Before Southeastern Conference play even begins for Georgia, the No. 11 Bulldogs already find themselves staring at what looks like a pivotal game.
Sixth-ranked South Carolina offers a chance for Georgia to reboot its season today after losing a close game to a top-10 Clemson team on the road last week.
Win and the Bulldogs have a leg up in the SEC East race and their hopes of making a run to the BCS title game stay alive.
“Right now, all of our dreams are still there,” quarterback Aaron Murray said. “We have yet to play an SEC game. We played a heck of a game against a top team. Our first goal of getting to Atlanta (for the SEC championship) is still right there. We’ve just got to make our improvements and get better every week and it starts this week with South Carolina.”
Gamecocks star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is the headliner in every game he plays, but Georgia has its own difference maker in tailback Todd Gurley, who the Gamecocks will try to corral after he rushed for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns last week on only 12 carries.
“I think just playing at home is going to be big for us,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “I think our team is going to enjoy playing between the hedges in front of our fans and our families. Knowing that you’ve got the crowd noise on your side makes a big difference in a game like this.”
It’s another big test for Georgia, which plays in a showcase game nationally (4:30 p.m. ESPN) for the second straight week after the disappointment of starting off the season with a 38-35 loss.
“We don’t want to leave it up to hoping that someone else beats someone else,” offensive tackle John Theus said. “We want to have control of our own destiny.”