Much is on the line for both squads this season
The loser of the South Carolina–Georgia game has never recovered to win the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division.
At face value, that piece of information appears to succinctly sum up what has become a fierce rivalry between the two schools. However, like many statistics, it is a misleading one. Sure, the loser has failed to reach the conference championship game in each of 19 tries. But the winner has also failed to reach Atlanta 15 times.
There is a better, simpler stat to define USC–Georgia. Since 2000, 36 SEC series have been played on an annual basis. None have been as close as the one between the Gamecocks and Bulldogs. The 11 games played since the beginning of the 21st century have been decided on average by 8.73 points — the smallest margin of victory in any frequently occurring SEC series during the time period.
USC–Georgia has been closer than Alabama–Auburn, LSU–Arkansas, Florida–Tennessee or any other league rivalry of note. But yet, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs don't get near the national attention of those other series, it seems. USC linebacker DeVonte Holloman agrees with such sentiment. He said the USC–Georgia rivalry is "pretty underrated" nationally.
"They don't pay attention to it," he said. "They don't know how close the rivalry is between fans and players and everything. It's a big rivalry."
It is even more so this year. Rarely does a single game, especially one so early in a season, carry so much weight for both participants.
"It's a little bit more important," said linebacker Reginald Bowens. "They're going to come out ready to play because they lost the previous week. And we've got to come out ready to play. We didn't play so well (in the) ECU game."
After falling to Boise State in the season opener, there is intense scrutiny on Georgia. In particular, the pressure is on for coach Mark Richt. Georgia's SEC championships in 2002 and 2005, as well as a national No. 2 overall finish in 2007, seem far-gone events. The Bulldogs have struggled in recent years, going 8-5 in 2009, 6-7 last season and now 0-1 to start 2011.
As a result, many in Athens are questioning whether Richt's 11-year tenure has run its course and a change is needed. Richt has done his best to deflect such talk and keep the focus on the task at hand for his team, exhibiting a positive demeanor toward the situation. But the questions haven't ceased, and likely won't.
Richt lashed out a bit after Georgia's practice on Wednesday. He asked reporters rhetorically if they "want me to snap" since so many questions are posed about his future and the state of the program.
"Well we don't discuss what happens in the locker room," said Richt according to the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph. "But if you guys want to see me throw a table or something, I'll do that, and smash a camera, if that makes everybody feel better."
USC coach Steve Spurrier said Richt's job status will not have a major effect on the game.
"I know the media likes to write about a coach on the hot seat, but I can assure you [Georgia] is trying to figure out how they're going to beat us," he said. "We're going to try to figure out the best way we can attempt to beat them. It should be one a heck of a game."
Spurrier's players do think the overall state of Georgia's program will play a role in the atmosphere Saturday. Sanford Stadium, which seats more than 90,000, is already one of the more intimidating buildings in the SEC and the nation. Defensive lineman Melvin Ingram feels it'll be even more so given the Bulldogs' desire to bounce back.
"It's a real hostile environment. It's quite an experience to play there," Ingram said. "It's going to be a dogfight. I feel like we've got to come prepared."
The game also means a great deal to the Gamecocks' future, albeit in a different manner. The defending SEC East champion, USC comes into the game in an unfamiliar manner. Carolina is ranked while Georgia is unranked for the first time in series history, and the Gamecocks are favored on the road, a rarity in the series.
A USC win over the Bulldogs would be a tremendous first step toward the Gamecocks' goal of repeating as division champions and playing for another SEC championship. Last fall, Carolina's 17-6 win over Georgia was the launching point for USC's first East title in school history.
"It gave us a lot of confidence," Ingram said. "It was a real big stepping stone for us because we felt like after we beat them, we had the capability of beating any SEC team."
Offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins said he and his teammates aren't thinking about the big picture. Rather, they are focusing on what is in front of them at this moment.
"We're focused on Georgia and only Georgia," Watkins said. "We're not worried about the rest of the season."
But even if the Gamecocks don't want to focus on the implications the game may have on the SEC championship race and contending for the East, those do exist. And not just for the Gamecocks. For all the turmoil surrounding it, all Georgia needs to do is win the game and its season is suddenly one of hope again.
"Most of the experts picked either us or Georgia (to win the division)," Spurrier said. "It's a huge game, conference game, division game and all that.
"The winner's in pretty good shape. The loser is not in terrible shape, but he's not (in) as good shape as the winner."
The game won't receive near the attention of the aforementioned high-profile league rivalries. But its intensity is nothing to scoff at. Nor is the game's importance.
"I don't know if all of our guys know if Georgia's in our division," said Spurrier, semi-seriously. "I hope they do."
If they don't know already, they'll soon find out.
"It's a hard-nosed (rivalry)," said defensive tackle Travian Robertson. "They run
the ball, we run they ball. They've got a great defense, we've got a great defense. It's just a hard-nosed game. It's tough; it's physical every game."
And always close.
More Like This
Column: Muschamp returns to The Swamp a different man
By Lee Wardlaw | Nov. 10, 2016Goodwill punting: Gamecocks' Mt. Rushmore
By Bobby Balboni | Oct. 16, 2016