ATHENS, Ga. -- Through four games this season, Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert definitely has a favorite target.
Fifth-year senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell has 20 catches for 306 yards and three touchdowns. The next three receivers in production - Terry Godwin, Isaiah McKenzie and Reggie Davis - have totaled 17 catches for 299 yards.
Fifth-year senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell has more catches this season than Georgia's next three receivers combined.
Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert (11) throws under pressure from Southern defensive lineman Christopher Jones (59) in a game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Athens, Ga. "I don't even know who's our No. 2 guy right now," coach Mark Richt said Tuesday. "I really don't think much about whether this guy is connecting with this guy as much as a quarterback knowing his progressions and going through his progressions properly. If you have a favorite receiver, you may force it to a guy that you shouldn't at times.
"When your receiver makes a play in a jump-ball situation or a back-shoulder throw like Malcolm has done a couple of times, I'm sure that is increasing Greyson's faith in him. We just don't want a situation where you love a guy so much that they're going to make a bad decision."
Sophomore tailback Sony Michel is actually Georgia's second-leading receiver with eight catches for 148 yards and three scores. Tight ends Jeb Blazevich, Jackson Harris and Jay Rome have combined for nine receptions so far, but the go-to guy has been obvious.
"I don't think about that when I'm out there playing," Mitchell said. "I run my route and come out of the break, and if the ball is there, I do the best I can to catch it. To be honest, I'm just as happy if Reggie Davis or Isaiah McKenzie or Terry Godwin is catching it."
Facing the Tide
As a high school student in the Birmingham suburb of Chelsea, Jake Ganus always tried to stay neutral in the Alabama-Auburn debate. He was a dual-threat quarterback at Chelsea who was passed over by the Crimson Tide and Tigers and signed in 2012 with UAB, where he played linebacker after starting out as a safety.
Ganus never figured he would see Alabama or Auburn on the schedule, but that changed last December when the Blazers dropped football and Georgia was in need of an experienced inside linebacker.
"By the time I got to UAB, I knew it was never going to happen," Ganus said. "When I signed with Georgia and looked at the schedule and how we'd be playing Alabama and Auburn, it was awesome for me. I get to play both of my home-state schools, which is cool."
A slight favorite
The Bulldogs have remained anywhere from 2- to 2.5-point favorites over Alabama, which hasn't been an underdog since the 2009 SEC championship game against Florida and senior quarterback Tim Tebow.
Richt was asked Tuesday about being the favorite and gave the shortest answer of his 30-minute news conference.
"I really don't have a reaction to that," he said.
Ganus also was asked about being the favorite in Las Vegas.
"I don't look at that stuff," Ganus said. "Playing at UAB for three years, you don't even think about that. Who knows whether we were favored or not favored in Conference USA games?"
Visiting with Gales
Southern University receiver Devon Gales suffered a spinal cord injury in Saturday's loss to the Bulldogs. It occurred on a third-quarter kickoff return by the Jaguars, with Gales colliding with Bulldogs kicker Marshall Morgan.
Morgan has visited with Gales and his family at the hospital.
"I think it was good for him to go and talk to everybody and understand that it's football and that he didn't do anything that was out of line," Richt said. "It was just unfortunate."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.