Florida has succumbed to Alabama and LSU the past two weeks by a combined 58 points, losing its top two quarterbacks indefinitely in the process.
Tennessee must play the Tigers and Crimson Tide these next two weeks without Tyler Bray, but there are no such worries at Georgia and South Carolina. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks are the only East Division members that are not facing either of the nation’s top two teams during the 2011 regular season.
“Obviously they are great football teams, and they are both great defensive football teams,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Sunday. “Not having to play them certainly is an advantage for anybody on this side of the bracket, that’s for sure.”
Georgia and South Carolina exited Saturday as the lone East teams with fewer than two league losses — the Bulldogs prevailing 20-12 at Tennessee and the Gamecocks trouncing visiting Kentucky 54-3. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks are 3-1 in SEC play, and South Carolina would hold the tiebreaker by virtue of its 45-42 win in Athens on Sept. 10.
The Bulldogs visit Vanderbilt this week before having their lone open date that will precede the annual showdown against Florida in Jacksonville. Leading Georgia receiver Malcolm Mitchell (hamstring) will not play against the Commodores, but Richt is hopeful he can return to face the Gators.