College football teams often are remembered by what they do in November, but the Georgia Bulldogs likely will define their 2008 season by what they do between now and then.
To win the Southeastern Conference’s East Division for a fourth time in seven years, the 10th-ranked Bulldogs (5-1 overall, 2-1 SEC) will have to pass two teams slightly ahead of them in the standings, Florida (5-1, 3-1) and Vanderbilt (5-1, 3-1). Georgia hosts the No. 22 Commodores this Saturday before traveling to No. 13 LSU on Oct. 25 and then to Jacksonville to face the No. 5 Gators on Nov. 1.
Georgia coach Mark Richt did not want to comment Sunday afternoon on the imposing three-game stretch, stating that his only goal right now is to get to 6-1. This is the first time the Bulldogs have faced three consecutive ranked foes during the regular season since 1969, when they went 0-2-1 against Tennessee, Florida and Auburn.
The Georgia-Vandy game will be televised by Raycom with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.
Most SEC teams are exactly halfway through their 12-game regular season, and the East is shaping up as a three-team race. Even South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, whose Gamecocks are 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the league, views it that way.
“We had two losses in the division, and that’s not good,” Spurrier said Sunday. “If we’d had a loss outside in the Western, you would maybe think you’re somewhat in it, but a lot of stuff would have to happen.”
The Bulldogs must play the rest of the season without junior left tackle Vince Vance, who will undergo reconstructive ACL injury after suffering the setback midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s 26-14 win over Tennessee. Sophomore Clint Boling moved from right guard to left tackle after Vance got hurt and remained there.
Georgia’s starting line this week is expected to have Boling at left tackle, freshman Cordy Glenn at left guard, freshman Ben Jones at center, sophomore Chris Davis at right guard and freshman Justin Anderson at right tackle.
“The guards could flip again,” Richt said, “but I think we’ve got them where we need them right now.”
Sophomore Kiante Tripp, who started the first three games at left tackle but has been used the past two games at tight end, is moving back to tackle. Richt said depth at tight end may not be a concern anymore because sophomore Bruce Figgins feels his shoulder is healthy enough to play the rest of the year.
Georgia will have Figgins and redshirt freshman Aron White at tight end this week and could use fullbacks Brannan Southerland and Shaun Chapas there as well. Senior Tripp Chandler, the usual starter at tight end who suffered a shoulder injury Sept. 27 against Alabama, could return for the LSU game.
Odds and ends
Georgia’s 10-minute, 55-second drive in the fourth quarter against Tennessee is the longest in the SEC since LSU had an 11:02 drive against Arizona State in 2005. ... Richt believes senior linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (knee) could play this week but said junior receiver Kris Durham (ankle) is more of a long shot. ... Vandy has been ranked four straight weeks in the AP poll for the first time ever. ... The Bulldogs are ninth in the Harris and USA Today polls, which factor into the BCS equation. ... Georgia’s 2009 season opener is shaping up as one of its toughest ever, as the Bulldogs will visit Oklahoma State.
