South Carolina +3
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Georgia Bulldogs haven't lost to South Carolina in five years.
Sounds like they picked a bad time to visit Charleston.
Though not teeming with offensive talent of their own, the Gamecocks are perfectly poised to pull off one of the early season's biggest upsets. The reason is simple: though the Bulldogs possess a defense worthy of a No.12 national ranking, their offense wouldn't be fit for a high school scrimmage.
Don't let last week's 48-12 victory over Western Kentucky mislead you, either.
First, it was Western Kentucky, not Florida. Second, Georgia generated a mere 295 total yards of offense. And, third, the team can't figure out who will play quarterback and for how long. Worse, no candidate has truly separated himself from the competition.
Is Joe Tereshinski III the man? Only if you go by his classification (senior). Otherwise, his numbers (90 yards on 7-of-17 passing and minus-7 yards rushing last week) fail to impress.
What about redshirt freshman Joe Cox? After all, he completed two of his three pass attempts. True, but that lone incompletion was an interception that negated a potential scoring drive.
Then perhaps Matt Stafford, a true freshman from Texas who was the nation's top-rated QB prospect? He guided his team to a fourth-quarter touchdown and even scooted for a 19-yard gain. OK, but Stafford only got it done when there was a minute left to play and his team led, 41-12.
Regardless of whom Georgia coach Mark Richt selects as his starter, South Carolina should prevail. The Gamecocks have a dominating defense (allowed just 161 total yards in a 15-0 defeat of Mississippi State a week ago) and a genuine playmaker in tailback Cory Boyd (93 yards on 13 carries, plus four catches for 67 yards and the game's only score).
It also should be noted that coach Steve Spurrier is now in the second year of his South Carolina reclamation project. A season ago, on the road against a more talented Georgia team, his Gamecocks very nearly did the unthinkable. They fell two missed PATs short of forcing overtime and beating the Bulldogs ?Between the Hedges,? only to lose 17-15.
Georgia won't catch any such breaks this year.
Bottom Line: While Richt juggles quarterbacks, Steve "Superior" will run his career coaching mark against Georgia to 12-2 on the strength of better offensive consistency and higher defensive intensity.
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Georgia Bulldogs haven't lost to South Carolina in five years.
Sounds like they picked a bad time to visit Charleston.
Though not teeming with offensive talent of their own, the Gamecocks are perfectly poised to pull off one of the early season's biggest upsets. The reason is simple: though the Bulldogs possess a defense worthy of a No.12 national ranking, their offense wouldn't be fit for a high school scrimmage.
Don't let last week's 48-12 victory over Western Kentucky mislead you, either.
First, it was Western Kentucky, not Florida. Second, Georgia generated a mere 295 total yards of offense. And, third, the team can't figure out who will play quarterback and for how long. Worse, no candidate has truly separated himself from the competition.
Is Joe Tereshinski III the man? Only if you go by his classification (senior). Otherwise, his numbers (90 yards on 7-of-17 passing and minus-7 yards rushing last week) fail to impress.
What about redshirt freshman Joe Cox? After all, he completed two of his three pass attempts. True, but that lone incompletion was an interception that negated a potential scoring drive.
Then perhaps Matt Stafford, a true freshman from Texas who was the nation's top-rated QB prospect? He guided his team to a fourth-quarter touchdown and even scooted for a 19-yard gain. OK, but Stafford only got it done when there was a minute left to play and his team led, 41-12.
Regardless of whom Georgia coach Mark Richt selects as his starter, South Carolina should prevail. The Gamecocks have a dominating defense (allowed just 161 total yards in a 15-0 defeat of Mississippi State a week ago) and a genuine playmaker in tailback Cory Boyd (93 yards on 13 carries, plus four catches for 67 yards and the game's only score).
It also should be noted that coach Steve Spurrier is now in the second year of his South Carolina reclamation project. A season ago, on the road against a more talented Georgia team, his Gamecocks very nearly did the unthinkable. They fell two missed PATs short of forcing overtime and beating the Bulldogs ?Between the Hedges,? only to lose 17-15.
Georgia won't catch any such breaks this year.
Bottom Line: While Richt juggles quarterbacks, Steve "Superior" will run his career coaching mark against Georgia to 12-2 on the strength of better offensive consistency and higher defensive intensity.
