South Carolina faces a rival 2-0 team this week as the Gamecocks travel to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.
By Steve Wright
Georgia has the best win in the nation at this point – they beat Clemson in Week 1 – so the visitors will have to show more form than they did in the 20-17 escape of East Carolina last time out. Here are the three keys to a Gamecock win.
1 – Continue defensive excellence
The Gamecocks offense has not been working without starting quarterback Luke Doty in the lineup. Head coach Shane Beamer is said to be hopeful that Doty can make his season debut against Georgia, but that is a rough spot to attempt to come back from a midfoot injury into. The South Carolina defense has allowed just two conversions from 24 attempts on third down this season and against a Georgia team with quarterback injury issues of their own it is paramount the defense holds strong.
2 – Win the turnover battle
Georgia starting quarterback JT Daniels didn’t play in Week 2 against UAB due to a core injury. His backup – the reliable Stetson Bennett who threw for five touchdowns in the first half in relief of Daniels – is suffering from a lower back issue. Redshirt freshman Carson Bennett is the next cab off of the rank and it is important that the South Carolina defense pressures him into mistakes. Turning the ball over three times against ECU and getting away with it was lucky. The Gamecocks simply MUST win the turnover battle here.
3 – Find a way to move the ball
No one has been able to move the ball on Georgia yet this year. Clemons put up just two yards rushing. UAB went for less than 175 total yards. South Carolina has had issues moving the ball already, so this defense with its litany of future NFL stars is going to be a problem. Short fields would be nice – maybe a special teams play or two – but something explosive is going to be the key if South Carolina can upset Georgia as a four-touchdown underdog.
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