Murray, Georgia get season started with rout of Louisiana
NCAA Football Betting Lines
09/04/2010 -
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aaron Murray threw for three touchdowns and ran
for another, as the 23rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs trounced the Louisiana Ragin
Cajuns', 55-7, at Sanford Stadium.
Murray, a redshirt freshman making his first collegiate start, completed 17-
of-26 tosses for 160 yards with one pick. He also added 42 rushing yards for
Georgia (1-0), which finished 8-5 last season, the program's lowest win total
under head coach Mark Richt since he debuted in 2001. Kris Durham benefited
from Murray's big day, catching five passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
The Bulldogs played the game shorthanded, as their top receiver and rusher
from a year ago in A.J. Green and Washaun Ealey were missing from the lineup.
Green, the team's leading receiver with 53 catches and 808 receiving yards,
was held out as the NCAA investigates his alleged improper interaction with an
agent. Ealey, meanwhile, paced the squad with 717 rushing yards, but was
suspended after being charged in late August with hit and run and driving on a
suspended license.
Chris Masson started the game at quarterback for Louisiana (0-1) and threw for
77 yards with one touchdown and an interception for the Cajuns (0-1), who were
coming off a 6-6 finish for the second straight season. Ladarius Green was his
main target, pulling in four balls for 87 yards and a score.
The Bulldogs started off the scoring with three minutes left in the opening
quarter, as Caleb King's 20-yard touchdown run on third-and-short capped an
11-play, 76-yard drive.
Georgia's defense made its impact felt on the ensuing possession, with corner
Brandon Boykin picking off a Masson pass at Louisiana's 28-yard line. The
Bulldogs capitalized on the turnover with a three-yard touchdown pass from
Murray to Durham just seconds into the second quarter.
A 52-yard field goal by Blair Walsh a few minutes later extended Georgia's
advantage to 17-0.
Late in the first half, the Bulldogs added to their lead with an 11-yard
scoring strike from Murray to Shaun Chapas.
The Cajuns, though, showed some life with under two minutes remaining. On the
very next play following an interception, Masson hit a wide open Green on a
60-yard touchdown pass to put the Cajuns on the board. Louisiana had just six
yards of total offense prior to the play.
Unfortunately, Louisiana's defense let down and Georgia took advantage with a
16-yard touchdown run by Murray as time expired. Murray, who snuck the ball
just across the goalline as he went out of bounds, was given a second chance
after Louisiana's Lance Kelly dropped a sure interception in the back of the
end zone a couple players earlier.
The Bulldogs picked up right where they left off after the break, as Walsh
connected on a 48-yard field goal just minutes into the second half for a 34-7
Georgia advantage.
The onslaught continued when a one-yard touchdown pass from Murray to a wide
open Fred Munzenmaier completed a 10-play, 53-yard drive with 4:25 left in the
third.
Hutson Mason then replaced Murray under center and the true freshman threw a
26-yard touchdown pass to Logan Gray on his very first collegiate snap.
Things only got worse for the Cajuns, as backup quarterback Blaine Gautier was
intercepted early in the fourth quarter by Jakar Hamilton, who returned the
pick 17 yards for a score and a 55-7 advantage.
Game Notes
The Bulldogs have won 13 of their last 14 season openers, including a 9-1 mark
under Richt...Georgia is 39-4 versus non-conference opponents under
Richt...The 55 points was the most for Georgia since a 62-17 win over Kentucky
in 2004...The Bulldogs outgained the Cajuns 377-128 and were 8-of-17 on third
downs compared to a 3-of-16 showing by Louisiana...This was the first-ever
meeting between Georgia and Louisiana on the gridiron...The Cajuns have
dropped 13 straight games to ranked opponents since defeating Texas A&M in
1996.
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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
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