Georgia and South Carolina both enter their SEC opener with some uncertainty at the quarterback position prompted by injury concerns.
Georgia’s JT Daniels did not play in Saturday’s shellacking of UAB due to an oblique injury with Stetson Bennett starting in his place. Daniels did take part in pregame warmups and reportedly looked comfortable making his throws. The expectation is that he will suit up against the Gamecocks, but Georgia could choose to be cautious in an effort to prevent the injury from lingering.
South Carolina graduate assistant Zeb Noland started the first two games for the Gamecocks following an injury to expected starter Luke Doty. Following South Carolina’s win over East Carolina, head coach Shane Beamer indicated the Doty should be fully healthy and ready to go against the Dawgs on Saturday in Athens.
Whichever quarterback lines up under center for the Gamecocks Saturday night will contend with a ferocious Georgia defense that has yet to allow a touchdown through two games and held Clemson and UAB under 200 yards of total offense.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Georgia Bulldogs odds for Week 3:
Georgia’s offense seemingly found its footing against UAB this past weekend. If the Dawgs can keep their foot on the offensive pedal as SEC play opens, Georgia will be a daunting foe for every opponent on its schedule. Pairing a potent offense with the suffocating Junkyward Dawgs defense puts Georgia squarely in the national championship conversation.
Georgia enters the matchup as a 30.5 point favorite over South Carolina according to the latest odds from WynnBET. WynnBET currently lists the odds for Georgia at -105 (bet $105 to win $100) and South Carolina at -115 (bet $115 to win $100).
If totals blow your hair back, WynnBET currently lists the over/under for Georgia’s SEC opener at 48.5 points. There are currently even odds on the total, with both the over and the under holding at -110 (bet $110 to win $100).
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Georgia Bulldogs Prediction for Week 3:
Georgia knows to be leery when South Carolina comes Between The Hedges as a heavy underdog. In 2019, the Gamecocks came to Sanford Stadium unranked as an almost three touchdown road dog, and behind three Israel Mukuamu interceptions clipped the third-ranked Dawgs in overtime 20-17.
The Bulldogs dominant showing against UAB on Saturday illustrated one of head coach Kirby Smart’s oft-quoted sayings, “The standard is the standard.” Regardless of the opponent, the only team that can beat Georgia, is Georgia.
The Dawgs defense put a stranglehold on Tyler Johnston III and the UAB offense from the jump, and the Blazers offense never came close to crossing the goal line. Georgia forced three turnovers, tallied three sacks, and for the second straight week, scored a defensive touchdown.
Zeb Noland, Luke Doty, hell, the Gamecocks could bring back Stephen Garcia for a spot start, and it wouldn’t matter. This defense is the stuff of nightmares for opposing quarterbacks.
Georgia’s offense will look to continue the momentum from the UAB game and score early and often against the Gamecocks on Saturday night. Look for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to take some early shots deep again this week to take advantage of Georgia’s mismatches with South Carolina on the edge.
Georgia blitzed UAB on both sides of the football in front of a capacity crowd at Sanford Stadium over the weekend. It took everything South Carolina could muster to slip by ECU with a paltry 20 points. Their offense may not cross midfield against Georgia. The number is big, but this is the 2021 reality at Georgia. We’ll take the Dawgs -30.5, but given the probability that Georgia’s defense could pitch a shutout, we’re inclined to bet the under.