South Carolina Football: Spurrier Right to Say UGA Is Favored Due to Schedule

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier is never at a loss for words.

Speaking on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network on Tuesday, Spurrier took some not-so-subtle shots at the University of Georgia. When asked how he feels about how SEC rival Georgia will deal with the dismissal of running back Isaiah Crowell, Spurrier threw a curveball and criticized the Bulldogs' schedule:

"

Spurrier on UGA,'They got plenty of RB's at UGA...they got the easiest schedule so that's why they're picked. They play OM, we play LSU.'

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) July 3, 2012"

He's right.

South Carolina could be even better than it was last season thanks to the return of Marcus Lattimore and a full offseason of work with Connor Shaw as the unquestioned starting quarterback.

Meanwhile, Georgia's defense is as stacked as it was last season, save for the loss of cornerback Brandon Boykin, and quarterback Aaron Murray set the single-season school record for touchdown passes last season with 35.

It may seem like a shot from the Head Ball Coach, but I don't think that it is. 

The Gamecocks made a strong case that they were the best team in the SEC East last season. They won 11 games for the first time in school history, swept the SEC East and beat Georgia 45-42 in Athens.

The reason the Gamecocks didn't play LSU for the SEC Championship was due to a home loss to Auburn and a road loss to Arkansas. 

Georgia didn't play SEC West powerhouses Arkansas, LSU or Alabama last season. History repeats itself in 2012, as Georgia will again miss Arkansas, LSU and Alabama out of the West.

Given Spurrier's track record with verbal jabs at opponents, this will probably be received by Dawg Nation as a shot—especially after his shot at Georgia's annual early-season suspensions earlier this spring.

It shouldn't be.

Georgia is still a good football team, and a manageable schedule is always a factor in preseason prognostications. Georgia shouldn't have to apologize for that, nor should it shy away from it.

It's simply the fact of the matter.

Follow @BarrettSallee