Coming off open week, Georgia Bulldogs usually win under Richt

How important is a week of rest for the Georgia Bulldogs coming into a game as important as this week’s contest with South Carolina?

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As it turns out, it may be pretty important, or in the very least, a good thing for the Dawgs.

Being well-rested for a game that is generally as physical as the yearly clash with the Gamecocks is obviously going to be a plus for the Bulldogs. Carolina was beaten down in Week 1 by Texas A&M, and then scraped by last week against East Carolina.

After Georgia’s drubbing of Clemson, they’ve had a week to rest, plan and watch two weeks worth of game film on the Gamecocks.

Beyond the obvious, the statistics show that under Mark Richt, when Georgia is coming off an open date they are 17-4 in the next game. The only losses came in 2001 (Auburn), 2005 (Auburn), 2008 (Georgia Tech), and 2009 (Florida). All of those losses were also late season bye weeks, generally coming in mid to late October.

There wasn’t a lot of physical damage done to the Bulldogs against Clemson. Starting tackle John Theus has been hampered by a mild ankle sprain, but is scheduled to return to practice this week, according to team sources. Wide receiver Chris Conley and running back Brendan Douglas were also in green non-contact jerseys briefly, but both are expected to be available for Saturday’s game against South Carolina.

But even an extra week of rest apparently isn’t enough for wide receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley, who are both “very doubtful” for the game against the Gamecocks according to coach Richt.

But the man who everyone will be watching, tailback Todd Gurley, is rested, healthy and ready to help lead the Bulldogs to another win, and take another step towards Heisman Trophy consideration.

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