Georgia South Carolina Betting – In Week Two, A Pair Of Seasons Will Be Defined
The poor performance of the Florida Gators in week one of the college football season has raised hopes throughout the SEC East that a new team can become division champion. The two foremost contenders are Georgia and South Carolina, so when they meet this Saturday in Columbia, they will be fully aware of just how much is on the line in this incredibly significant matchup.
NCAA football betting: Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Online Betting Odds: South Carolina -3.5
Why To Bet On Georgia
The Bulldogs looked great in their opener against Louisiana-Lafayette this past Saturday. Freshman quarterback Aaron Murray dealt with the opening-day nerves and threw for three touchdown passes against the Ragin’ Cajuns. What was even more encouraging about Murray’s effort was that it came without the services of UGA’s elite receiver, A.J. Green, who is still awaiting word from the NCAA about his eligibility and playing status. Murray showed so much of the ability that has Georgia fans optimistic about 2010.
An even better reason for confidence on the Georgia side of things is that the defense limited ULL to just 128 total yards. New coordinator Todd Grantham replaced former defensive coordinator Willie Martinez in the offseason, and Georgia fans were very effusive in their praise of Grantham after Saturday’s first game. This is a team which established a certain amount of confidence in its opening act. If that confidence can be transferred to South Carolina, the Dawgs will be in very good shape, even on the road.
Why To Bet On South Carolina
There is legitimate reason to think that this year in Columbia could be different. South Carolina wobbled a little bit early on, but after getting a key interception in its own red zone late in the first quarter, the Gamecocks found their footing and rolled past Southern Mississippi with surprising ease, 41-13.
The Gamecocks put the game away in the third quarter, forcing the Eagles to go three-and-out on their first two possessions of the second half before responding with scoring drives of their own. Quarterback Stephen Garcia finished off an 8-play, 92-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run that pushed the Gamecocks’ lead to 34-6. Garcia finished the game with two rushing touchdowns and 38 yards rushing on five carries. He also passed for 193 yards, completing 16-of-23 passes. Battering-ram freshman running back Marcus Lattimore – the elite runner South Carolina has lacked over the past decade – led the Gamecocks with 54 rushing yards on 14 carries. If South Carolina can establish Lattimore in this game, Georgia’s defense will have to load the tackle box. Then Garcia can go to receiver Alshon Jeffrey in man-coverage situations and find big plays downfield.
How The Game Will Play Out
This game is almost always close, and Georgia almost always wins it. Georgia won a 41-37 shootout last year as a South Carolina pass was broken up in the end zone on the final play. A year before, South Carolina – about to tie the score at 14-all – fumbled on the Georgia 1. These are evenly-matched teams, but South Carolina has a history of doing just enough to lose. This is not an act of trusting the Bulldogs; it’s an act of doubting the Gamecocks. Take Georgia, or more appropriately, don’t trust South Carolina.
Georgia South Carolina Betting Pick: Georgia
