SEC Kickoff: Everything you need to know about Clemson at Georgia

Here’s everything you need to know about the 64th meeting between Clemson and Georgia tonight on ESPN.

When: Today
Where: Athens, Ga.
Game Time: 5:30 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Georgia (-7.5)

Game Buzz: Georgia tries to avenge their road loss to the Tigers in 2013 on Saturday evening between the hedges.  A win would give the ‘Dawgs some momentum heading into a bye week with a trip to Columbia looming.  Both teams have to replace a lot of starters and have lack experience in their starting 22.

Saturday Down South previews

• Matchup Breakdown: Georgia secondary vs. Clemson passing attack
• Scouting report: Clemson at Georgia
• Matchup Breakdown: Georgia offensive line vs. Clemson defensive line
• Five Clemson players Georgia fans need to know
• Matchup Breakdown: Hutson Mason vs. Cole Stoudt

Georgia Bulldogs

Players to watch: 

• QB Hutson Mason
• RB Todd Gurley
• WR Chris Conley
• LB Leonard Floyd
• LB Jordan Jenkins
• DB Damian Swann

Keys for Georgia:

• Don’t beat yourself on offense.  Saturday will mark Mason’s fourth career start under center.  He knows Mike Bobo’s system, but the ‘Dawgs are replacing three starters on the offensive line and need to protect Mason.  Expect Bobo to lean on Todd Gurley in his gameplan against a good Clemson defense.
• Execute the defensive gameplan.  Reports out of Athens this offseason and fall camp have shown signs of improvement under first-year coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.  Georgia’s front seven is really good, but the secondary gave them fits in ’13.  Look for the Bulldogs to play faster under Pruitt.
• Contain Vic Beasley.  The All-American is a stud coming off the outside for the Tigers and could cause huge problems for the Bulldogs’ offensive line.  If Beasley registers multiple sacks and tackles for loss, it could be a long day.

Bulldogs’ glaring weakness to watch: Secondary — A lack of communication and ability to tackle plagued the Georgia secondary last season.  But with Pruitt coaching the defensive backs, expect them to be improved on Saturday night.  The ‘Dawgs will have a few freshmen in the defensive backfield, so look for some simplified coverages that they’ll be able to execute.

Most interesting part of the game: These two teams really are mirror images of one another, so look for a very close game heading into the fourth quarter.

Team Buzz: Georgia all of a sudden is the favorite in the East after South Carolina’s loss Thursday night and the Bulldogs have a history of losing marquee season-openers, but a win Saturday would set the ‘Dawgs up for a big matchup in two weeks against Carolina.

Jordan Cox

After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.