I have read a LOT about the game on Saturday, I think I know more about the players on SCarolina than I did those on OU or Bama last year-not sure why that is but man has this game been hyped for a few months now. In my heart, I think UGA has turned the corner and games like Saturday represent just another step on the road to the SEC title game. I look at the two teams rosters, the matchups, read from those that cover the sport ie the "experts" and UGA will win this game and cover the spread-might not happen until 4th quarter but that is what will happen. BUT, then my gut (growing more than I would like to admit) enters into play. I have been around long enough to know that although we normally beat SCarolina each year, especially over there, we struggle and lose some games. In looking at all time series, we have lost nearly the same amount in Athens as in Columbia-the Cocks have 10 wins at home, 8 wins in Athens. I guess just the fact that we have lost 3 of the last 4 trips over there is what has me nervous-and that one win was on a Sunday when the stadium was half full. My head is telling me this is going to be a close game, and I don't like close games when you are the road team.
This is truly a case of position on the schedule more than anything this year to me. IF this game was week 6 instead of week 2, I would feel good in heart, head and gut. The fact remains though, we have more talented players AND we have MORE players period. Depth when you play a 3:30 game in nearly 100 degree heat is a big deal. We don't drop a lot when we sub, I believe SCarolina does. There is a reason the Cocks had starters in the game through the 3rd quarter and some into the mid 4th quarter in a blowout win last week. Plain an simple, conditioning. They knew those starters would be playing a lot of snaps this week and so might as well let them play snaps last week to get ready (course you subject yourself to injury since a lot of injuries do occur when guys are tired). Bottom line, IF we are to be heading to the Bama level of success that I and many others view as happening here, we take this game and get the W. IF we lose, the season is not over, but we would have to run the table to get back to the playoffs. That is a lot to ask of a team-I am not ready to go into this game feeling VERY confident but I also don't go into this game like I did last year at Auburn-I felt like we were walking into a buzz saw, and that ended up being the case. The atmosphere will be pretty close to AU, but the team we are playing is not as good on the OL and DL as that Auburn team, thus I believe we take care of business. Nervous, but confident.
This is truly a case of position on the schedule more than anything this year to me. IF this game was week 6 instead of week 2, I would feel good in heart, head and gut. The fact remains though, we have more talented players AND we have MORE players period. Depth when you play a 3:30 game in nearly 100 degree heat is a big deal. We don't drop a lot when we sub, I believe SCarolina does. There is a reason the Cocks had starters in the game through the 3rd quarter and some into the mid 4th quarter in a blowout win last week. Plain an simple, conditioning. They knew those starters would be playing a lot of snaps this week and so might as well let them play snaps last week to get ready (course you subject yourself to injury since a lot of injuries do occur when guys are tired). Bottom line, IF we are to be heading to the Bama level of success that I and many others view as happening here, we take this game and get the W. IF we lose, the season is not over, but we would have to run the table to get back to the playoffs. That is a lot to ask of a team-I am not ready to go into this game feeling VERY confident but I also don't go into this game like I did last year at Auburn-I felt like we were walking into a buzz saw, and that ended up being the case. The atmosphere will be pretty close to AU, but the team we are playing is not as good on the OL and DL as that Auburn team, thus I believe we take care of business. Nervous, but confident.