NO. 3 GEORGIA (1-0, 0-0 SEC) AT NO. 24 SOUTH CAROLINA (1-0, 0-0)
3:30 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
VIDEO & RADIO
CBS/102.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
Although the past two meetings have been decided by two touchdowns, with Georgia winning 28-14 two years ago and 24-10 last season, the glaring discrepancy in rushing offense can't be overlooked. The Bulldogs have rushed for 568 yards the past two games against South Carolina, while the Gamecocks have managed just 73. That will have to narrow significantly today if Will Muschamp is to knock off his alma mater, but the individual matchup most worth watching is South Carolina senior receiver Deebo Samuel and Georgia senior cornerback Deandre Baker. Samuel missed the game last year due to a season-ending injury, and he caught seven passes for 56 yards and a touchdown and had an 11-yard run last week in his return against Coastal Carolina. How many times Samuel gets paired opposite Baker remains to be seen, but even the coaches admit this could be fun. "With the good players I have been around, it doesn't matter who lines up across from them – they just want to go play," Muschamp said. "They want to play against the best guys. I'm sure that's being seen both ways."
ONE TO WATCH
South Carolina junior quarterback Jake Bentley made his first start against a Southeastern Conference foe two years ago and led the Gamecocks to a 24-21 upset of No. 18 Tennessee. That remains the most monumental win for Bentley, who added a 26-19 upset of Michigan in January's Outback Bowl to cap last season's surprising 9-4 run. The son of Gamecocks running backs coach Bobby Bentley was not able to make much of a dent last year against the top-five tandem of Georgia and Clemson, with South Carolina scoring just 10 points in each defeat, but the return of Samuel and running back Rico Dowdle from injuries aided Bentley and a more up-tempo offense in last week's crushing of the Chanticleers. "I thought he was extremely efficient on Saturday," Muschamp said of Bentley, "and I think moving forward, he plays better when we play with more of a tempo. It's part of the reason we're doing this." There is no question that a triumph today would be the biggest of Bentley's career.
IN THE END
Georgia has three straight wins in this border rivalry, statistically dominating all three encounters. The Bulldogs have not been as dominant in recent years in Williams-Brice Stadium, with the 28-14 triumph two years ago snapping a three-game losing streak in that facility. Georgia's victory two years ago occurred before roughly 25,000 empty seats due to the game being rescheduled to a Sunday to avoid remnants of Hurricane Matthew, so the last time the Bulldogs survived a truly hostile environment at Williams-Brice was 2008. "I like playing in noisy environments," Bulldogs senior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter said. "When everyone is screaming and yelling, you just have more of that drive to do something and to do better. When you are on somebody's own turf, the odds are stacked against you, and it is kind of a statement to be able to come out there and handle your business." The Bulldogs will handle their business in the trenches today and will pull away for a fourth straight series victory.
PREDICTION: Bulldogs 30, Gamecocks 13