Georgia Bulldog DB Chris Smith Included As Thorpe Award Semifinalist
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ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia Bulldog senior safety Chris Smith has been included as one of 12 semifinalists for the 2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, according to an announcement from the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Monday.
The Thorpe Award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football. The three award finalists will be announced as part of a special ESPN presentation on Nov. 29.
Smith, a native of Atlanta, is the second straight Georgia safety to be named a semifinalist after current Minnesota Viking Lewis Cine garnered the honor last year. J.R. Reed was a 2019 finalist for the honor and Deandre Baker won the 2018 award for the Bulldogs. Smith is one of four players from the Southeastern Conference included as semifinalists this year.
Smith is a two-time captain for the Bulldogs this season and has 21 tackles, including three tackles for loss, for top-ranked Georgia. He is tied for the team lead with two interceptions and has forced a fumble for a defense that ranks second nationally in Scoring Defense, allowing just 9.1 points per game.
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The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs are considered major favorites to beat their arch-rivals this weekend.
The Dawgs were installed as a 23.5-point favorite to beat the Gators Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on CBS and will kickoff at 3:30. No. 1 Georgia and the Gators were both off this week in anticipation of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Any line over 20 points would the largest in the history of the game between the two old rivals. Florida was a 19-point favorite heading into the 52-17 beating of Georgia in 1995. Two years later the Gators were 18.5-point favorites before being shocked by the Dawgs in a 37-17 blowout win over the Gators. In 2011, Mark Richt’s first season as coach at UGA, the Dawgs were 19-point favorites. The Gators won 24-10 in row final game between Georgia and a Florida-led Steve Spurrier team.