We continue our game-by-game review of the Georgia Bulldogs’ 2022 national championship season with a game that almost made me feel bad for South Carolina Gamecock fans. Almost. But not quite.
“Make no mistake, Spencer Rattler is a decided upgrade under center for the Beamerites. But given that they started four different quarterbacks and ranked 13th in the SEC in passing and scoring in 2021, you might be too.”
“Again, if South Carolina can keep teams from selling out to blow up Rattler and if they can protect him when defenses try to get to him, this offense has the potential to be, well, top seven in the SEC. Which is much better than last year.”
“I think the Gamecocks will be better in year two under Shane Beamer. But the frustrating thing for their fans may be that it doesn’t show up in the record books. After hosting the always pesky Georgia State Panthers to open the year South Carolina travels to #19 Arkansas and then hosts the ‘‘Dawgs. I used to worry about Saturday nights in Columbia, but I don’t see this Gamecock team pulling a Spurrier-style ambush. Score Prediction: Georgia 38, South Carolina 20.”
“Georgia came into Saturday with some wondering whether they might struggle with an early kickoff in muggy Columbia. That’s what Georgia used to do. That’s not what this Georgia does.”
“The difference was perhaps encapsulated by Kirby Smart, leading a team that was leading 45-0 with time left in the third quarter, working the officials over a generous third down spot for the Gamecock offense. The Red and Black came out firing and they didn’t stop until they’d emptied the clip. Then they threw the rifle and started flinging rocks. The hapless South Carolina Gamecocks never found an answer, falling 48-7.”
“The Classic City Canines rolled up 547 yards of total offense, and it seemed at times as if Todd Monken couldn’t make a bad play call if his life depended on it.”
What We Really Learned
Brock Bowers truly isn’t fair. And what’s even more unfair is when a coordinator like Todd Monken realizes an opponent doesn’t have an answer for him. That was the case is this game. At that point the only real options defensively are crow bars and flame throwers. Bowers’ 5 receptions for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns (along with a touchdown on the ground) were enough to deflate the Gamecocks even without help from his friends.
The “middle 8” (the last four minutes before halftime and the first four minutes after) truly are critical. Georgia forced a Gamecock punt then got a field goal to head into the half with a pretty safe 24-0 lead. But the game was truly over when Stetson Bennett hit Bowers for a 78 yard touchdown to open the second half, Dan Jackson intercepted Spencer Rattler’s first pass of the third quarter, and then the Mailman dashed in from the 11 yard line to put the ‘Dawgs up 38-0 with 13:21 left in the quarter. You’re not going to beat many teams giving up 14 points in 1:49 of games time. You’re definitely not going to beat the 2022 national champions doing it. Until later…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!