Five game storylines: USC vs. Georgia
Strength vs. strength
Georgia’s offense is No. 1 in the SEC and No. 11 in the country in yards (536 per game), No. 2 in the SEC and No. 8 in the country in scoring (48.2 points per game) and leads the conference in rushing offense and passing efficiency. South Carolina counters with a defense that is ranked No. 3 in the SEC and No. 13 in the country in yards allowed (288.8) and No. 2 in the SEC and No. 6 in the country in points allowed (11.2). Something, clearly, has to give. The Gamecocks’ pass rush looks like it will be a problem for the Bulldogs, and Georgia looks like it has the edge in the ground game.
Making a path
Coach Steve Spurrier has consistently referred to his offensive line’s performance as “OK.” The run blocking has been inconsistent, and run blocking is what the Gamecocks will need if they are to continue what has been a winning formula against the Bulldogs the last two years. Junior tailback Marcus Lattimore is averaging 179 yards in two career games against Georgia, and his 108 second-half yards against Kentucky last week seemed to announce that he is fully recovered from offseason knee surgery.
The schedule factor
South Carolina’s schedule doesn’t look as tough as it once did thanks to the collapse of supposed top 10 team Arkansas, but the Gamecocks still will have work to do regardless of the outcome of this game. South Carolina plays No. 4 LSU and No. 10 Florida on the road in the next two weeks. Georgia has Kentucky, Florida, Ole Miss and Auburn to finish its SEC schedule after this week. That makes Saturday’s game more critical for the Gamecocks in the SEC East race.
Turnover battle
After all the talk about positional matchups, the game very well could come to turnover margin, the simplest but probably most important statistic in college football. Both South Carolina and Georgia are in the middle of the pack in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks, who are seventh in the SEC in turnover margin, have turned the ball over eight times and taken it away 10 times for a plus-two margin. The Bulldogs also have taken it away 10 times but have given it back nine times. They are eighth in the SEC. The Gamecocks have thrown two interceptions and fumbled six times, while the Bulldogs have thrown four interceptions and fumbled five times.
All eyes on Columbia
This is the first time in history two such highly ranked teams have played in Williams-Brice Stadium. ESPN’s wildly popular College GameDay program is broadcasting live Saturday from the Horseshoe. The Gamecocks are looking for their first three-game winning streak against Georgia and to chip away at the Bulldogs’ big lead in the overall series history. Of South Carolina’s 16 wins against Georgia, Spurrier has three in the past five years. A win Saturday would even his record as a Gamecock against the Bulldogs at 4-4.
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Head to head
South Carolina linebacker Quin Smith vs. Georgia running back Todd Gurley
Smith, a 6-foot-1, 239-pound senior, hasn’t started a game this year but leads the Gamecocks with 26 tackles. Smith will rotate with starters Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens and fellow backup Damario Jeffery at linebacker, and the South Carolina linebackers will be busy. South Carolina is second in the SEC in run defense, allowing 2.2 yards per carry. The Bulldogs, who are led by the 6-1, 218-pound Gurley, lead the SEC in rushing and average 6.2 yards per carry. Gurley and fellow freshman Keith Marshall are the most prolific rushing duo in the SEC with a combined 192.8 yards per game.
This story was originally published October 5, 2012 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Five game storylines: USC vs. Georgia."