South Carolina @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2012 ) Georgia 7, South Carolina 35

Sixth-ranked South Carolina opens its SEC schedule Saturday with an opportunity to take a big step toward winning the East Division title as it visits No. 12 Georgia. Junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney struggled throughout the Gamecocks' season-opening 27-10 victory over North Carolina due to a stomach virus, looking nothing like the player who won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2012. South Carolina displayed a balanced offensive approach in scoring the game’s first 17 points and will look to continue that trend this week.

Georgia’s defense struggled in a 38-35 loss at Clemson, allowing 13 plays of at least 10 yards. The bad news was not limited to that side of the ball - junior wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee celebrating the Bulldogs’ first touchdown and will miss the rest of the season. Two areas of focus for Georgia this week will be better results on third down (4-for-14 in the opener) and playing smarter (nine penalties for 84 yards).

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Georgia -3.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (1-0, 0-0 SEC): The Gamecocks were encouraged by the play of their offensive line in the opener, as South Carolina averaged 6.9 yards per play and outgained the Tar Heels 203-35 in the first quarter. Sophomore running back Mike Davis averaged 9.6 yards in rushing for 115 and one touchdown. Head coach Steve Spurrier’s two-quarterback approach worked in the opener - senior Connor Shaw and junior Dylan Thompson each threw a scoring pass while directing the Gamecocks to 406 yards of total offense.

ABOUT GEORGIA (0-1, 0-0 SEC): One bright spot in the Clemson loss was the play of sophomore tailback Todd Gurley, who won SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries despite a thigh injury. Quarterback Aaron Murray finished with 323 yards on 20-of-29 passing but did not throw a touchdown in falling to 3-11 against ranked opponents. Georgia’s defensive line should benefit from the return of sophomore safety Josh Harvey-Clemons, who was suspended for the Clemson game, and junior safety Corey Moore, who missed the opener with a knee injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. South Carolina is 5-3 when both teams are ranked in the top 25, winning each of the last two such meetings.

2. Georgia sophomore K Marshall Morgan will not play, as he serves the second game of a suspension after an offseason arrest for boating under the influence.

3. The Bulldogs are facing back-to-back top-10 opponents for the first time since 1998.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 24, Georgia 23