Georgia head coach Mark Richt looks on in an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 45-7. (AP Photo/David Goldman)ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia football coach Mark Richt didn’t hesitate this week when asked what area has been the biggest reason for his team’s 8-2 start.
“The turnover ratio, for sure,” Richt said. “That’s number one. We have not lost the turnover ratio in our win streak.”
Indeed, the Bulldogs are a plus-9 in turnover ratio and have not lost that statistic since committing three turnovers and gaining two in their 45-42 loss to South Carolina on Sept. 10. Georgia is second only to top-ranked LSU (plus-15) in that category among Southeastern Conference teams.
Two years ago, in their final season under former defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, the Bulldogs finished minus-16 in turnover margin.
“The biggest thing we’ve done is win the turnover battle,” quarterback Aaron Murray said. “Our defense has done a great job of getting turnovers and getting us great field position, and we really haven’t turned the ball over as an offense that much.”