Georgia Football: Sic’em On A Chicken
By Danny Bishop
Photo by Danny Bishop
The 6th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks will pay a visit to Sanford Stadium Saturday.
It’s going to be hot, real hot!
The weather forecast is calling for sunny skies and upper 80 degree temperatures for the 4:31 kickoff on ESPN.
Sounds like a perfect day for Southern Fried Chicken!
South Carolina owns a three game winning streak against the Dawgs and following last Saturday’s loss to Clemson in Death Valley, the DawgNation is not feeling too confidant about ending Spurrier’s streak and defending last year’s SEC East Division title. The outcome will depend on whether or not Aaron Murray rebounds from yet another big game struggle or spends this September Saturday Showdown needing to wear Depends.
9/7/13 has been circled on both teams calendars for a year now, the Dawgs still feel the sting of last years embarrassment in Columbia and the Old Ball Coach would rather give up his membership at Augusta National than lose to Georgia, he’s still in a bad mood over the Bulldogs holding his Gators to 10 points and handing him his first loss during his Heisman winning 1966 season.
Jadeveon Clowney is likely to be the number one pick in next years NFL draft. Georgia’s offensive tackles think he could have been the number one pick right out of high school and wish he would have been, he didn’t just eat their lunches last year, he inhaled their breakfast and dinner too. Aaron Murray will have to account for his where-a-bouts before every snap and will probably spend much of the afternoon behind 260 pound fullback Quayvon Hicks.
Georgia’s starting placekicker Marshall Morgan can spend the afternoon on the lake, his suspension for a boating under the influence arrest over the summer will cost the Dawgs if this turns into a slug-fest that is decided by a field goal. Walk-on Patrick Beless will handle the short stuff while punter Collin Barber will kickoff and probably attempt any long range shots.
Despite the Dawgs youth on defense, these two teams match up well, for Georgia to win, the offensive line must have a great game and Murray has to keep his ‘happy feet’ under control allowing him to throw the ball on target. The Dawg Defense gets Josh Harvey-Clemons back at strong safety, Corey Moore and wide receiver Jonathan Rumph are also off the Red Cross List and expected to play.
South Carolina will need to dominate the line of scrimmage and establish a running game without Marcus Lattimore for the first time in three years , their defense is solid and has the ability to completely take over the game.
This border war is rated as a ‘toss up’ and the winner will slip into the drivers seat as far as the Eastern Division is concerned although the Florida Gators think they will have a little input on who travels to Atlanta the first Saturday in December.
The only thing that is not open for debate is that Georgia’s pre-season dreams will crash and burn with a loss, win it and a trip to Pasadena is still on the table.