Three keys to Georgia vs. South Carolina

ATHENS - Josh Kendall takes a look at the three keys to the Georgia-South Carolina contest.

Don’t get too cocky

Last year’s flop after a big win over LSU was well-documented and probably cost the Bulldogs a spot in the SEC Championship game. Another letdown could do the same thing.

Don’t get beat on perimeter

Steve Spurrier will test the Bulldogs like they haven’t been tested before, on the outside and deep. Jared Zabransky through into the strength of Georgia’s defense -- the middle of the zone. Spurrier will take shots at cornerbacks one-on-one.

Hold onto the ball

Georgia must avoid turnovers for the second week in a row, and catch passes better than it did against Boise State. If they miss too many chances today, they’ll give the Gamecocks hope.

ONE TO WATCH

Sophomore running back Thomas Brown didn’t get a chance to stretch his legs last week against Boise State, but he probably will this week. The Gamecocks use so many unconventional alignments up front that a solid running game may be the best plan of attack. Brown says he’s stronger and faster than he was a year ago, and he looked good when he did run against the Broncos, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

Forecast

Georgia fans may be intimidated by Steve Spurrier, but Mark Richt is not. Despite losing to him in their only meeting as head coaches, Richt is 8-5-1 overall against the Evil Genius’ teams. Look for the Bulldogs to run the ball more often than they did last week because of the Gamecocks’ defensive style. When defenders move around before the snap like South Carolina’s do, it’s tough for them to get into a good leverage position to take on blocks. Georgia will exploit that and its superior overall talent. Winner: Georgia