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Georgia looks to put clamps down on Colorado

Sep 19, 2006 - 9:10 PM Colorado (0-3) at No. 9 Georgia (3-0), 12:30 pm EDT

ATHENS, Georgia (Ticker) - Georgia is just about the last team Colorado wants to face as it looks for its first win under Dan Hawkins.

The ninth-ranked Bulldogs try to post another defensive masterpiece Saturday when they host the offensively challenged Buffaloes.

Georgia (3-0) followed up an 18-0 road win over Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina with a 34-0 home blanking of UAB last weekend.

The Bulldogs, who have posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since winning the national championship in 1980, rank second in the country in scoring defense (4.00 points per game) and fifth in total defense (203.67 yards).

Colorado (0-3), meanwhile, ranks 114th of 119 teams in Division I-A in scoring offense (7.67) and 115th in total offense (193.67).

The Buffaloes' latest setback under their new coach was a 21-3 home loss to Arizona State last weekend. Making his second start, Bernard Jackson completed just 8-of-18 passes for 86 yards and an interception for Colorado, which has lost seven straight games dating to last season.

Colorado, which has not lost eight consecutive contests since a 10-game skid from 1963-64, will be facing Georgia for the first time.

"This game is going to be a challenge," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "Colorado is a team that is hungry and desperate for a victory. They know things can change rapidly for them if they get a big win against us. We need to continue to improve ourselves. As well as we have played defensively, we can still get better and our offense certainly can get better."