A key SEC showdown will take place this weekend when the No. 22-ranked Georgia Bulldogs clash with the No. 24-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.  Georgia romped to a 55-7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend, while the Gamecocks dominated Southern Miss from start to finish in a 41-13 win.  South Carolina has lost four straight games at home against Georgia and the Bulldogs have taken seven of the past eight meetings overall.  The college football lines makers have listed the Gamecocks are a 3.5-point favorite.
Georgia returns 10 starters on offense from a year ago, but the one new starter is quarterback Aaron Murray.  The redshirt freshman was impressive in his debut for the Bulldogs, throwing for 160 yards and three touchdowns versus the over-matched Rajun’ Cajuns.  Head coach Mark Richt kept the play calling simple as most of the completions went for minimal gains.  Murray added another 42 yards rushing and another score.  UGA racked up 184 yards on the ground as a team.  Carlton Thomas led all running backs with 61 yards and veteran Caleb King went for 47 yards plus a touchdown.  The Dawgs will once again be without big play wide receiver AJ Green against South Carolina.  The NCAA ruled he must sit out an additional three games for selling a game jersey worn last year.  Kris Durham will try to pick up some of the lost production.  He had a team-high five catches for 83 yards and a score in the opener.  Converted quarterback Logan Gray also got into the scoring column.  Special teams are a real strength for this team and could play a key role in a hostile environment.  Drew Butler was last season’s Ray Guy award winner and Blair Walsh was a Second Team All-SEC selection.
The ol' ball coach’s first game of the 2010 season went according to plan for the Gamecocks.  They flexed their muscle and showcased overall talent to kick-off the college football season.  Stephen Garcia was a game-time decision to start at quarterback and proved the right decision was made for at least one game.  The senior threw for 193 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.  Spurrier is very high on Connor Shaw at back-up and don’t be shocked to see him used in this game if Garcia struggles.  Running back Marcus Lattimore finally made his long-awaited debut for South Carolina.  Recruiting services ranked him as the top running back coming out of high school.  He rushed for 54 yards and two scores last Thursday.  Sophomore wide receiver Alshon Jeffery seems to have made great strides into becoming an elite player at his position in the SEC.  The lanky Jeffery caught seven passes for 106 yards.  The Cocks will play without tight end Wesley Saunders once again with his ultimate status being determined at a later date.
The public is betting heavy on South Carolina in this matchup.  It has been one of the largest line movements of the weekend.  This most likely has to do with the lengthened suspension of Green and a young quarterback playing in front of a hostile environment for the first time.  Georgia has dominated recently though, and they seem to have South Carolina’s number.  I think they will be able to run the ball well enough to stay close and possibly sneak out of Columbia with a victory.
Play: Georgia +3.5
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