FINAL: Missouri falls 43-29 to No. 2 Georgia in an inconsistent performance

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri football hosts Georgia on Saturday in a key SEC East matchup.

Both the Tigers and the Bulldogs enter the game with 3-0 records, but they’ve gotten there in different ways. Georgia has throttled its first three opponents, including running roughshod over South Carolina in its SEC opener.

Missouri did the same against its first two opponents, but in its first game against a Power 5 opponent, the Tigers were gashed by Purdue and won on a last-second field goal.

Drew Lock will get his yards against a Bulldogs defense that’s only gotten one sack in three games; but can Missouri’s defense do anything to slow down Jake Fromm and Georgia’s balanced offensive attack?

Missouri-Georgia football: Live updates, stats, analysis

11:29 3Q, Georgia 27, Missouri 7: Missouri goes three-and-out on the first drive. Georgia picks on Adam Sparks with three completions on its drive, including a 33-yard TD from Fromm to Hardman for the likely killer.

7:50 3Q Georgia 27, Missouri 14: Missouri gets bailed out by a gift of a call on third-down deep in Georgia territory, where a roughing-the-passer on Jeremiah Ledbetter erased an incompletion, giving Missouri a first down. Crockett runs for a 6-yard TD on the ensuing play and Missouri stays within an arm’s reach of Georgia for a little longer.

6:59 3Q Georgia 33, Missouri 14: Jeremiah Holloman catches a 61-yard touchdown pass from Jake Fromm after a missed tackle by Acy, and he drops the ball at the goal line. Very well may have been a fumble, but no replay could reverse it so the call stood. Georgia’s 2-point conversion is no good.

1:33 3Q Georgia 33, Missouri 22: Missouri answers again on its third rushing touchdown of the game, this time a 3-yard run by Tyler Badie, and Lock threads a needle to Okwegbunam for a 2-point conversion to keep this one interesting.

14:52 4Q, Georgia 40, Missouri 22: Joshuah Bledsoe gets caught with his eyes upfield and gets BURNED by Mecole Hardman for a long touchdown pass to almost assuredly seal this one.

10:47 4Q, Georgia 40, Missouri 29: Missouri keeps it interesting, again, with another long, methodical drive ending in a Drew Lock touchdown run. Need a stop and/or a turnover on the next two Georgia drives to have a shot.

6:08 4Q, Georgia 40, Missouri 29: Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Missouri is still alive. Walter Palmore blocks a Blankenship field goal attempt and Missouri has a chance.

4:58 4Q, Georgia 40, Missouri 29: The ninth life is likely up here. Missouri is short on fourth down. Odom is challenging; if not overturned, it’s Georgia ball at Missouri’s 41.

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HALFTIME Georgia 20, Missouri 7: Nearly a diaster finish to the half for Missouri. On third down from just across midfield, Lock gets hit as he throws and it’s ruled a fumble, recovered by Georgia at the 45. Georgia doesn’t get any points however, and Missouri holds them on fourth down. Missouri nearly turns the ball over again, but Pendleton recovers a fumble and Missouri lets the half run out.

Missouri is somehow only down 13 points despite three turnovers, and the Tigers get the ball to start the second half. But the Tigers aren’t going to stand a chance if the offense — especially the passing gam — doesn’t get something going.

13:51 2Q Georgia 10, Missouri 7: Georgia finds some room on the ground early, but the drive stalls and Missouri holds the Bulldogs to a Rodrigo Blankenship field goal. DE Nate Anderson dropped back in coverage on third down and made a nice tackle to force the field goal.

11:07 2Q Georgia 13, Missouri 7: A crossing-route bullet to Johnathon Johnson bounces off his shoulder, intercepted by UGA DB Tae Crowder and returned to Missouri’s 7. Tigers’ defense stands tall, gives up 3 yards on 3 plays, and Georgia settles for another field goal.

7:17 2Q Georgia 13, Missouri 7: Missouri’s defense holds once again, forcing Georgia to settle for a 49-yard FG attempt which is no good. Cam Hilton had a HUGE third-down stop in the backfield. He’s having a hell of a game so far.

Defensive battle, just like we all thought?

5:45 2Q Georgia 20, Missouri 7: Missouri goes 3-and-out and Fatoney’s punt is blocked, returned for a touchdown by JJ Stokes. Missouri is doing well on defense and losing this game in all other facets.

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Pre-game: Missouri CB Demarkus Acy is dressed out and going through drills, so all signs point to him being a starter and full contributor today after the concussion he suffered on the first play against Purdue. That’s good news for the Missouri secondary.

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9:01 1Q, Georgia 7, Missouri 0: Christian Holmes makes a heckuva play on a slow out-route pass from Jake Fromm to Mecole Hardman, just took the ball away from him for a pick. After a 20-yard completion to Badie, Missouri had to redo the down. Okwuegbunam fumbles on the ensuing play and Tyson Campbell recovers and returns for a touchdown.

7:04 1Q, Georgia 7, Missouri 0: Promising Mizzou drive ends after a dropped first-down pass by Kendall Blanton, a tipped ball on third down and then a missed 41-yard FG by Tucker McCann.

Drive of the game coming up. Don’t see Missouri coming back from an early two-possession deficit against this Georgia team.

2:03 1Q, Georgia 7, Missouri 7: Huge answer by Missouri. Tigers defense held Georgia to a three and out, and then methodically marched down the field for a 7-yard TD run by Rountree to tie the game.

15:00 2Q, Georgia 7, Missouri 7

First-quarter stats:

Missouri-Georgia football: Time, TV channel

Time: 11 am CT

Date: Saturday, Sept. 22

Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.

TV: ESPN

Missouri-Georgia football: How to watch online

Fans can watch Missouri-Georgia football online at WatchESPN.com.

Missouri-Georgia football: Betting odds, game predictions

Missouri is a 14 to 14 ¹⁄₂ point underdog against Georgia, according to VegasInsider.com. The average game line is 66 points.

Missouri-Georgia preview, predictions

Pete Scantlebury: I’m all-aboard the Drew Lock Hype Train. He is playing the best ball of his career, and even more, he seems to have gone to the next level in understanding what everyone is doing on offense. Because of him, I think Missouri is in this game until the end of the third quarter... but then it gets away from the Tigers in the fourth, as Georgia’s ground game wears down the defense and wears down the clock. I’m predicting a 45-31 scoreline in favor of Georgia.

As for who has to ball out for Mizzou to win, it’s simple. They need to have a star performance at each level of the defense. I’m saying Terry Beckner, Terez Hall (Cale Garrett is great, but Hall can be more disruptive) and Cam Hilton all need to have the game of their lives to win on Saturday.

Mitch Hill: This is a Mizzou page after all, so let’s have some fun. Mizzou 41 Georgia 34. TBJ is going to have a BIG game. MIZ.

Jack Parodi: I’d love to be a homer and say Mizzou is going to pull off the upset, but I’m gonna be real here: Georgia 48, Missouri 38. All I’ve got to say is good teams win, great teams cover (the line is UGA -15.5). Middle linebacker Cale Garrett will have to have a big game if Missouri’s defense will slow down Fromm and the Georgia offense. Not only will his physical play of reading gaps to stop the run be crucial, but the mental game of reading Georgia’s formations and putting his defense in the right positions to succeed will be extremely important as well.