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Here are some quick thoughts on Georgia’s 52-20 win over border-rival South Carolina in Week 3.
What it means: Georgia remains undefeated, including two SEC East victories. The Bulldogs appear to be asserting themselves as the clear-cut favorite to represent the division in Atlanta at the SEC Championship game.
For South Carolina, the loss drops the Gamecocks to 1-2 on the season. The two defeats are against division foes and severely damage the Gamecocks’ hopes for the program’s second SEC East title.
What I liked: Say what you will about Greyson Lambert, but the Georgia offense was firing on all cylinders against South Carolina — thanks in large part to the junior transfer from Virginia. Lambert tossed for a career-high 330 yards and the Bulldogs never punted in the relatively easy win. Sony Michel (51 rushing yards, 1 TD and 32 receiving yards, 2 TDs) sparked the Georgia offense. But the biggest improvement came in Georgia’s passing offense. Lambert connected with eight different receivers. The quarterback was crisp and accurate and at one-point completed a school record 20-straight passes. Bulldogs wide out Malcolm Mitchell’s 122 receiving yards were also a career high.
Georgia’s biggest asset came on first down, where they average 174 yards per game.
The one minor blemish? A fumble on a bad snap in the third quarter cost Georgia its first turnover of the year.
The biggest takeaway? Georgia’s offensive line is the engine that makes them go.
What I didn’t like: Seeing South Carolina’s starting running back and center on the sidelines as the Gamecocks battled Georgia’s stiff defense. Brandon Wilds and C Alan Knott each left in the second quarter and the Gamecocks felt the impact of their loss. South Carolina’s leading rusher was back-up quarterback Lorenzo Nunez (71 yards). South Carolina wasn’t much better in the air as Georgia essentially shut down the Gamecocks’ top player Cooper (1 catch, 6 yards).
Who is the man: Nick Chubb was the man … as always. The sophomore finished with 159 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. He also surpassed the 2,000-yard rushing mark for his career with his 11th-straight 100-yard rushing game
Key play: Or in this instance, plays. Georgia essentially punched the Gamecocks in the gut with two touchdowns in a span of 27 seconds to start the third quarter. Both scoring plays came on Greyson Lambert 11-yard touchdown passes to Sony Michel. The two scores put Georgia up 38-13 and basically closed the door on South Carolina.
What’s next: Georgia gets a bit of a break, playing host to Southern. The game will be the last easy one for a while as UGA then goes on a season-defining stretch against Alabama, at Tennessee and then home against Missouri.
South Carolina gets Central Florida next, before traveling to Missouri and facing LSU at home.
Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.
