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Bulldogs Get Key Win, Hang With The Gamecocks in First

By Don Stone - Football Atlanta

   This was a crucial game for Georgia, as all of the remaining games are. That's the situation when you lose your first two games of the season, one of them to SEC East rival South Carolina. A hole has been dug that requires help from others to overcome.
   The help was provided on a few fronts. First, the Dogs had to keep winning. That they have done knocking off four straight victories against Coastal Carolina, Mississippi State, Mississippi and now Tennessee.
   But, on its own, that would not be enough. Florida and South Carolina had to stumble a bit as well to even things out. That happened last week as the Gamecocks were surprised at home by Auburn and the Gators were dismantled by Alabama, including a high ankle sprain with starting quarterback John Brantley that may sideline him for 2-4 weeks. 
   More help Saturday as Florida lost another SEC game to #1 ranked LSU.
   So, now, the Gators are a game behind Georgia and sinking fast with SEC games remaining against the Bulldogs in Jacksonville and road games in South Carolina and Auburn. The Gamecocks are tied atop the SEC East with Georgia, but hold the tiebreaker due to their head to head win in game two.
   Kentucky provided no assistance Saturday getting stomped by South Carolina 53-3. Checking ahead to see if there are any stumbling blocks on Steve Spurrier's schedule, there only appear to be a few possibilities. Next week, they have what should be a win at Mississippi State. Two more weeks on the road could be tougher with trips to Tennessee and Arkansas. The Razorbacks look the most promising to upset the Gamecocks' apple care, having just knocked off Auburn 38.14.
   And, Florida might give them some trouble. By the time they meet on November 12,  Brantley, might be back from his month away with the leg injury.
   The Bulldogs, of course, have to hold up their end of things and take care of their own business. As the Gators and Gamecocks have a few potential obstacles in the way, Georgia has an easier road ahead. The two worst teams in the SEC await with another trip to the Volunteer State next Saturday at Vanderbilt and a November 19 home game with Kentucky.
   The big annual rivalry in Jacksonville actually looks winnable this year with the wounded and stumbling Gators probably still playing without Brantley by then.
If they get past that game, then all that remains in the way is the reigning national champions. Not as daunting as it sounds with Cam Newtonless Auburn still trying to find itself  The 4-2 Tigers barely got by 42-38 against Utah State and Mississippi State (41-34). Then, they lost 38-24 to another Tiger team in Clemson that is off to a 6-0 start. They lost big time by three touchdowns at Arkansas on Saturday. So, still tough to tell what kind of a challenge they will be. To the Dogs' advantage, the game this year is in Athens.
    So, with all the negativity piled on the team in early September, things are looking brighter by mid-October. The opportunity is there for another trip to the Georgia Dome in December. We'll just have to wait to see how things play out.