Georgia vs. South Carolina game preview, prediction

What to watch for as Georgia and South Carolina meet in this Week 3 college football game and the SEC opener between the hedges

The back-to-back defending national champions take the next big step on the road to a historic three-peat this weekend as No. 1 Georgia welcomes South Carolina for the SEC conference opener between the hedges in college football's Week 3 action on Saturday.

What can you expect from the matchup? Here's what you should watch for as Georgia and South Carolina square off along with our Week 3 game predictions.

Georgia vs. South Carolina prediction, preview

Georgia vs. South Carolina highlights college football's Week 3 action / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Sept. 16
Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: CBS network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Georgia vs. South Carolina odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Georgia -27.5
Total: 54.5 (O -111, U -111)
ML: UGA -10000 | SC +1100
FPI pick: Georgia 91.8%

Related: Georgia vs. South Carolina picks, predictions, Week 3 college football odds, lines

What to watch for

Georgia vs. South Carolina predictions / USA Today Images

1. Establishing the run is crucial. Both of these teams have struggled somewhat to consistently churn out positive gains on the ground early this season. Georgia was held to under 100 yards rushing against Ball State for the first time in 31 tries, and South Carolina stitched together just 2.8 ypc against Furman and totaled minus-2 yards against the Tar Heels. Now the Gamecocks face arguably the toughest front they will all year, and if they can't produce net positives running the ball, that puts Spencer Rattler in danger working behind a line that has not proven it can protect the quarterback so far.

2. Target practice. Secondary play is a relative strength for the Gamecocks even after the departure of Cam Smith in the corner, and Georgia may not have top receiver Ladd McConkey in the game as he rehabs a back injury that's kept him out this year. That leaves things to Mekhi Mews, whose 102 yards leads the team, along with RaRa Thomas and Brock Bowers, who is yet to catch a TD in 2023, to pick up the slack. Dominic Lovett, a key transfer this year, has only 54 yards and has to get involved more. Georgia has started these two games a little slower than expected and needs to get more aggressive putting the ball in the deeper third of the field. The opener against an SEC foe playing good pass defense is an important early test for Dawgs quarterback Carson Beck.

3. Closer look at the QB. Georgia's quarterback is hitting over 72 percent of his throws in two games and hasn't made any really bad mistakes, but the competition is about to get a lot better. Against overmatched competition with more time to sit in the pocket, Beck still missed some key throws and went to his check downs when other options were available. He needs to get more comfortable making his reads and work through his progressions, especially as the opposition won't be giving him nearly as much time to make those decisions going forward.

Georgia vs. South Carolina prediction

Getting to Rattler is one thing, but forcing him into mistakes isn't easy. Even after getting chased around in the opener, he was 30 of 38 for 353 yards, and so far in 2 games, he's an 83% passer. He can get behind your tacklers and move the chains consistently. His problem is his own blockers: Carolina has allowed 23 tackles for loss so far in two games, the second-most nationally and coughed up 9 sacks in the opener against a UNC defense that was not exactly good a year ago.

Georgia owns the advantage on both lines of scrimmage and while Rattler will find some lanes here and there, in particular working with Xavier Legette, the SEC's top wideout at 148 ypg, Beck has enough weapons to churn out yards and move the chains on money downs. Between the two, Georgia will be the team that gets in scoring position more often, and has the pieces to take advantage when in striking distance.

College Football HQ picks...

• Georgia wins 37-16
• Doesn't cover the spread
• And hits the under

Related: Georgia vs. South Carolina score prediction by college football computer model

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