ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia and South Carolina, coming off convincing wins in their season openers, will try to draw first blood in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division race when they meet Saturday in Columbia.
"I know our fans will be pumped up, it will be loud," said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. "It's a big game. One of the biggest we've had here in a while. It should be an exciting day."
If recent history is an indication, the game should be compelling. Since 2000, the average scoring margin in the series is tied for the sixth closest in the SEC at 8.5 points.
Under Mark Richt, Georgia is 7-2 against the Gamecocks and 4-0 in Columbia.
"I think time will tell how big of a game it is," said Richt, whose team routed Louisiana-Lafayette 55-7 on Saturday. "We know it's huge for us, and they know it's huge for them, but the bottom line is that if we play well throughout league play and they do, too, it could be the deciding factor between making it and not."
Whether Georgia star receiver A.J. Green, who starred at Summerville High, will be playing in his home state remains to be seen. He was held out of the opener while Georgia awaits a ruling from the NCAA on his status.
"Same answer right now," Richt said when asked Sunday evening for an update on Green.
South Carolina offensive tackle Jarriel King, cornerback Chris Culliver and tight end Weslye Saunders, who has been suspended from the team, were also held out of the Gamecocks' opener because of questions about their eligibility.
Richt said the South Carolina game offers a "more honest test" for the Bulldogs and quarterback Aaron Murray, who will play his first collegiate road game.
"(The South Carolina game) is going to be another new experience," Richt said of Murray.
"Playing away, playing in a hostile environment, playing against a Southeastern Conference opponent, playing against a different brand of athlete on defense, especially."
WHO: Georgia vs. South Carolina
WHEN: Noon Saturday
WHERE: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
TV: ESPN2
it's hard for me to believe this game isn't worthy of a prime time slot. i hate to say it, as a dawg fan, this is the first time in, well, forever, that i feel we are truly the underdawgs in this game. hunker down you hairy dawgs! somebody had better stop the chicken fans from getting to atlanta! that reminds me, think i'll go watch some beverly hillbillies.
"Under Mark Richt, Georgia is 7-2 against the Gamecocks and 4-0 in Columbia."
Dawgs 49, Shamecocks 10
i don't know reader. they're raising a fuss about this lattimore dude. did you see he had 54 yards rushing thursday night? 54 YARDS!!! that's an ncaa record, isn't it? and, against that much heralded southern miss. defense. he shredded 'em for 54 WHOLE YARDS!! looks like he's got the heisman sewed up. probably win the national championship, too!
Let's see... Brad Scott was going to turn the Shamecocks around. He failed. Next it was Lou Holtz. He failed. Next came Steve "will somebody, anybody, give me another chance after my debacle in Washington" Spurrier. He has failed. Maybe they'll bring in Mike Leach next. As for Lattimore, the Grantham defense will welcome him to the SEC.
This Saturday, Carolina will test Georgia defensive backfield. This will not be a running game battle. Spurrier will be pitching the ball around a little, and the real test for the Todd Grantham defense will be at pass coverage for DBs and LBs. The fuss about any specific player in a game against a smaller school (Southern Miss) and a much smaller school (Louisiana Lafayette) is just hype to get people to watch, or keep watching, the TV. Neither Marcus Lattimore nor Aaron Murray has been tested, yet. This week will provide that test.
"Spurrier will be pitching the ball around a little"
Based on his performance in previous years, I like the idea of Stephen Garcia "pitching the ball around." The over/under for Garcia interceptions is 2.5, and I'm taking the over.
oh, well, then i feel better. i'm not too concerned about, what's his name? sergio garcia? once he gets slung around a dozen times or so, he'll be happy to just get rid of the ball. don't you worry 'bout the dawgs safeties and d-backs. they're fast, and much better prepared under new secondary coach lakatos. i can smell a chicken pickin' saturday!
i'm very disappointed, in the lack of participation, today, from the chickens. maybe, they're caught up in that ol', "every year we get our hopes up against georgia, only to fail miserably" attitude? i don't know? a friend of mine, suggested, that maybe they just can't read that well? maybe? it's a holiday, and most of 'em don't have internet access at the trailer-house, therefore, they'll not read this article until they get to work on tuesday?
NA -- The Gamecocks won't score 42 points in their next three games combined. I hate to break the news to you, but you can "wait 'til next year."
he's had what he thinks is a premonition. that's if a premonition is what happens an hour or so after heavy drinking.
csrareader, The Gamecocks and Garcia ran up more than 300 yards last year on the Dawgs in Athens, who for many years have shown a weakness to Spurrier's throw-happy style of calling games (with less receivers than they have now). Do you really think a single coach is going to change the way the Dawgs can or cannot get to the QB? It is DL talent... why do you think Rennie Curran left for the NFL? The answer, the GA DL is killing the GA LBs. Reference... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7XB6CgNmG8
oldtimer, most of your comments are reasonable. But, Rennie Curran left for the pros for one reason only and it wasn't because of the DLs
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