Georgia vs. South Carolina: Prediction and preview

Georgia this week heads to the hostile environment of Williams-Brice Stadium to get its second test of the season. The Bulldogs face a South Carolina team that is trying to bounce back from a tough loss at Arkansas in which its defense suffered multiple serious injuries.

Georgia has won 2 straight in the series, 7 of the last 10, and leads the all-time series 53-19-2.

Georgia vs. South Carolina: Prediction and preview

The Gamecocks will miss defensive end Jordan Strachan and linebacker Mo Kaba after each suffered season-ending ACL injuries in last week’s 44-30 loss at No. 10 Arkansas. For Georgia, wide receiver AD Mitchell and defensive back Nyland Green are both “doubtful.”

Meanwhile, as South Carolina coach Shane Beamer suggested this week, it’s difficult to find a weakness in No. 1 Georgia, which has already dispatched Oregon and Samford by a combined score of 82-3 behind quarterback Stetson Bennett and a high-powered offense.

Check out the DraftKings promo code intro offer for new users that provides an insane 40-1 guaranteed return on a small $5 investment. The $200 reward will be deposited into your account right after you make the qualifying wager. Click here to get started.

The running game appears to be a key matchup, as South Carolina, which came into the season with high expectations for its defensive line, gave up 295 rushing yards to the Razorbacks, who got most of that thanks to Rocket Sanders and his 156 yards, including 2 of Arkansas’ 5 rushing touchdowns. And in what appears to a departure from last year’s defense-led national championship team, Georgia is averaging an SEC-leading 525 yards a game and 7.66 yards per play. And yet, the defense is putting up eye-popping numbers again despite only returning 3 starters from last year. For example, Georgia is allowing just 220.5 yards per game.

On the flip side, outside of Bryce Young, the Gamecocks’ Spencer Rattler will be the best quarterback to face Georgia since Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker in November last season, some 7 games ago.

Kirby Smart this week said that Rattler has 2 key traits for a successful quarterback are the ability to throw the deep ball, and be experienced in number of stars and stadium atmospheres played in.

The FanDuel promo code will generate a free bet refund up to $1,000 if you lose your initial wager. This is a welcome offer, so it is reserved for new players only. Click here to get started.

One of the underlying storylines of this game will be the tight end talent on display by South Carolina’s Jaheim Bell and Georgia’s Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington and Arik Gilbert. While Gilbert has struggled to find playing time, Bowers and Washington have taken off to start the campaign. Bowers has 5 catches for 95 yards, while Washington has 4 catches for 66 yards. Bell, meanwhile, owns the top 2 games by a tight end in school history in receiving yards, as he went for 159 against North Carolina and 136 against Vanderbilt in 2021. However, Bell only has 4 catches for 18 yards this season.

Another interesting development is Georgia co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp facing off against his former players, as South Carolina still has 46 players on the roster who were recruited by, or played for, Muschamp as the Gamecocks’ head coach.

Prediction: Georgia 31, South Carolina 13