Game day post, South Carolina edition

I almost hate to come off like this, but this game isn’t destined to be a nail biter.  Georgia seal clubbed UAB 56-7.  Sagarin rates South Carolina as being roughly four points better than the Blazers; even after last week, SP+ ranks UAB two spots higher than the ‘Cocks; FEI has UAB ranked lower, but both teams are underwater.

In other words, barring a repeat of Jake Fromm’s miserable day two seasons ago, it shouldn’t be close.

I do think Carolina is going to come out and make Georgia try to beat them with the run by following Clemson’s strategy in the opener, so I don’t expect an early pinball effect on the scoreboard.  But I don’t expect that South Carolina’s defense is going to remind anyone of Clemson’s, either.

There’s also no reason to believe that the ‘Cocks are going to succeed offensively when Clemson couldn’t.

So, it’ll take longer to get there, but I do think the Dawgs wind up covering.  Look for lots of opportunities for the backups on defense and the offensive line in the second half.  (Carson Beck, too.)  Just stay healthy, Dawgs.

Have at it in the comments, peeps.

Your (non-Dawg) game day post

Here’s how the day’s festivities shape up:

Long, busy Saturday there.  Who’s staying up for the Hawai’i game?

No doubt the Alabama-Florida meeting tops my games of interest list, but Auburn-Penn State is another I’ll keep an eye on.  What tickles your fancy?

Georgia, overachiever?

Bill Connelly ($$) points out the Dawgs are, in fact, overachieving in one way so far this season.

Greatest overachievement vs. closing line through two weeks, 2021:

Rutgers: 40 points
Iowa: 38.5
Utah State: 37.5
Georgia: 36
Army: 32.5
Michigan: 31
Marshall, Virginia: 30

Historically speaking, this is something of a mixed bag, although the 1980 Georgia team roared off to a +44 start.  But as to the 2021 squad,

At the least, this could say something about Georgia’s early 2021 dominance. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs began the year by taking down Clemson and overachieving by 9.5 points against the spread. Then, on Saturday, they might have made an even bigger statement. Despite missing starting quarterback JT Daniels and leaning on last year’s emergency starter Stetson Bennett, they beat a rock solid UAB team 56-7, defying the closing line by 26.5 points. Their defense, first in defensive SP+ the past two years but somehow even better than usual at the moment, has allowed just 10 points in two games. The offense certainly didn’t do much against Clemson but showed out against a typically strong UAB defense and still hasn’t placed its first-choice lineup on the field.  [Emphasis added.]

Bill’s definitely not dawgrading the UAB win, that’s for sure.

Rise and shine, campers!

It’s game day.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 | 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫

🎙️ Voiced By: Richard Appleby pic.twitter.com/q7Wj2f6ciI

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 16, 2021