Border Clash 2010 - Dawgs and Gamecocks. Predictions and discussion. .

[SacFalcFan]

Huge game in the SEC East happening in columbia this coming weekend. It's going to be exciting and it's always a great game even the low scoring ones. GO DAWGS!!!

Is anyone going to the border bash in august, ga?

[Carter]

This is an interesting matchup... I think Spurrier is going to be running a lot of screens and bubbles to try and get his receivers past our aggressive front 7. Oh and he'll probably run 20 fades in a row.

If Florida doesn't get their legs under them soon, this may be the game that determines the winner of the East.

[Dawgy]

So how about keys to the game.

For UGA Offense: run the ball successfully against what was a relatively weak run D last year. USC run-D looked much better in their opener though (comparing against last year's opener for a fairer comparison- both were weakish teams). Also, our O-Line did not dominate today on running plays. Murray played really well and that would be an extra bonus.

For UGA Defense: This is the real key to the game. Stopping the USC run (including Garcia) and pressuring the QB. If we do that- we will reduce the "high-powered" USC we saw on Thursday to that of last year. USC has had a weak O-line for a long time, and though they played good in the opener, I think we'll be up for it- due to coach G's schemes. USC has physical, big, tall receivers, so we can not let Garcia have the time to throw it all over like last year- especially since our corners are not tall.

This is interesting on another dimension- Spurrier's O vs Grantham's D. In my opinion, USC looks better than UF as of now, and I would not be surprised if the three teams split the games 1-1 vs. the other two. Winning next week would be HUGE. The fact it is early in the season is probably advantageous for USC, due to a new QB and a new D. Really looking fwd to this one. Should be an AWESOME game.

[ramblinwreck9]

Huge game in the SEC East happening in columbia this coming weekend. It's going to be exciting and it's always a great game even the low scoring ones. GO DAWGS!!!

Is anyone going to the border bash in august, ga?

This is right up the road for me but I have never gone to it. I guess not being a fan of either team nor a SEC fan, this has never had much appeal to me. It's a big event because this area is flooded with UGA fans and USCe fans right next to Augusta..

[sdogg]

UGA will have at least 2 of its best playmakers back in T. King and Ealey. Hopefully we get AJ back as well.

[SacFalcFan]

This is right up the road for me but I have never gone to it. I guess not being a fan of either team nor a SEC fan, this has never had much appeal to me. It's a big event because this area is flooded with UGA fans and USCe fans right next to Augusta..

yeah they have a bunch of bands who are going to be there for border bash. i am thinking of heading out and having some fun on friday night and going to the game.. i haven't decided yet. the good thing is a number of the events that cost money a portion of the money goes to charity.

[SacFalcFan]

Connor Shaw on UGA:

"Ive never had a passion for Georgia, and I can't wait till next week." -- Said this in the post game press conference and then just got up from the table and walked out.

[Statick]

UGA will have at least 2 of its best playmakers back in T. King and Ealey. Hopefully we get AJ back as well.

This is a game in which Ealey and King should flourish. The Gamecocks are weak against the run and you just know Spurrier is going to bring in zone blitzes due to us having a freshman QB. I'd say Bobo should run a lot of RB and WR screens and bootlegs with Murray. If AJ is back then we should see a lot of man coverage, too, especially for Durham.

[MonettaDAWG]

I live right here at the border as well, half way between Columbia and Augusta. As far as trash talking rights this is the biggest game of the year because this is such a **** rich environment. I probably won't make it to the border bash because I'd rather go watch a good high school game.

[gamecocknfire]

No border bash for me but a Win on Saturday will be enough.

[pr0d1gy]

We need Ealey back. King lacks vision, ideal size, and the explosiveness to make a difference against good SEC teams. That lack of vision is very apparent when you watch him run into an engaged UGA lineman instead of running to the daylight on either side. I was concerned yesterday the more I watched him run. I have a feeling Ealey is going to need to stay healthy this year for us to make a real run.

[SacFalcFan]

let's discuss this game guys and some predictions.

[Threepac Daddy]

i could see this being a close low scoring game and i could see this game close high scoring affair.

EDIT: close as being around 10-14 area and in the 40s on the other hand

Edited September 8, 2010 by Threepac Daddy

[Lennon]

UGA 27-24, game winning field goal by Walsh..

[kingjamez]

I see this being unlike past years. I see a high scoring affair. With UGA coming out on top and AJ Green giving USCe & the NCAA one last F U by scoring 3 TDs.

[U.S. American]

We need Ealey back. King lacks vision, ideal size, and the explosiveness to make a difference against good SEC teams. That lack of vision is very apparent when you watch him run into an engaged UGA lineman instead of running to the daylight on either side. I was concerned yesterday the more I watched him run. I have a feeling Ealey is going to need to stay healthy this year for us to make a real run.

i agree. ealey is the man. he is knowshon 2.0. king has looked more like samuels. runs upright and vision seems lacking. not saying he hasn't had good games, but ealey is the gamer time in and time out

[U.S. American]

first team to 20 wins. uga 20 usc 17

[SacFalcFan]

xnex knows my prediction.. :P

[Xnex]

I see defensive touchdowns being scored. I think it stays nip and tuck until sometime in the 4th and then one team will do something to themsleves up by more than 1 score. I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of low 30's for the winner and upper teens to low 20's for the loser. I don't think this one goes down to the wire. One team is going to seperate itself from the other.

And based off of what fans of both teams have seen, I think there's a decent chance of a qb getting rocked pretty hard when running down the field. Garcia makes a habbit of being involved in physical plays, and Murray seems to be a bit fearless/foolish too. Both of them are bound to get crushed sometime this season and with both of our defenses flying around everywhere, this looks like it might be the perfect storm.

To me, this game "feels like" a high risk, high reward type of affair. Then again, I always predict oddball stuff when I try to figure out what will happen in the SC/UGA game. It'll probably end up 6-4 with all points scored on safeties.

[Xnex]

xnex knows my prediction.. :P

By at least 2 TD's, right?

[Dawgy]

I thought I had this figured, but USC's offense in the last game has made it more difficult (yes- I know who their opponent was). Here is what is likely to happen:

USC plays the short passing game to keep off the GA pass rush, and takes advantage of their tall physical receivers. USC running game does not really take off but Garcia does run some successfully. They probably have one big passing play and score 17 points.

On the other hand, USC D tries to bring the pressure on Murray to get him rattled, and UGA tries the same short passing game as well. UGA will win or lose depending upon how well the running game works => the O-Line plays well and much better than last week. If it does, then we will run successfully and would have the opportunity for multiple big pass plays to our WR. If we can do all that- we'll score about 30 and win.

However, if we can not run, it'll get ugly, and we'll lose. If USC's offense did not look so "put together" last week, I would have guessed it'd be a close game even if we were unable to run. Now, I think they likely would win in that situation, given that they are playing against a freshman QB in his first SEC road game.

Some other thoughts (and my gut feel)

- I think CMR is completely playing down the fact that Murray knows the entire playbook and was in fact, a de-facto coach to other QBs. The offense may be a lot more involved than what is being let on. Murray plays excellently

- The defense is going to surprise again and plays much better than what anyone expects. Grantham will throw in many more wrinkles

- Remember Lakatos and his DBs had the measure of Garcia in their bowl game. We'll have a good plan for their WR

- Logan Gray lines up at QB for some snaps and plays the plays the dual threat QB

- We'll see a lot more TE catches

- USC has shown a weakness on their ST. I think we block a punt or FG

Alright guys- I just realized I don't have a life

Edited September 8, 2010 by Dawgy

[TroubleDawg]

Just my 2 cents.

This game comes down to how our O-Line run blocks for Ealey and how their O-Line blows for Garcia.

I believe our gameplan will be to run it down their throats and take the crowd out of it with time consuming drives, and then when S Car puts 8 in the box, play action pass to a wide open man.

If their O-Line cannot block for Garcia, he will take many hits and alot of sacks. If he has time, they can move the ball on us because they do have some dangerous weapons on Offense.

In the end I say Dawgs 24 - ***** 20

I think we showed a real "Vanilla" Offense and Defense against La-La and I expect to see alot of Murray to Charles this Saturday as well as the next few years...

GO DAWGS!

[gamecocknfire]

24-10 *****. Agreeing with whatever espn person said the following...

"There's something different in Columbia. Those guys can really play, & they expect to win. It's been a lot of tough years for South Carolina, but it's different now. You can feel it and see it when you enter Williams-Brice Stadium. That's a good football team down there. We will see on Saturday, but Georgia might not know what hit them when they bus back to Athens. I believe South Carolina has finally arrived." -ESPN

[SacFalcFan]

24-10 *****. Agreeing with whatever espn person said the following...

"There's something different in Columbia. Those guys can really play, & they expect to win. It's been a lot of tough years for South Carolina, but it's different now. You can feel it and see it when you enter Williams-Brice Stadium. That's a good football team down there. We will see on Saturday, but Georgia might not know what hit them when they bus back to Athens. I believe South Carolina has finally arrived." -ESPN

south carolina has finally arrived after beating a southern miss team that has no business being on the field with them who they allowed over 400 yards of total offense to? really? arrived? lol I think the reverse is going to be the case. South carolina and especially garcia and spurrier won't know what hit them as soon as the game starts on saturday. dude you are going to see our defense and it's going to be nasty..

[Lennon]

south carolina has finally arrived after beating a southern miss team that has no business being on the field with them who they allowed over 400 yards of total offense to? really? arrived? lol I think the reverse is going to be the case. South carolina and especially garcia and spurrier won't know what hit them as soon as the game starts on saturday. dude you are going to see our defense and it's going to be nasty..

Yeah something tells me Stephen Garcia won't make the transition from a Southern Miss defense to an aggressive Georgia defense very well.. This Carolina team is more talented than in years past, but I don't think they are man enough to beat Georgia.