Georgia Bulldogs vs Jacksonville Dolphins Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Improving Georgia Aims to Stymie Jacksonville

Bulldogs Riding Momentum

Georgia (6-1) returns home to Athens on Saturday, looking to build on the momentum of its first ranked win away from home in five seasons. The Bulldogs earned a statement 66-63 victory over then-No. 22 St. John’s in the Bahamas last weekend, just days after falling 80-69 to No. 15 Marquette.

The win over the Red Storm marked Georgia’s first ranked victory on the road since upsetting No. 9 Memphis on Jan. 4, 2020. Freshman standout Asa Newell led the way with 18 points, while sophomore Silas Demary Jr. added 15 to power the Bulldogs.

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Head coach Mike White praised his team’s composure and maturity in the hard-fought win.

“It was a really emotional game, but we didn’t allow ourselves to be over-emotional,” White said. “We play with a lot of maturity, especially with our age as a team. … It’s proof that we are a better team. We just beat a legitimate team. St. John’s could beat anybody in the country.”

Emerging Stars

Georgia’s young talent has been key to its early success. Newell, a five-star recruit, is averaging a team-best 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Demary contributes 14 points per game along with a team-high 3.6 assists. The Bulldogs will look to continue their strong play as they aim to improve to 12-0 all-time against Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Eyes Another Upset

The Dolphins (4-3) come into Athens having won three of their last four games, including a headline-grabbing 74-64 victory at Virginia Tech on Nov. 20. That win marked Jacksonville’s first against an ACC opponent since 1990 and has given head coach Jordan Mincy’s squad a boost of confidence.

Jacksonville recently competed in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, where it dropped a thrilling 90-89 overtime contest to Mercer before bouncing back with a 75-64 win over Siena.

“This is a learning experience, not just for the guys but for the staff as well,” Mincy said. “We want these non-conference games to prepare us for moving forward. Being able to understand where we are at, what we need to do and where we need to be as a collective, this all helps us going forward.”

Players to Watch

The Dolphins are led by Robert McCray V, who averages 17.4 points per game, while Zach Bell contributes 11.4 points. McCray will look to test Georgia’s defense as Jacksonville aims for another upset against a power-conference opponent.

What’s at Stake

For Georgia, Saturday’s game represents an opportunity to sustain its momentum and continue proving itself as a much-improved team under Mike White. Meanwhile, Jacksonville will look to build on its impressive early-season performances with another landmark win.