Georgia Football: Bulldogs Have Worked Their Way into SEC East Driver's Seat

On a day when the Georgia Bulldogs manhandled the New Mexico State Aggies in Athens, the 'Dawgs got a huge conference boost from some Hogs 750 miles away in Fayetteville.

With a 44-28 victory, Arkansas handed South Carolina its second conference loss, and Georgia now leads the SEC East outright for the first time all season.

Now, the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry next week against the Auburn Tigers has a lot more than bragging rights riding on it for the Bulldogs for the first time since 2007, when Georgia went 10-2 on their way to a Sugar Bowl appearance.

Last season, Auburn snapped a four-game skid against Georgia en route to an undefeated season and a national championship.

This year, Auburn, who is eliminated from any shot at the SEC West, has the opportunity to play spoiler next week against the 'Dawgs and put a serious dent in Georgia’s shot at an SEC Championship Game berth.

It is possible that Georgia could lose versus Auburn and still be headed to Atlanta, but then the 'Dawgs would be back in the unenviable position of needing help in the form of another Gamecock loss, which would have to come against a struggling Florida taking on South Carolina at home in Columbia.

The 'Dawgs are currently riding a seven-game win streak after starting the season 0-2, including a loss to the aforementioned Gamecocks. Since then, this young Georgia team has seemed to find its identity and a knack for winning the close games that’s been missing the past three seasons .

Also, backup players have been coming out of the woodwork to contribute for the Dawgs.

Michael Gilliard and Amarlo Herrera filled in nicely for injured inside linebackers Alec Ogletree and Christian Robinson. Even though Ogletree and Robinson have returned, Gilliard and Herrera are still making huge contributions on defense in a position that was thought to be very thin before the season started.

After leading receiver Malcolm Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the last three contests, others have stepped up in his place big time. Most recently, true freshman Chris Conley tied Mitchell for the Bulldog’s individual receiving game of the season after racking up 126 yards on five catches versus New Mexico State.

At running back Saturday against the Aggies, Georgia was missing their top four tailbacks. Richard Samuel was out due to injury and Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome were suspended after each failed drug test administered last week.

But no worries for the Bulldogs, as two more relatively unknown backups came in and had a huge game for Georgia. Brandon Harton made his first career start at UGA, was just two shy of breaking 100 rushing yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown. Freshman Kyle Karempelis also had a big day, with 63 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries versus the Aggies.  

Even though it was admittedly against a subpar WAC team in New Mexico State, a big win like this could not have come at a better time for the Bulldogs. With South Carolina’s loss to Arkansas putting Georgia all alone in first place in the SEC East and the 'Dawgs' shellacking of the Aggies Saturday, UGA enter the home stretch of the season with all the momentum in the East.

Georgia, much like in 2007 when it also suffered two early-season losses, is really heating up and playing their best football in 2011 at just the right time. Everything is coming together for the 'Dawgs, and the best may be yet to come.

Quarterback Aaron Murray has struggled some this season, but he had a career day against the Aggies, with five touchdown passes to five different receivers. The Auburn defense is going to have its hands full with Murray’s hot hand. Not to mention all the targets he has emerging at the wide receiver position between Tavarres King, Michael Bennett, Orson Charles and now Conley, and hopefully a healthy returned Malcolm Mitchell as well.

Georgia will also have Crowell back in action against the Tigers, and don’t be surprised if Harton moves up to No. 2 on the depth chart after his breakout performance against New Mexico State—especially considering Georgia will be without injured power back Samuel for the remainder of the regular season. Look for big Bruce Figgins at fullback to carry some of the power running responsibility now that Samuel is out.

It took nine weeks and finally a loss from a depleted South Carolina squad, but the Bulldogs are finally right where they want to be: controlling their own destiny to play for an SEC championship for the first time since 2005. Now all the Dawgs need are home wins against bitter rival Auburn and a soft Kentucky squad. With the way the Dawgs have been clicking lately, things look good for another trip to the Georgia Dome this season for Georgia.