South Carolina and Georgia - roles are reversed this year

Can SC contain Gurley?
He cannot be allowed to
run free. 

About a year ago, Georgia was sitting at home waiting for South Carolina to come, after losing to a team they had owned for years. In its loss to Clemson of the ACC, Georgia gave up 38 points and could not stop the Tigers when they needed to.

In 2013, the Gamecocks were going to Athens, 1-0 of winning versus UNC of the ACC, to play a team that had its star RB nursing an injury. Georgia, needed a win desperately, and beat the Gamecocks 41-30.

Fast-forward to 2014, and the role for each team is reversed.

South Carolina was embarrassed in its first game to a team it was favored to beat.

Georgia is coming off a home, season-opening win versus Clemson of the ACC.

In the position Georgia was in a year ago, South Carolina played one of its worse games on defense, of the year. The Gamecocks left receivers wide open, and could not stop Todd Gurley, who was hurt a lot in 2013, but he played the whole game versus SC.

On offense, QB Conner Shaw had a rare fumble, in a key situation. The Gamecocks also had a late failure to score from inside the five-yard-line. 

This year, like Gurley was last year, Gamecock RB Mike Davis could be a big factor in the game. If Davis can stay in the game, and eat up clock with yards to go along with it, Gurley will cool on the sidelines.

Word is Davis is enthusiastic, and ready to play in a BIG game.

The bigger question is: Is SC's defense up to the task?

If Georgia has to run to move the ball, that may be a better set up for South Carolina. It's the pass defense that has looked so awful versus Texas A&M. But the secondary did have two INTs versus ECU.

Regardless of how it plays out, the Gamecocks need to channel the same force Georgia was able to harness in 2013. If SC can treat the Bulldogs, as the Gamecocks were treated in Athens in 2013, it will be a good day for the home team.