Sep 13, 2008 - 6:03 AM
4 shoutsNo. 2 Georgia (2-0) at South Carolina (1-1), 3:30 pm EDT
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Steve Spurrier spent over a decade practically torturing Georgia. Now the Ol' Ball Coach will try to put a huge dent in the Bulldogs' national championship hopes.
Second-ranked Georgia opens the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule Saturday, visiting Spurrier and South Carolina.
While coaching at Florida, Spurrier treated the Bulldogs to an annual beating almost every year. His Gators won 11 of their 12 meetings with Georgia in the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" from 1990-2001.
The Bulldogs gained a measure of retribution when Spurrier returned from the NFL and came to South Carolina, winning their first two meetings with the Gamecocks.
But the Gamecocks came prepared last September and upset Georgia, 16-12, in Athens. The Bulldogs' high-powered offense - led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno - was held without a touchdown.
South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC East) is facing a more experienced team in this one, as Georgia (2-0) cruised past its first two opponents, outscoring Georgia Southern and Central Michigan by a combined score of 101-38.
Stafford and Moreno have not disappointed thus far. Stafford passed for 488 yards and four TDs with no interceptions, while Moreno rushed for 227 yards and six scores on 26 carries this season.
The Gamecocks fell from the rankings last Thursday night, suffering a 24-17 loss to Vanderbilt. South Carolina, ranked 24th at the time, allowed just 225 yards but committed three turnovers in the upset loss.
Spurrier once again may have a quarterback controversy on his hands as Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher have thrown a combined six interceptions. Smelley has thrown just two picks but lost his only start.
With the passing game struggling, the Gamecocks will need Mike Davis and the rest of their rushing attack to play well if they are going to have a chance against Georgia.
Davis has 181 of the team's 263 rushing yards and one touchdown.
The Bulldogs' defense has been stout against the run, allowing 161 yards on the ground this season.
From the Bleachers
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GEORGIA: 14
SOUTH CAROLINA: 7
Final
Sep 13 7:04 PM -
Georgia(2) 14, South Carolina 7 4th Quarter - 0:33
mark
woah, you're right--georgia's d is lookin pretty weak right now...
Sep 13 7:01 PM -
Georgia(2) 14, South Carolina 7 4th Quarter - 1:48
RUWTbot
Added 20 roots (Close Finish)
Sep 13 6:54 PM -
Georgia(2) 14, South Carolina 7 4th Quarter - 4:08
lsrccrd
upset is still very possible, go cocks!
Sep 13 6:49 PM -
Georgia(2) 14, South Carolina 7 4th Quarter - 4:08
RUWTbot
Added 24 roots (Close Finish)
Sep 13 6:48 PM -
Georgia(2) 14, South Carolina 7 4th Quarter - 6:24
RUWTbot
Added 22 roots (Close Finish)
Sep 13 6:42 PM -
Georgia(2) 14, South Carolina 7 4th Quarter - 8:04
mark
blah! i thought we had a good shot at an upset there...
Sep 13 6:39 PM -
GEORGIA: 14
SOUTH CAROLINA: 7
End of 3rd
Sep 13 6:16 PM -
NCAAF
TD GEORGIA
KNOWSHON MORENO 4 YD RUN
(MATTHEW STAFFORD PASS TO KRIS DURHAM FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
GEORGIA (2) 14
SOUTH CAROLINA 7 5:22 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 13 6:01 PM -
NCAAF HALFTIME
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
GEORGIA (2) 0 6 6
SOUTH CAROLINA 0 7 7 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NONE
2ND QUARTER: GEORGIA - FG, BLAIR WALSH 42 YD, 4:39.
GEORGIA 3-0
SOUTH CAROLINA - TD, MOE
Sep 13 5:09 PM -
NCAAF
TD SOUTH CAROLINA
MOE BROWN 34 YD PASS FROM CHRIS SMELLEY
(RYAN SUCCOP KICK)
GEORGIA (2) 3
SOUTH CAROLINA 7 8:41 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 13 4:44 PM -
-
NCAAF
FG GEORGIA
BLAIR WALSH 42 YD
GEORGIA (2) 3
SOUTH CAROLINA 0 10:21 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 13 4:31 PM -
GEORGIA: 0
SOUTH CAROLINA: 0
End of 1st
Sep 13 4:20 PM
