Will the bye week help the Dawgs?

ATHENS – Does an off week really matter to teams? If you ask the Georgia Bulldogs the answer is yes.

Several Georgia players including two very important ones – running back Thomas Brown and defensive tackle Gerald Anderson – are back and are healthy thanks to the Dawgs’ off week. Anderson likely would not have played last Saturday, and Brown reported that he is now back at 100%.

Even more important than the healthy return of those two is the winning ways of the Dawgs after having time off. Georgia’s record after a bye week under Mark Richt is 7-1 – the lone loss coming to Auburn in Georgia’s 24-17 loss in 2001.

Since that game, Georgia has won six consecutive games after off weeks with wins over South Carolina and Georgia Tech in 2002; Alabama and Auburn in 2003; and LSU and Georgia Tech in 2004.

“I remember last season when we played LSU,” said Brown, “we got a week off before that game, and I really think it helped.”

Georgia scorched the Tigers 45-16 and appeared on their way to challenging for the national title. They went on, however, to lose the next week to Tennessee.

“We’ve been able to rest our bodies,” said safety Greg Blue. “Right now I feel good. If had had a game Saturday, I wouldn’t be as good as I do now.”