Top-ranked Georgia (2-0) opens up its SEC slate as it hosts division rival South Carolina (1-1) on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are looking forward to extending their home winning streak of 20 games against the Gamecocks, who are coming off a 41-21 victory over Furman this past Saturday. However, this will be UGA’s toughest test so far this season after beating UT-Martin and Ball State the past two weeks.
“I have a lot of respect for Shane (Beamer) and his staff, the staff he’s assembled. They do a tremendous job with their players,” Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said. “They play really hard. Got a lot of respect for those guys.
“I know they tend to have players from our state and we tend to have players from their state. As always, a really important game when it comes to playing a school that’s this close geographically to you. I know both teams will be up for the game. It should be a great atmosphere. I hope our fans can give us a home-field advantage for this game.”
USC is led by quarterback Spencer Rattler, who has passed for 698 yards and three touchdowns this year. The Gamecocks are a pass-first offense in 2023 after losing running back Marshawn Lloyd to the transfer portal. As a team, they’ve rushed for only 205 games through their first two games.
Rattler’s favorite target has been wide receiver Xavier Legette, who has hauled in 15 receptions for 296 yards and one score. The senior Gamecock wide receiver currently leads the conference in receiving yards. Rattler loves targeting pass catchers, Ahmarean Brown and Dakereon Joyner, too.
“He’s got elite arm talent. I can tell you that,” Smart said of Rattler. “The throws he makes, deep, vertical, back-shoulder throws. He’s thrown a couple of field outs. He had a throw against Clemson last year on third and 10, it was a rope. So, he’s very elusive, very accurate with the ball. Hard to finish on.”
Georgia inside linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson hopes to rattle the USC quarterback’s cage this week.
“We’ll try to make him uncomfortable in the pocket and try to get him off his landmarks,” Dumas-Johnson said. “We know he can be a mobile quarterback at times, but they want to use his arm.”
Rattler can move outside the pocket, but his offensive line needs to hold up more if he wants to gain positive yardage. The reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week has been sacked 10 times already.
Georgia nickelTykee Smith knows Rattler is impressive but wants the defense to stick to the game plan.
“It’s just about us executing the game plan the coaches give to us,” Smith said. “Our staff does a real good job of getting us in the right stuff for what they’re going to call and what they’re going to run.”
Georgia and South Carolina are set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. EST and the game will be televised on CBS.