Back to basics

Will Georgia have its head on straight today?  Who knows?

“Everybody knows what’s at stake, everybody knows what we’re playing for, and everybody knows where we want to go,” Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield said. “If everybody is on the same page, I think we’ll be fine.”

It would be nice to think that the one thing to salvage after the disappointing loss to LSU is a return to the mindset that drove the 2017 team.  (Yeah, I get that it’s not the same exact bunch taking the field today, but they’re not that different.  Certainly the coaching staff ain’t.)

“It’s the leaders of the program and the organization and the coaches that have to get over it,” Smart said. “We’re the ones that deal with a loss sometimes harder than the players.”

If my head and heart did battle over things like stats and how meaningful they were leading into the LSU game, they’re in agreement this morning on the main factor:  today’s game is about being ready to play football for sixty minutes.

“I think the most important thing for these guys is to focus on playing well, not the pageantry, not the surroundings, all that,” Smart said. “It doesn’t matter. You gotta get back to playing well.”

Truth.  Also easier said than done.

I do think that Georgia shows up to play a more solid game in Jacksonville than it did in Baton Rouge.  Admittedly, that’s not saying much.  I also think the intangibles favor the Gators — Chip Towers’ observation that Dan Mullen is playing with house money at this point in his first season in Gainesville resonates with me.

In the end, Georgia is the more talented team and talent will out.  Dawgs win, but don’t cover.

Consider this your game day post.  Have at it in the comments.