Rest easy Georgia faithful. Matthew Stafford knows this is the one you want.

“I started watching (the Georgia-Florida game) more when I was in high school,” said Stafford, a Dallas, Texas native. “In middle school and elementary school I was always watching Texas versus Oklahoma and Florida versus Florida State, those big rivalries games. In high school, when coach Richt got here I started watching it more.

“But I definitely knew this was a big one. It’s true once you get here that you really realize how much people care about it.”

Georgia’s chances of upsetting No. 9 Florida in Jacksonville this Saturday hinge greatly on the freshman quarterback’s ability to spark Georgia’s stagnant offense.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen for sure,” Richt said of Stafford, who’s the fourth freshman quarterback to start the rivalry game. “It’s a lot less settled. With a veteran quarterback, you know how he’s going to react.”

The start will clearly be different than games Stafford started earlier this season – Alabama-Birmingham, Colorado, Mississippi State.

After all, this is Florida.

“I hope to not feel any different,” Stafford said.

“I played in some big games – don’t get me wrong, it was high school. But I kind of know what it’s about. I feel like this one’s going to be that much more of an intense atmosphere.”

For Florida, senior Chris Leak will start at quarterback against Georgia for the fourth straight time – a clear quarterback experience gap. Leak is No. 5 in the SEC in passing yards per game.

Florida has other advantages, too. Maybe too many.

Following Georgia’s modest victory over Mississippi State, a reporter asked Richt if he felt his team held any advantages over Florida.

“Can y’all think of one,” Richt said, asking media members for help. “If you can think of one let me know. I can’t think of a place where we have an advantage.”

Stafford will have to establish offensive rhythm to win. Interceptions hurt consistency, something Stafford’s well aware of after throwing three against Mississippi State.

“I’m definitely going to be more conscious of it for sure,” he said. “But I can’t let it slow down my thinking. I’ve got to see what I see and play ball.”

“It’s what I’ve grown up doing and what’s natural. You can’t be thinking out there too much, or you’ll probably make more mistakes that way than you would just reacting.”

Players feel they’re not far away from consistency, saying the team is just a drop here or missed block there.

“I swear we’re ready to go and we’re looking for that one game to spark us,” Stafford said. “We’ve got all the talent in the world here.”

Kenneth Harris and Demiko Goodman will start at receiver and be Stafford’s primary targets.

Harris had Georgia’s first 100-yard receiving game of the season last Saturday.

Richt committed to passing for the first time this season last weekend.

The Bulldogs often played with four receivers on the field.

“I wanted him (Stafford) to experience more football,” Richt said.