EARLY RETURNS
GEORGIA-SOUTH CAROLINA COULD DECIDE SEC EAST CHAMPION
KEYS FOR GEORGIA
Value possession. Georgia comes into this as the bigger, stronger and more physical team. The Bulldogs don’t need to help South Carolina out with turnovers. A controlled passing game and hard-nosed running is the way to go.
Strike first. WilliamsBrice Stadium is an unfriendly environment as the home field to one of the most rabid fan bases in the SEC. Georgia needs to make sure the crowd stays quiet, and the best way to do that is to grab the early momentum.
KEYS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
Dial up Deebo. The Gamecocks may have the most explosive weapon on the field in Deebo Samuel. South Carolina needs to get the ball in his hand in every possible: on returns, as a receiver and as a runner.
Get nasty. This Georgia defense may be the best in the conference, and that’s saying something in a league where Nick Saban coaches. The Bulldogs are good at shutting down the run, and they need to slowly suffocate South Carolina by making the Gamecocks fight for every inch of turf without giving up big gains.
PREDICTION
Georgia 23, South Carolina 17. This game could very well decide who wins the SEC East, so the stakes don’t get much higher for such an earlyseason game. Georgia is coming off an SEC title and will have to work hard in its first league game in defense of that crown. The Gamecocks have a puncher’s chance, but Georgia has more ways to win and a more well-rounded offense.