Top-ranked Georgia (2-0) will now shift focus to South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC) after defeating FCS opponent Samford 33-0 in its home opener last Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Meanwhile, No. 10 Arkansas defeated the Gamecocks 44-30 this past weekend. USC hopes to rebound at home in Williams-Brice Stadium this coming Saturday against the Bulldogs.
“Now, it’s on to South Carolina for us, an SEC East rival that we get to play each and every year,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said on Monday. “We’re going into an extremely tough environment to play in with a lot of guys that haven’t played in any kind of environment like that. The Mercedes (Benz) game was probably 70/80 percent of Georgia fans. So it will be our first chance to play on the road, our first chance to play an SEC opponent, and we’re looking forward to an opportunity to play these guys.”
It will be a matchup of head coaches between Smart and his former assistant, Shane Beamer, who helped lead South Carolina to a 7-6 overall record last season in his first year.
The Gamecocks are led by transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler. He was once a highly touted recruit and signed with Oklahoma, where he spent the past three seasons. Rattler is a dual-threat quarterback, but has struggled so far this season. He’s completed 47-of-76 passes for 603 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, and currently has a 61.84% completion rate, one of the worst in the SEC at eighth.
Still, the Bulldogs will be looking to contain him as they did Oregon’s Bo Nix in Week 1.
“(The) quarterback’s got an elite ability to throw the deep ball,” Smart said.
“He can throw the ball over 70 yards, stretch the field and he’s an athlete.
So when you start talking about (how) we played against Bo (Nix), we know Bo can throw the ball, Bo can scramble. He’s a guy that can move around. You got to be disciplined. You’re going to have probably five to six snaps a game where you got to use scramble rules, you’ve got to plaster, take shots down the field.
You’ve got to win 50/50 balls.
“That doesn’t change based on who we play.
Everybody we play, especially in the SEC, is going to be challenging us down the field. You’ve got to be able to win those one-on-one matchups.”
Georgia has one of the best defenses in the nation so far this season.
The Bulldogs rank No. 1 overall in scoring defense, allowing opposing teams to average just 1.5 points per contest.
The Gamecocks’ offensive unit doesn’t rank in the top 50 nationally in either scoring offense or total offense, although they are currently averaging 32.5 points per contest. They are primarily a pass-heavy offense with Rattler’s ability to throw the ball.
Antwane Wells Jr. has been Rattler’s primary wide receiver so far this season, hauling in 15 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. The Gamecocks also rely on Jalen Brooks, who has totaled six catches for 117 yards with a score.
Running back Marshawn Lloyd is used in the passing game as well. He’s totaled 103 yards on eight receptions with a touchdown.
Transfer tight end Austin Stogner also is a major target for Rattler after both played together the past three seasons as Sooners under Lincoln Riley.
Georgia’s offense is hoping to rebound after a sluggish performance this past Saturday. Samford limited the Bulldogs to four field goals, and three points in the second half after scoring 30 points in the first two quarters.
The Gamecocks have talent on their defense, but overall, that side of the ball has struggled so far this season with USC giving up 22 points per game.
The Gamecocks’ front seven is the strong suit of the defense; however, according to a Monday report, they will be without leaders Mohamed Kaba (linebacker) and Jordan Strachan (defensive end) for the remainder of the season after both suffered ACL injuries on Saturday against the Razorbacks.
Georgia currently ranks sixth overall in the SEC in scoring offense, averaging 41.0 points per contest. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs are averaging a conference-best 525 total yards per game. They are also ranked 10th overall nationally in total offense, per the NCAA.
Regardless of Georgia’s success on offense, Smart is not content. He wants to see more out of his offense and needs them to be more consistent about getting into the end zone.
“It’s evolved based on the players,” Smart said of the offensive philosophy. “That will never change, right? So when the strength of our team is the backs, then we feature the backs. If the strength of the team is the tight ends, you try to feature the tight ends … right now the strength of this team is probably its depth up front and experience at quarterback … so the evolution is based on what players you have.”
