Georgia @ South Carolina Preview

Georgia/South Carolina:

Cue the SEC on CBS theme song. Give me Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson on a Saturday in South Carolina. These are the matchups you dream about, Gamecock fans. Willy B will be rocking on Saturday as we welcome the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs to Columbia, in what is shaping up to be the biggest game of the Will Muschamp-era. Muschamp, a UGA alumni, knows the magnitude of this game. The winner of this dogfight will be in the driver’s seat of the SEC East. Coming off an impressive opener in which the Cocks put up 49 points, Jake Bentley and Bryan McClendon will look to keep things rolling against this much tougher Georgia defense. Georgia, on the other hand, will hope their defense can ride the momentum of their Week 1 shutout of Austin Peavy.

Gamecock Impact Players:

D.J. Wonnum: This junior captain has been dealing with an ankle sprain all week at practice. Although Coach Muschamp is worried about swelling, it seems as if Wonnum will be able to play on Saturday. Having Wonnum available could be the difference between a win and a loss. He’s essential to slowing down D’Andre Swift in the run game and making Jake Bentley comfortable every time he drops back.

Brian Edwards: After hauling in 4 catches for 53 yards and a TD in last Saturday’s win over Coastal Carolina, Bentley should have faith in Edwards to use his big body to make plays. UGA better be careful to not overplay Deebo Samuel or Edwards could end up with a huge day.

Jake Bentley: This Saturday is shaping up to possibly be the biggest game of Jake Bentley’s career. Throughout his career, we have seen Bentley continue to mold into a more confident quarterback with experience. Saturday will mark a huge milestone in Bentley’s career, and he will look to prove himself by leading the Cocks to an upset win.

Bulldog Impact Players:

D’Andre Swift: We all know the pedigree of Georgia running backs in previous seasons: Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel…and Swift is the next in line. After receiving Heisman support from former Alabama QB Greg McElroy and former Ohio State WR Joey Galloway this offseason, Swift will try to carve up a South Carolina defense that surrendered 130 yards to Coastal in Week 1.

Jonathan Ledbetter: Ledbetter is a senior defensive end who is vital to the Bulldogs defense. Ledbetter is also dealing with a high ankle sprain and has a cast on his right ankle. Listed now as questionable, if Georgia is forced to go without Ledbetter, it could provide some incredible challenges for such a young Bulldog defense.

Jake Fromm: I don’t know if Jake Fromm knows what he has coming for him this weekend. Gamecock fans have been trolling this man all week, and I’m only expecting things to keep piling on as gameday creeps closer and closer. Although Fromm has appeared on the game’s biggest stage, in the National Championship against Alabama, he’s been having nightmares about our sheets all week.
      

 

Summary:

This is going to be one hell of a battle, folks. Muschamp vs. Smart. and Bentley vs. Fromm. Expect a physical match-up and a fast-paced game. I’m extremely excited to see what Brian McClendon has up his sleeve and how Jake Bentley will preform on a stage of this magnitude. Tailgate hard, get rowdy, and prepare for sandstorms!