GEORGIA GAME IN BITS & PIECES
SATURDAY’S STAR
This could easily be a tie between Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns, and Bulldogs tailback Todd Gurley, who had 132 yards on a career-high 30 carries. We’ll go with Gurley, because who would want to make him mad?
SATURDAY’S STAT
Georgia is just the fourth team in the past 20 years to open with two consecutive top-10 teams and the first to avoid an 0-2 start. New Mexico State in 1994, Louisiana Tech in 1999 and Syracuse in 2001 were the other schools to begin with such a demanding gauntlet.
THE TURNING POINT
With 11:12 remaining in the third quarter and South Carolina driving in a 24-24 game, Bulldogs inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera punched the ball from quarterback Connor Shaw, causing a fumble that safety Josh Harvey-Clemons recovered at Georgia’s 25-yard line.
THE BIG PLAY
Murray scrambled out of the pocket toward the left sideline with 13 minutes to play and passed to Justin Scott-Wesley down the sideline near midfield. Once Scott-Wesley caught the ball, he displayed his track skills and blew past the secondary for a 41-30 Georgia lead.
WHAT IT MEANS
Georgia had gotten used to rooting for South Carolina to lose in order to reach the SEC championship game, but the Bulldogs are in control this time. With Florida struggling offensively in Miami, Mark Richt’s bunch for the moment is a very solid favorite.