Quarterback Marcus Mariota will need to make a good first impression to win over an Atlanta Falcons fan base that's hungry for better results. His latest decision might not help him out too much, though, as he's going to represent Oregon against Georgia in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game on September 3.
Atlanta Falcons News
Mariota repping the school he played for is a no-brainer, but keep in mind that many Falcons fans are also Georgia Bulldogs fans. If Mariota's presence helps the Ducks pull off a major upset to start the college football season, it's safe to say some of his supporters will have a sour taste in their mouths.
Of course, Mariota took home the Heisman Trophy with the Ducks in 2014 and was also named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. He racked up 4,454 yards through the air, 770 yards on the ground and 58 total touchdowns while leading Oregon to the National Championship Game.
This will be Mariota's first experience being in a packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium as an Atlanta player. However, the fans in the stands will be hoping he suffers a brutal loss as he stands on the visiting sideline. Those same fans will soon be rooting for him to win on NFL Sundays, so it's all a bit confusing.
There's no doubt that Georgia's honorary captain, Willie McClendon, is going to receive a much louder ovation when his name is announced. The former Bulldogs running back scored the game-winning touchdown against the Ducks in 1977, which is the only other time these two teams have met.
Georgia is slated as a 17.5-point favorite against Oregon and a -950 favorite on the moneyline according to FanDuel S portsbook's NCAAF odds.