5 players to keep an eye on during the Georgia-South Carolina game

His Florida pedigree pretty much guarantees that coach Steve Spurrier likes nothing better than sticking it to Georgia every year, and he’s had a pretty good run at it since taking over at South Carolina nearly 11 years ago.

The Gamecocks have won four of the last five meetings, including last year’s thrilling 38-35 decision in Columbia. Spurrier is 16-6 all-time versus the Dawgs.

Nobody’s really giving the Head Ball Coach and his team much of a chance following South Carolina’s loss to Kentucky last weekend. But the Dawgs had best come ready to play if they finally want to wipe the perpetual smirk off the Visored One’s face.

Here’s a look at five players who figure to have a say in the game’s outcome:

• Georgia RB Nick Chubb: A Heisman Trophy candidate who ranks as one of the nation’s top talents, Chubb has rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 consecutive games. He needed just 19 carries to total 189 yards against Vanderbilt last week, and figures to again be the engine that makes things go for a Bulldogs offense that is averaging 41 points per game. It speaks volumes that the venerable Spurrier hailed Chubb as “one of the best you’ll ever see” earlier this week.
• Georgia QB Greyson Lambert: The Virginia graduate transfer just can’t afford another dismal start like he endured last week at Vanderbilt in which he misfired on his first seven passes and didn’t register his first completion until early in the third quarter. You can bet that a solid South Carolina defense is going to be stacking the line of scrimmage to slow down a potent Bulldogs running game and dare Lambert to beat them through the air. Lambert is clearly coach Mark Richt’s preferred guy over backup Brice Ramsey, but the coach could face a big decision if Lambert again gets off to a slow start.
• South Carolina QB Perry Orth: It was just a few months ago that the former walk-on was but an afterthought who was still bagging groceries at Publix to pay for school. Now thrust into the starting role following the injury to Connor Mitch, Orth will have to learn quickly on the job in his first career start if the Gamecocks are to have a chance. He was mostly solid in relief of Mitch in last week’s loss to Kentucky, connecting on 13 of 20 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. But an ill-conceived toss in the game’s waning minutes resulted in an interception and assured the Wildcats upset in Columbia.
• South Carolina RB Brandon Wilds: The fifth-year senior rushed for 106 yards on just 16 carries last week for his career game of at least 100 yards. The Gamecocks will need to get him going to lighten the load on Orth, set up their play-action game and better their overall offensive efficiency within the red zone.
• South Carolina LB Skai Moore: The junior registered eight tackles, one stop for a loss and pass break-up against UK last week, while also tallying his SEC-best third interception. He and his teammates will have to be sharp again if they hope to slow down a devastating Georgia ground game that is averaging 262 yards per game on the ground and give their team a chance at the upset.

John Hollis

John Hollis is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia and Florida.