A little Georgia-South Carolina talk

I get that South Carolina has a couple of wins, including one over a conference opponent, but damned if it doesn’t look a lot like the Tennessee matchup from Georgia’s perspective.

Here’s Jake Rowe’s assessment of the two teams’ position groups:  seven in favor of Georgia and two pushes.  As he puts it, “(t)here’s a reason that one team is 5-0 and the other is 2-3.”

Some of the raw stats compiled against FBS teams are eye opening.  (Conference rank in parenthesis.)

• Offensive yards per play:  UGA 8.30 (1st)7.75 (2nd); USC 4.87 (14th)
• Time of possession:  UGA 33:48.75 (1st); USC 27:25.25 (14th)
• Offensive yards per rush:  UGA 6.67 (1st); USC 4.05 (9th)
• Defensive yards per rush:  UGA 2.72 (1st); USC 3.92 (9th)
• Offensive passer rating:  UGA 174.50 (3rd); USC 105.50 (14th)
• Defensive passer rating:  UGA 104.13 (2nd); USC 148.52 (11th)

The ‘Cocks red zone record is particularly putrid.  They’ve only been in the red zone 11 times in four games, have whiffed on three of those entirely and have only managed four touchdowns.

That’s pretty lopsided.  And based on stats to date, Boom can’t expect much out of Mr. Turnover Margin.  Georgia is +4 against FBS competition, good for second in the SEC, while South Carolina is minus-3 and thirteenth.

Even with all that, I’m not sure Georgia covers Saturday, simply because I don’t think Kirby takes any great pleasure in embarrassing his ol’ buddy.  Score aside, though, it’s hard to see how the Dawgs don’t control this game.

Advertisements

Not so ‘Cocky now

South Carolina 247Sports beat writer posts about how the Gamecocks’ running game will give the Georgia defense its first real test of the season and the message board reaction is decidedly tepid.

You’ve come a long way from cannon shots, baby.

A key matchup Saturday

I have to admit I haven’t been paying much attention to Javon Kinlaw’s 2019 season, but it appears to be kick ass so far.

Georgia’s interior offensive line vs. South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw: The interior of Georgia’s offensive line is big, strong, and deep, but it’s going to get its biggest challenge to date in the Gamecock defensive tackle. Kinlaw is being projected as a high first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft because he’s an absolute freak show. He’s on the same level from a physical standpoint as guys like Isaiah Wilson and Ben Cleveland. You almost can’t believe how big and well-put-together he is.

At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, he’s tied for the SEC lead in sacks. On most run plays, it’s necessary to double team him so that you can get the play started. There are times when the Bulldogs are going to have to try and block him one on one and whoever Georgia runs at him will have to be up to the task. If he demands double teams all game, it’s going to open things up for DJ Wonnum out on the edge.

Georgia’s offensive line has been challenged at times by speed rushers from the outside, but I haven’t really seen much of an issue from interior linemen.  Kinlaw’s production to date has been remarkably consistent:  he’s had a sack/tackle for loss in every game except his last and is almost averaging three tackles a game through five games.  (For comparison’s sake, Georgia’s top sacker on the interior defensive line is Tyler Clark, with 1.5 sacks to his credit.)

I’d say we might get a good look at how much Trey Hill’s progressing since his early pass rush struggles.  I also wonder if Georgia’s gonna be same old, same old on third-and-one playcalling this week.

Something to watch, anyway.

Today, in cannon shots

The dream.  (Yeah, it’s factually erroneous, but work with him here.)

One of three straight seasons THIS decade in which South Carolina finished as a better team than Georgia.

2011
SC #9
UGA #19

2012
SC #8
UGA unranked

2013
SC #4
UGA unranked

By next season, year 5 for Muschamp, Gamecock fans should expect to be at Georgia's level.

Or better. https://t.co/1GCo70auA3

— Marc Ryan (@MarcRyanOnAir) October 9, 2019

The reality ($$).

The Gamecocks are 16-25 in the SEC since that 2014 win against Georgia. The most notable thing about the 2015 game for South Carolina is how Lambert’s performance became a kind of measuring stick for the Gamecocks’ struggles. South Carolina fans noted how poorly Lambert played after absolutely shredding them in the third game of the season and that fact coupled with their own losses really drove home how fast things were sinking.

When Greyson Lambert becomes a measuring stick, you ain’t climbing levels as soon as you think.

Oh, and before I forget…

From cannon shot to crapper

Poor ‘Cock fans.  In a year, they’ve gone from swag to total apathy.

Nooner alert

Boom goes the South Carolina game.

📺 times and networks announced for games on October 12: https://t.co/MyGCz2umkt pic.twitter.com/h0Tu2ciOro

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) September 30, 2019

For Boom, TFW everything you’ve got isn’t close to being enough

Alabama didn’t bring its A game to Columbia, but it brought the next best thing.

NAJEE HARRIS, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!

• Run someone over
• Hurdle someone
• Drag someone into the end zone pic.twitter.com/pFnPok0HU3

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 14, 2019