Georgia vs. South Carolina: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
The lone contest this weekend between ranked teams stands tall as one of the season's most critical when No. 6 Georgia hits the road to take on No. 24 South Carolina.
Thus far, the tale for two SEC powerhouses has been as polar opposite as possible. The Bulldogs are one of the nation's biggest surprises thanks to a win over then-ranked No. 16 Clemson to start the season, 45-21.
Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks are arguably the biggest disappointment of all, a season-opening loss to then-ranked No. 21 Texas A&M and a struggle against East Carolina doing much to eliminate the team in the minds of fans just two games into the season.
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We won't be able to tell the difference Saturday when these two step into the ring. Despite being the favorite, Georgia coach Mark Richt understands this best.
“I got a feeling this game could get a little bloody,” Richt said, per ESPN.com's Alex Scarborough. “I think both teams are tough, physically. … Before it’s over, it may get down to a bit of a fistfight.”
Tension and implications run deep in this one, to say the least.
The Scramble for Balance
At Williams-Brice Stadium, the Gamecocks defense has held the Bulldogs to a total of just 27 points in their last three encounters.
The problem is, Jadeveon Clowney is gone, and with him went any semblance of respectable defense so far this season for Spurrier's side.
Against the Aggies to start the season, the South Carolina defense allowed Kenny Hill to throw for 511 yards and three scores, while back Trey Williams took 13 totes for 78 yards and a score. Three Aggies backs recorded a per-carry average of 4.3 or greater.
The lack of a pulse for Spurrier's defense did not change much against East Carolina, either. It was a 33-23 win, but Pirates signal-caller Shane Carden still threw for 321 yards, and that same big-play leakage from the Gamecocks defense was present, as one can glean from the final box score of notable rushers:
| Breon Allen | 4 | 58 | 14.5 | 0 | 44 |
| Chris Hairston | 6 | 35 | 5.8 | 1 | 14 |
| Shane Carden | 7 | 21 | 3.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Marquez Grayson | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | 9 |
A performance like that against Georgia back Todd Gurley, a surefire Heisman candidate, will have South Carolina fans leaving for the exits early come Saturday.
This season, Gurley has just 15 totes—which went for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Look at it this way, via Trent Smallwood of Bulldawgillustrated.com:
The struggle has been about the same for the South Carolina offense. Star back Mike Davis looked his usual self against East Carolina with 18 carries for 101 yards and two scores, but senior quarterback Dylan Thompson has struggled with the reins in his hand, totaling 632 yards and five touchdowns to two picks—completing just 50 percent of his throws against the Aggies.
None of this is to suggest Georgia is without work to do, but South Carolina is littered with issues at exactly the wrong time.
Seasons on the Line
With so many star players, notable coaches and more featured in this matchup, it is easy to forget just how much it means for both sides.
The winner of this clash has not won the SEC East since 2010, but the point stands—seasons will be defined Saturday based on past events and how the rest of the schedule sets up.
Believe it or not, all is not lost for South Carolina. The schedule is rather simplistic in the coming weeks, and Georgia might slip in a brutal division. ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff explains this in an apt manner:
"South Carolina's schedule sets up very nicely. After Georgia, South Carolina travels to struggling Vanderbilt, hosts Missouri, goes to Kentucky, takes a bye, and then hosts Furman before a trip to Auburn. During that time, Georgia has three straight home games against Troy, Tennessee and Vandy, before going on the road to play Missouri and Arkansas. Those road games won't be easy, especially if Arkansas' running game stays hot.
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If the Gamecocks can find a productive balance as mentioned, a win Saturday can be parlayed into quite the streak before a trip to Auburn in October and a trip to Gainesville in November.
Conversely, Georgia cannot afford to hit a speed bump now if the conference title game and a playoff berth are to be in serious consideration late in the season.
When: Saturday, September 13, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
Television: CBS
Live Stream: CBSSports.com
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 60
- Spread: Georgia (-3)
Team Injury Reports
| Davin Bellamy | LB | 08/02/2014 | will be eligible to return on 9/20 against Troy | Suspended | two-game suspension |
| Merritt Hall | FB | 08/14/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | concussion |
| Malcolm Mitchell | WR | 08/02/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Jonathon Rumph | WR | 09/10/2014 | will miss Saturday's game against South Carolina | Out | hamstring |
| Justin Scott-Wesley | WR | 08/02/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Jon Taylor | DT | 07/23/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
| Kevin Crosby | TE | 09/07/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia | Questionable | foot |
| Mike Matulis | G | 08/16/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Blake McClain | DE | 09/07/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia | Questionable | foot |
| Jamari Smith | CB | 08/21/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | foot |
| Brock Stadnik | OL | 09/07/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia | Questionable | knee |
| Donell Stanley | OL | 09/07/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia | Questionable | wrist |
| Devin Washington | DE | 09/07/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia | Questionable | hamstring |
Injury reports via USA Today.
Prediction
Things look bad for the Gamecocks. That's putting it lightly.
Ponder this—the Aggies ran up more yardage on the road against the Gamecocks than they did at home against Lamar.
Davis will continue to get his, and Thompson should get more comfortable as the weeks progress, but that defense is in for a world of hurt against Gurley, and it doesn't help that Hutson Mason seems comfortable under center after taking over for the departed Aaron Murray.
It may be a road contest, but the Bulldogs are catching the Gamecocks at the perfect time. Expect Gurley and the offense to produce enough for a gritty, perhaps bloody, victory.
Prediction: Bulldogs 27, Gamecocks 23
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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