Things I think ahead of today’s game with South Carolina:
- Kirby Smart wants this game, for a variety of reasons. It’s also at 3:30 on CBS. I don’t see this team coming out sleep walking as it has in the first two games. I also don’t see Daijun Edwards being held out this week in an abundance of caution.
- I am certain the team has heard ad nauseam about the Cocks’ wins over Tennessee and Clemson last season as a cautionary tale. Ditto for Georgia’s 2019 home loss to South Carolina. That’s another reason I think this Georgia team comes out ready to go on the attack.
- All the Beamer ball talk should have our special teams guys on high alert. SC has to find some way to steal a possession or two to have a real chance. Though it would be highly amusing if it turns out that Thorson and Mews are the special teams players who shine today.
- I keep looking at passing stats. Rattler really is off to a helluva start. One weird stat: for a guy who’s leading the conference in passing yards and is third in passer rating, you’d think he’d have more than three touchdown passes to his credit.
- Which leads to my next point: as prolific a passer as Rattler has been, the Cocks are 12th in the SEC in scoring. That doesn’t bode well facing an elite bend but don’t break defensive scheme such as Georgia’s.
- South Carolina is 130th in the country in yards per rush. Georgia is a mediocre 68th nationally in defensive yards per rush, but a lot of that came in the opener on quarterback runs when the defense didn’t contain well. That was cleaned up in the second game, but in any event, Rattler ain’t running today. Neither are SC’s backs.
- SC is pretty even with Georgia on offensive explosive plays. On defense, though, they’ve given up way more than the Dawgs have.
- Neither defense can be labelled a sack machine. Georgia only has one; the ‘Cocks have notched three. Georgia has twice as many tackles for loss (10 vs. 5), though.
- Sacks allowed are a different story. Georgia’s one leads the conference. South Carolina is last, with ten. Tackles for loss allowed are even more lopsided — UGA’s 10 vs. SC’s astounding 23.
Enough bullet pointing, eh? What do I see coming? Well…
With little to no running game to speak of, South Carolina is going to have to make an effort to keep pressure off the quarterback in the passing game. That suggests a lot of quick passes, mixed in with some screens and other such ways to slow the pass rush, at least early. Taking yardage in bits and bites down the field plays right into the way Georgia wants to defense that South Carolina offense. There’s nothing to suggest that SC will be able to do little more than move the ball some between the 20s.
Ultimately, no matter how well Spencer Rattler is playing, the SEC is a line of scrimmage conference and Georgia enjoys a significant advantage along both lines. That in and of itself should make for a comfortable win. (As always, I assume the turnover fairy doesn’t show up to wreak havoc, as she did in 2019.)
That said, for some reason, this game screams backdoor cover at me. I can see the Dawgs rolling out to a 30-point lead and holding it until Carolina drives and scores very late against the third team defense. Weiszer predicted 38-13 and I can see that happening. If so, will some blame Bobo for the final margin? Is the Pope Catholic?
Enjoy the game, peeps. I know I will.
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