No. 1 Georgia is seeking to win its third-consecutive nationwide title this season and that journey continues Saturday when it begins SEC play at dwelling Between The Hedges towards South Carolina. The Bulldogs have not been challenged to this point of their 2-0 begin, successful their first two video games by a mixed rating of 93-10, however the harmful Gamecocks confirmed themselves to be able to a serious upset twice final 12 months towards Clemson and Tennessee.
It is a sequence by which Georgia has held the higher hand just lately. Below coach Kirby Sensible, the Bulldogs are 6-1 towards the Gamecocks — together with 2-0 towards former Sensible assistant Shane Beamer. Georgia has much more on the road when it comes to streaks, having received 29 consecutive regular-season video games (a run going again to Nov. 2020) and 19 straight total. Whereas Georgia carries streaks from earlier years, the staff on the sector in 2023 has been largely outlined by the brand new contributors.
Quarterback Carson Beck has been efficient in his first begins, guiding an offense that is piled on factors early and constructed sufficiently big results in relaxation by the beginning of the fourth quarter. It is not simply Beck, although. Georgia’s main rusher is true freshman Roderick Robinson II, and sophomore Mekhi Mews is among the staff’s main receivers after logging simply two receptions in 4 video games final season.
That group faces SEC competitors for the primary time on Saturday with the Gamecocks on the town seeking to bounce again following their season-opening loss to North Carolina. South Carolina is now 1-1 after a win towards Furman, a top-10 FCS staff, however faces its personal raised stage of competitors going up towards the reigning champs.
Take a look at LIVE updates from Georgia vs. South Carolina
The best way to watch Georgia vs. South Carolina stay
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium — Athens, Georgia
TV: CBS | Dwell stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Attempt It Free)
Georgia vs. South Carolina: Have to know
Georgia coping with accidents to key gamers: Junior Ladd McConkey, the staff’s high choice at extensive receiver final season when it comes to receptions and receiving yards, has not performed within the first two video games whereas coping with a again damage. His standing for Saturday’s recreation is up within the air. Operating again Daijun Edwards has dressed out for each video games however has not performed as he continues to get better from an MCL sprain suffered throughout fall camp. And simply when the protection was lastly getting shut to totally wholesome, beginning security Javon Bullard left the Ball State recreation with an ankle damage. His standing for Saturday’s recreation is doubtful.
Whereas there are gifted gamers all through the depth chart, the “subsequent man up” mentality goes to place somebody on the sector who hasn’t been as key to the back-to-back title runs of 2021 and 2022. If Bullard, the Faculty Soccer Playoff Defensive MVP in each the Peach Bowl and nationwide championship final season, can’t go towards South Carolina, it is going to be David Daniel-Sisavanh and Dan Jackson sharing his duties at security.
Gamecocks coping with their very own damage points: Star extensive receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells has been restricted this season with a decrease physique damage and logged only one catch for five yards. Whereas Rattler’s high goal from a 12 months in the past has been off the sector, senior extensive receiver Xavier Legette has emerged as one of many high pass-catchers within the SEC. Legette leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 148 yards receiving per recreation, whereas additionally main the SEC with 180 all-purpose yards per recreation and rating second within the convention with 7.5 receptions per recreation. Reverse Legette is Ahmarean Brown, who was knocked out of the Furman recreation with an damage. Vast receiver shouldn’t be the one place room seeing shake-ups due to damage. As a staff about to play Georgia, Mississippi State after which Tennessee (in Knoxville) in consecutive weeks, South Carolina can’t afford too many extra accidents.
Spencer Rattler will take a look at retooled Georgia protection: The Bulldogs protection has been glorious and maintained this system normal in its efficiency, however these spectacular numbers are going to be examined towards Rattler. The Gamecocks quarterback ranks third amongst FBS signal-callers at 349 yards passing per recreation, trailing solely Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. He is additionally finishing 84.3% of his passes with three touchdowns with no interceptions. For Rattler, it is a probability so as to add one other upset particular to his résumé after taking down Tennessee and Clemson in 2022.
Georgia vs. South Carolina prediction, picks
Odds by way of SportsLine consensus
It’ll be troublesome for South Carolina to keep up its offensive manufacturing towards Georgia, particularly given the obvious benefit within the trenches when it is time to put the Gamecocks to the take a look at towards the Bulldogs’ entrance. I feel Georgia’s unusual sack drought — only one sack all season — ends on Saturday and the protection shines in a Bulldogs win. Decide: Below 55
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