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Georgia opens SEC slate against Ol' Ball Coach

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:03 AM No. 2 Georgia (2-0) at South Carolina (1-1), 3:30 pm EDT

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Steve Spurrier spent over a decade practically torturing Georgia. Now the Ol' Ball Coach will try to put a huge dent in the Bulldogs' national championship hopes.

Second-ranked Georgia opens the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule Saturday, visiting Spurrier and South Carolina.

While coaching at Florida, Spurrier treated the Bulldogs to an annual beating almost every year. His Gators won 11 of their 12 meetings with Georgia in the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" from 1990-2001.

The Bulldogs gained a measure of retribution when Spurrier returned from the NFL and came to South Carolina, winning their first two meetings with the Gamecocks.

But the Gamecocks came prepared last September and upset Georgia, 16-12, in Athens. The Bulldogs' high-powered offense - led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno - was held without a touchdown.

South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC East) is facing a more experienced team in this one, as Georgia (2-0) cruised past its first two opponents, outscoring Georgia Southern and Central Michigan by a combined score of 101-38.

Stafford and Moreno have not disappointed thus far. Stafford passed for 488 yards and four TDs with no interceptions, while Moreno rushed for 227 yards and six scores on 26 carries this season.

The Gamecocks fell from the rankings last Thursday night, suffering a 24-17 loss to Vanderbilt. South Carolina, ranked 24th at the time, allowed just 225 yards but committed three turnovers in the upset loss.

Spurrier once again may have a quarterback controversy on his hands as Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher have thrown a combined six interceptions. Smelley has thrown just two picks but lost his only start.

With the passing game struggling, the Gamecocks will need Mike Davis and the rest of their rushing attack to play well if they are going to have a chance against Georgia.

Davis has 181 of the team's 263 rushing yards and one touchdown.

The Bulldogs' defense has been stout against the run, allowing 161 yards on the ground this season.