t exactly been formidable will have to capitalize. I see this one being a shootout, with the Gators keeping things closer than some may expect.

– Rob Gregson, A to Z Alabama

Georgia 31, Florida 17

Georgia is coming off a much-needed bye week after falling to Auburn in Week 7. I have zero doubt that Kirby Smart got after his team and that the Bulldogs will come out of the week off ready to go in Atlanta. Florida beat Texas last time out before its bye as well, avoiding a third straight loss. While the Gators are still in the College Football Playoff conversation at this point, that won’t be the case after Week 9.

Georgia should have a healthy Nate Frazier coming out of the bye week, and the Bulldogs are substantially better than Florida on both sides of the football. If the Gators aren’t able to find a way to break off a few explosive plays in this one, they’re in for a long day. I think Florida will hang around, but the Gators will leave Atlanta with a double-digit loss.

– Brandon Little, A to Z Ohio State

Final Prediction for Florida vs. Georgia

To nobody’s surprise, our experts are in favor of the Bulldogs here. Even though it’s in Atlanta, Gainesville isn’t a far drive, and the stadium is still likely to be split in half like it always is in Jacksonville. Strap in for a fun game on Saturday.