SEC Preview: Georgia at South Carolina

Assuming weather permits, the Georgia Bulldogs, (3-2, 1-2 SEC) will travel to Columbia to play the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-3, 1-3 SEC). The Bulldogs hold a 48-18-2 advantage in all-time series history, but the Gamecocks have won four of the last six meetings.

Both teams are coming into this game off of a loss. The Gamecocks lost to Texas A&M 24-13, while Georgia lost to the Tennessee Vols in a thrilling conclusion. Each team scored a touchdown in the last 15 seconds of the game, and Georgia ultimately fell to a Josh Dobbs 43-yard Hail Mary on the last play of the game.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart and South Carolina coach Will Muschamp, both former teammates at Georgia, will face each other for the first time as head coaches.  Smart talked about the experience that playing against friends brings.

Georgia’s offense features the running game of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, although Michel has taken over as lead back, averaging 5.05 yards per carry, while Chubb deals with an injury. Muschamp talked about the challenge that Georgia’s run game brings. And  freshman quarterback Jacob Eason has impressed, passing for 991 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions in five game this season.

And South Carolina is currently experiencing a quarterback battle between freshman Brandon McIlwain and senior Perry Orth. This season, McIlwain has passed for 567 yards on 106 attempts for two touchdowns and an interception, while Orth has passed for 373 yards on 54 attempts with an interception.

The Stats

So far this season, Georgia has the offensive advantage coming into this game, while the Gamecocks seem to have an advantage in defense.

• Points per game: Georgia-26.4/South Carolina-14
• Points allowed per game: Georgia-30.8/South Carolina-18.6
• Average yards per game: Georgia-408.8/South Carolina-301.8
• Opponents average yards per game: Georgia-377.8/South Carolina-403.8

The game kicks off Saturday at 7:30 p.m.