Georgia vs Florida preview: Bulldogs face toughest task to date in No. 7 Gators

Georgia garnered some attention after they ended Missouri's 26-game home winning streak to open conference play. They will make a huge splash if they can put a halt to Florida's 24-game streak. Georgia, who is 2-0 in the SEC for the first time since 2002, takes on the No. 7 Gators in a nationally televised contest Tuesday night.

Not much went wrong for the Bulldogs during the first week of conference play. A pair of victories over Missouri and Alabama and finished off by point guard Charles Mann earning SEC Player of the Week honors. Mann averaged 20 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the two victories. He tied for the team lead with 22 points in Saturday's win.

The Bulldogs will need another good performance from Mann Tuesday night against a Florida team that is 13-2 and has won seven straight. They came from behind on Saturday to force overtime and escape with an 84-82 win over Arkansas without leading scorer Casey Prather. The Gators will be without Prather again Tuesday night due to a bone bruise in his knee with Dorian Finney-Smith expected to start in his place. Prather is averaging a team-best 17 points per game but Finney-Smith filled in nicely finishing with 22 points and 15 rebounds against the Razorbacks.

Just to restate the obvious, Georgia will have its hands full Tuesday night against the best team they have seen this season in hostile territory to boot. The Bulldogs have to continue their string of good defensive efforts and continue to win the battle of the boards just to have a chance. Georgia is 8-0 in games in which they out rebound their opponents and that will be a good starting point against the Gators.

Tuesday's game in Gainesville is the only meeting between the two clubs this season. It will also wrap up a stretch of four out of five on the road for the Bulldogs. Georgia's next two games are at home against Arkansas and South Carolina. The Bulldogs are 7-1 at Stegeman Coliseum but just 1-5 on the road.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, Jan 14, 7 p.m.

Location: Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida

TV: ESPNU

More from Dawg Sports

Follow @dawgsports Follow @SBNationCFB

• Calling All Candidates: Clancy Pendergast.
• Early Names To Replace Todd Grantham In Athens. #1: Kirby Smart.
• Todd Grantham Headed To Louisville.
• Georgia moves to 2-0 in SEC with 66-58 win over Alabama
• Gym Dogs Begin Season With Disappointing Loss At Oklahoma