Asked what type of game he expected against South Carolina on Saturday, Georgia’s Mark Richt didn’t mince words.
“I’ve got a feeling this game could get a little bloody,” the Bulldogs’ coach said during Media Day on Tuesday. “I think both teams are tough physically and I think both teams have outstanding backs that can pound. I know both teams know how to throw and catch, there’s no doubt about that, but before it’s over it might get down to a little bit of a fist fight.”
If that’s the type of game that develops Saturday in Columbia, S.C., then it won’t be that unusual. Games in Williams-Brice Stadium have tended to be closely-fought, and low-scoring over the years. In fact, Georgia hasn’t scored more than 20 points there in 20 years, when it won there 24-21 in 1994.
In their six trips there under the offense-minded Richt, the Bulldogs have averaged 13 points per game. Excluding the 35-7 win by South Carolina in 2012, the average margin of victory has been 11 points.
Meanwhile, two of the best backs in the SEC will be featured on Saturday. Georgia’s Todd Gurley jumped to the front of the pack in the Heisman Trophy race with his 293-yard, four-touchdown performance against Clemson. South Carolina tailback Mike Davis has been slowed with a rib injury early this season but had 142 yards rushing against the Bulldogs last season and was among the SEC leaders with 1,183 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Asked what he thought of Richt’s characterization of Saturday’s game, senior linebacker Amarlo Herrera grinned widely.
“I like it,” he said. “It means it’s going to be a tough game. It means there’s going to be a lot of running the football. When people say bloody, that means there’s going to be a lot of running the ball, a lot of contact every play. That’s what I play football for.”
Said Georgia center David Andrews: “That’s what kind of game you like and expect as a lineman. That’s what you want, to go out there and fight. It’s an SEC game, an away game at that, so you know it’s going to be an intense game.”
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