Score Predictions - Georgia vs South Carolina
The Georgia Bulldogs are set to begin their SEC gauntlet on Saturday when they host Eastern division foe South Carolina. This will be the 74th meeting between the two teams in a series that Georgia currently leads 54-19.
The Bulldogs are coming off another dominant showing in week two after they defeated the Ball State Cardinals by a score of 45-3. It was the fifth consecutive game in which the Bulldogs' offense scored 40+ points. A streak that dates back all the way to the 2022 season when Todd Monken was the offensive coordinator.
In the 2022 edition of this rivalry, Georgia dominated the Gamecocks in Columbia by a score of 48-7. The win was the team's first SEC victory of the season and propelled the Bulldogs to their second straight national title victory.
With a win, the Bulldogs will extend their win streak over the Gamecocks to four games and their total win streak to 20 games, which is currently the largest active win streak in all of college football.
Here is how we at Dawgs Daily see the game playing out:
Brooks Austin: Georgia 38, South Carolina 10
Spencer Rattler and this South Carolina offense has averaged 53 yards rushing through two games this season. Last week, against Furman, they averaged 2.76 yards per carry. It's a recipe for one-dimensional offense on the way from the Gamecocks. That being said, Spencer Rattler is playing at a career-high clip right now, and that will warrant at least a few field position-flipping possessions enough to have two scoring drives. Offensive from Georgia, I expect to see South Carolina's defense crowd the box, pressure Carson Beck and play a lot of man coverage. It's the week for Beck and his weaponry outside of Brock Bowers to make plays. I expect multiple explosives to Arian Smith and RaRa Thomas on Saturday.
Jonathan Williams: Georgia 41, South Carolina 14
When Kirby Smart matches up against one of his former assistants, he tends to win in grand fashion. In five games against his former coaches, the Bulldogs are averaging 42 points per game while only allowing an average of six points per game. The Bulldogs have had South Carolina's number ever since the Gamecocks pulled off the upset in 2019, but I don't see that happening again on Saturday. I expect a big game from Carson Beck through the air and the defense to keep the Spencer Rattler-led offense at bay throughout the majority of the game. The Dawgs win big in their SEC opener and continue their reign of dominance in the eastern division.
Ethan Offutt: Georgia 42, South Carolina 17
Georgia's reign over South Carolina is a form of dominance and revenge after South Carolina handed Georgia their last home loss in the 2019 season, and the same will likely continue this season. But South Carolina has a potent passing game between Spencer Rattler and Xavier Legette that could be lethal in the backend of an injured Georgia secondary if the Bulldogs' pass rush doesn't get home quickly. The Gamecocks offensive line will be the game's downfall for them offensively. For the Bulldogs offensively, the last two weeks have shown slow starts in the first quarter, but they can also be accredited to the playbook not being wide open against mid-major programs. Kirby Smart does not want a repeat of 2019 and will surely allow the playbooks to be more open. Carson Beck is due for a big game with his receiver room and has plenty of weapons despite Ladd McConkey being out with an injury still. Dawgs continue their 40-point streak on the season and winning streak against South Carolina in dominant fashion, with a rocking stadium.
Georgia wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (81) during the Bulldogs’ game against South Carolina in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Photo by Tony Walsh)
Tyler Graves: Georgia 37, South Carolina 10
After two weeks of beating up on FCS and G5 teams, it still remains to be seen how good this 2023 Georgia football team is. We know they are good, probably even very good, but just how good is still up in the air. That picture will become more clear on Saturday when the Bulldogs open up SEC play against South Carolina.
While there is still much that we need to learn about both of these teams, there is also plenty that we already know. We know that Georgia features one of the most talented and dominant defenses in the country. We also know that, despite not having a Jalen Carter-caliber player along the defensive line, the Bulldogs still boast one of the best front sixes in the nation. On the other side, we know that the South Carolina offensive line has struggled tremendously in both pass pro and the run game against much inferior competition, surrendering 10 sacks in two games and posting -2 yards rushing against North Carolina week 1. That is a recipe for disaster against Georgia's defense.
The only hope South Carolina has to win this game and even keep it close is for QB Spencer Rattler to don his cape and play the role of Superman. Over his last five games dating back to last year, Rattler has averaged nearly 350 yards passing/game and is playing at an extremely high level. The emergence of senior Xavier Legette at WR has given Rattler a dynamic threat at WR to work with and the potential return of WR Antwane "Juice" Wells could give the Gamecock passing game an added shot in the arm.
However, the overwhelming advantage Georgia has along the lines of scrimmage will be too much for South Carolina to overcome. The Bulldogs will bully the Gamecock offensive line, harass Rattler, and stifle the run game which will allow Georgia to throw a variety of coverages at Rattler. Offensively, Georgia will finally feature its top playmakers and will begin to find its run game against a South Carolina defense devoid of game-changing talent.
Kyle Funderburk: Georgia 31, South Carolina 0
South Carolina's offense through two games this year has been dreadfully one-dimensional. Outside of quarterback Spencer Rattler completing 296 yards worth of passes to wide receiver Xavier Legette, thr Gamecocks don't have many other options. Running back Dakereon Joyner is the only other player with 100 yards of total offense this season.
That has the Bulldog defense chomping at the bits. Knowing it won't have to load the box, Georgia can devote more than enough attention to covering Legette. That should completely shut down South Carolina's offense, leading to the first shutout of the season.
Offensively, look for Georgia to open up the offense against a defense vastly superior to the ones it played in the first two weeks. Beck will thrive, there's just too much talent at receiver for him not to. The question is the running game and the offensive line in particular. They're yet to prove they can overpower an opponent.
The run game will be more complex this week, the line will be doing things it hasn't done so far. But the jury is still out on Georgia's run blocking. They may very well dominate, the game my also be another slog on the ground.
