It seems like every year that the loser of the early season game between Georgia and South Carolina waits for the other to lose to get back into the SEC East “driver’s seat” and a shot at the SEC Championship game in Atlanta.
This year was no different when Georgia lost in Columbia in the third week and then South Carolina coughed up its advantage by losing to Missouri at home and then essentially fell out of the race with the upset loss at Kentucky this past Saturday.
Senior linebacker Amarlo Herrera has been paying close attention.
“It’s not fun because you’ve got to chill and wait for somebody else [to lose],” he said. “Then you also got to make sure that we’re still doing what we have to do and not get too worried about South Carolina or who else in front losing.”
Now the Bulldogs enter this week with a clear-cut chance to take control of the SEC East with the visit to Missouri. They enter as a 3-point favorite. And history may be on their side: In the past five years, Georgia has lost to South Carolina in each of the two seasons in which it made an SEC Championship appearance.
The Tigers, defending SEC East champs, are 1-0 in the SEC this season with their victory against South Carolina. UGA is 2-1. The winner Saturday in Columbia, Mo., needs only to take care of the opponents who await in the second half of the season.
“We were in the same predicament, maybe two years ago, where we just had to let South Carolina lose,” safety Corey Moore said. “They lost pretty early this year so it’s a burden off your chest so you know you’re in the front seat.”
Receiver Michael Bennett agreed.
“We’ve been in that seat before and it kind of sucks because you’ve got to hope someone else loses just so you can get back in the driver’s seat.”
Game updates: Georgia's visit at Arkansas on Oct. 18, to be played in Little Rock, Ark., will be televised by the SEC Network with a 4 p.m. kickoff. It will be UGA's third game to be televised on the new SEC platform. … Missouri announced that Saturday's visit by Georgia is officially a sellout.
Missouri update: Coach Gary Pinkel had a few comments at his weekly news conference with Missouri beat writers, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
- On the Missouri injury report: Receivers Jimmie Hunt and Darius White have a "greater than 50 percent chance of playing," he said, noting that a decision will be made Thursday. A hip injury still has tailback Morgan Steward on the sideline.
- On Georgia running back Todd Gurley: "He's a great, great player. Strong. He breaks tackles really well. … You're not going to stop him. You've got to try to contain him. … You've got to tackle well and pursue well."
- On a one-word description of Gurley: "I'm a basic guy. … He's a great player. That's two words."
- On facing Georgia: "If you're a competitor, which our guys are, it's a great opportunity."
- On the early game time: "I think every player and coach in the country would rather get up and play at 11 o'clock in the morning or noon."
