Dawn of the Dawg
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2016 Georgia Football game-by-game previews and predictions

By Jay Hawkins

Jan 2, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia Bulldogs come out of the tunnel prior to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia Bulldogs come out of the tunnel prior to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Skai Moore (10) and linebacker Jonathan Walton (28) celebrate after an interception by Walton in the second quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Skai Moore (10) and linebacker Jonathan Walton (28) celebrate after an interception by Walton in the second quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

Oct. 8     at South Carolina

Players to Watch: QB Brandon McIlwain, WR Deebo Samuel, CB Rashad Fenton

Preview: The Gamecocks certainly had a rough season in 2015. A 3-9 record (1-7 in the SEC) is never ideal especially when your legendary coach (Steve Spurrier) retires mid-year. But Gamecocks fans should not despair because Will Muschamp was hired to replace Spurrier. I think Muschamp will see good success in Columbia, S.C. Just not this year.

For one thing, he has got to get the overall talent level up in South Carolina first, as Gamecock recruiting has been slipping dramatically over the last few seasons. The Gamecock faithful should be patient as it will probably take a few years for South Carolina to get back to the level it was at during the Jadaveon Clowney and Marcus Lattimore days.

The Gamecocks have a very young team and will be breaking in a new quarterback in freshman Brandon McIlwain. McIlwain looked solid in the Gamecocks’ spring game as he went 19-of-26 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. His presence definitely gives South Carolina reasons for optimism going forward.

But being so young he’ll make mistakes, and it certainly doesn’t help to have a lack of playmakers around him. Deebo Samuel should be his go-to target in the passing game, and David Williams is a decent back. Other than that the offense is devoid of any established playmakers.

Muschamp’s strength is his defense, but he will definitely have some rebuilding to do in that  area as the unit was the SEC’s worst last year. The main bright spot returning on the defense would have been senior middle linebacker Skai Moore, who was the Gamecocks’ top tackler last year with 111 stops. But he suffered a neck injury in spring and will miss all of 2016.

Bottom Line: Colombia has been a tough place for the Bulldogs to play over the last several years. Georgia has not beaten South Carolina there since 2008. Look for that to change this year. Georgia blew out the Gamecocks last year, and I do not see South Carolina significantly improving. However, Georgia might start out slow after relishing the big win over the Vols the prior week.

Prediction: Georgia 35-South Carolina 14

Next: Oct. 15 vs. Vanderbilt

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