Gamecocks will be yelling ‘War Eagle’ during Georgia game
ATHENS – Georgia could be hoisting the SEC Eastern Division trophy by the end of Saturday’s game against Auburn on Saturday – or not.
There are three SEC East scenarios that could play out depending on Saturday’s outcomes:
- If the Bulldogs (5-2, 5-1 SEC) win Saturday at Sanford Stadium and South Carolina (7-2, 5-2) loses at home to Florida, Georgia will have punched its ticket for its fourth trip to the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship Game and first since 2005.
- Conversely, if the Gamecocks win and Georgia loses to the Tigers, South Carolina wins the East.
- If the Gamecocks and Georgia both win, the Bulldogs would have to defeat Kentucky (4-5, 1-4) in Athens the following week to clinch the East. A loss to the Wildcats would give the title to South Carolina.
The good news is the Bulldog Nation should know what’s at stake by Saturday’s kickoff (3:30 p.m., CBS). South Carolina-Florida kicks off at noon.
So, like there were a lot of Bulldogs calling the Hogs this past Saturday night, there will be a lot of Gamecocks yelling “War Eagle” should South Carolina beat the Gators.
“If they can win seven SEC games in a row, we’ll congratulate them and go from there,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier told reporters in Columbia on Monday. “The only thing we need to think about is Florida.”
Georgia could lose to Auburn on Saturday and still get to the championship game if South Carolina loses and the Bulldogs beat Kentucky on Nov. 19. But if Georgia lost to Kentucky in that scenario, the Gamecocks would win the East based on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
All those scenarios aside, Georgia knows full well that it can afford to concentrate on nothing but Auburn this week. The defending national champion Tigers (6-3, 4-2) have struggled somewhat during this rebuilding season. But they’ve already done something the Bulldogs couldn’t do — they beat South Carolina 16-13 Oct. 1 in Columbia. And traditionally Auburn has always played well in Sanford Stadium, where they are 17-10 all-time.
Meanwhile, the heat seems to have been turned up on this rivalry after last season’s game. In the Tigers’ 49-31 win in Auburn last year, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray was hit late on more than one occasion by Auburn’s All-America noseguard Nick Fairley and the Bulldogs’ offensive linemen retaliated late in the contest. Eventually two Auburn players were flagged for throwing punches and had to sit out the next week’s game against Alabama as a result.
Georgia center Ben Jones, who was in the middle of all that chaos, was asked if he thought those emotions might spill over into this year’s game.
“He’s not there anymore,” Jones said of Fairley, “so it’s a new year and a new start. We’re just focusing on protecting Murray and him not getting hit at all. No matter who’s there, we’re going to try to protect him.”
But the Bulldogs don’t need last year’s antics as motivation. Almost any SEC championship they have ever won has always come down to beating Auburn in November and Georgia is acutely aware of that.
“It’s one of the biggest rivalries in the game, Georgia-Auburn is. It’s huge,” junior wide receiver Tavarres King said. “It’s a game that’s always extremely high energy. We’re going to work our butts off this week to get things taken care of and so we can continue to control our destiny.”
Said Georgia coach Mark Richt: “With the wins that we’ve had and knowing what’s at stake and knowing we’re finally in a position to control it, I think the guys are feeling pretty good about it.”
– Chip Towers
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313 comments Add your comment
Joey
November 8th, 2011
10:34 am
“What happens in the west if Arkansas beats LSU?”
***************************************
I didn’t read the whole article, zzggyy, but somewhere this morning I read one that said, ft ARK won it’s last 3 games, they will win the West. It went on to say if they win the SECCG, they would get in the BCSCG.
Easier said than done, but it would be funny to see it happen, being that ESPN’s whole world revolves around Bama and LSU.
Like him or hate him, but if anybody can score some points on LSU, it would be Petrino. And his D isn’t that shabby anymore.
TampaDawg
November 8th, 2011
10:36 am
Ok fellow Dawg fans, I know pulling for Florida is a tough thing to do (although whenever any SEC team plays out of conference, I pull for the SEC team .. conference superiority is important for every team). But lets keep in mind who they are playing against. Satan Spurrier. I’ll take UF all day in that case.
facts please
November 8th, 2011
10:37 am
“But the Bulldogs don’t need last year’s antics as motivation. Any SEC championship they have ever won has always come down to beating Auburn in November and Georgia is acutely aware of that.”
IIRC, UGA’s last SEC title came in a year with a home loss to AU.
dawgdays
November 8th, 2011
10:39 am
Think of it this way, we will be rooting for Muschamp over Satin!
sogadog
November 8th, 2011
10:40 am
The Dawgs are fielding a young team Saturday. Young teams have a hard time dealing with the pressure of having an SEC East championship within reach. We will see how much the players have matured following the big win against UF. Getting this young team to focus and take care of their assignments will be a challenge for CMR and staff. CMR did it in 2002 against Auburn (70-X takeoff) and I believe he can do it again this year. If Murray eliminates the costly interceptions and the kick and punt return teams prevent Auburn from making long returns, the Dawgs should win it. GO DAWGS!
Joey
November 8th, 2011
10:40 am
We shouldn’t have to worry about the SC / UF game.
If Richt doesn’t goes conservative with a little-bitty lead, we should win by 10 points.
But we know Richt . . .
Go Gators.
dawgdays
November 8th, 2011
10:40 am
SATAN!
Delusional Dawg
November 8th, 2011
10:41 am
@Joey
Arkansas has won three of the past four games against LSU, including the year that LSU won the NC. They play them very close even when they lose. There is a distinct possibility that Arkansas will defeat LSU again this year.
Should that happen, Alabama will most likely play in the SECCG.
AltamahaDawg
November 8th, 2011
10:41 am
Is there and actual trophy and would it be available at the game, in case?
Terry
November 8th, 2011
10:42 am
Joey, I don’t see how Arlansas would jump over Bama, when Bama beat them.
AltamahaDawg
November 8th, 2011
10:46 am
Thje only time I recall going conservative, the lead was sizable or the end of game situation was critical that we did. I missed the situaiton when it was doing it just to be doing it with an itty-bitty lead.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
10:47 am
12, 345 gatas don’t, take no jive, GO gatas
Terry
November 8th, 2011
10:48 am
Should have been Arkansas.
JDawg1785
November 8th, 2011
10:48 am
Just win, Dawgs!
D Fence
November 8th, 2011
10:49 am
I would pull for Satan before I pulled for the Gators.
If we arent good enough (especially this year) to take care of AU and UK, then we dont deserve to go to any SECC game anytime soon.
It’s payback time for whoever trots out at QB for AU this week.
ole yeller
November 8th, 2011
10:49 am
Guy’s lets face it. It appears that that south carlonia fades in the last part of the season except last year when they keep it togather. Looks like like the chickens are up to old habits.
UGA Insider
November 8th, 2011
10:53 am
I hope USCe wins. I don’t want to “back into” any SECCG. Let’s just remember last year and beat AU.
pcola-dog
November 8th, 2011
10:54 am
survive the early storm
Trojan
November 8th, 2011
10:54 am
If UGA plays solid special teams, UGA wins. The defense if very good, the offense is talented but sparatic (the Bobo factor).
Gator Bob
November 8th, 2011
10:54 am
Let’s be honest – The SEC EAST is not good – and if Auburn beats UGA – which I am predicting will happen – the Auburn is the defacto SEC EAST Champion by virtue of beating South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
10:54 am
ole yeller
Oh contraire, nobody wanted it last last year and SC was the best of the worst
BIGDAWG38
November 8th, 2011
10:55 am
Wishing Muschamp all the best this weekend!!! GO DAWGS!!!
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
10:56 am
Gator Bob
Auburn isn’t that good. Certainly not the best of the East. Yeah they beat your guys and Carolins but, in the bigger picture it won’t mean much. I don’t think they can beat Georgia
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
10:57 am
Auburn will have to settle for the 4th best in the West
OldFan
November 8th, 2011
10:57 am
Would this be Murray’s first win over a ranked team?
ole yeller
November 8th, 2011
11:01 am
I’m glad to see most blogs that don’t favor my dawgs or saying if aub wins …if aub wins…if aub wins.
seems to me a lot of doubt coning out of the plains.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
11:04 am
Go Corch Muschamp, Go Gatahs
Chip Towers
November 8th, 2011
11:04 am
Old Fan: Yes it will be.
TampaDawg
November 8th, 2011
11:04 am
Yes it would OldFan and yes it WILL be. UGA 31, AU 17
murfdawg
November 8th, 2011
11:08 am
Just take care of business Dawgs and let everyone else whine and cry. I still think CMR is still fighting for his job. He has to beat AU to win the east and to hold on to his job. This is the BIGGEST game of the year.(until next week). Go Dawgs and beat the Plainsmen/Tigers/War Eagles.
East Repeat
November 8th, 2011
11:09 am
UGA may beat Auburn, but SC will not lose to FL. Gonna have to win it on the field, Dawgs. Yea, and Spurrier looked so old on Sept 10th this year when his team was scoring on Dawgs every way imaginable. don’t need an offense when the defense stops the ball, takes the ball, and heads to end zone. Just win, SC. Dawgs will have their own problems before this season is out, even with an East championship!
Delusional Dawg
November 8th, 2011
11:13 am
It would… But it won’t.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
11:13 am
murfdawg
If I were a betting man (which I am, but, I digress) I’d bet Richt has already made a good case for job retention. We should win at least 2 of 3 down the stretch. Those 2 need to be the SEC games to insure he gets an extension. Who besides Maryland is going to fire a 9-3 coach? However, losing to AU and Tech could cause quite the ripple
PrimeTime#8
November 8th, 2011
11:15 am
East Repeat,
Yeah if UGA loses then yeah a East Repeat performance in the SEC Championship. You will get blown out like last year but maybe even worse…
P_The_Ricker
November 8th, 2011
11:17 am
Gator bob @ 10:24AM:
leave it to a gator to try and dump on any joy of taking the sec east crown.
sorry friend, 2 teams ranked in the top 15 (UGA & SC) hardly supports your opinion that the division is no good. just b/c your team is an emabarassment to watch….don’t go try and drag other teams down w/ your sinking ship.
is UGA a great team…..no. but they’re worthy of a top 20 ranking and have been improving as the season has gone on. there’s a resiliency in this team….something the gators haven’t had since the ‘08 season after their defeat to ole miss.
Delusional Dawg
November 8th, 2011
11:18 am
The SEC East is actually worse this year than they were last year. If we can’t win this division, then we should just move to the ACC.
just a fan
November 8th, 2011
11:19 am
If Arkansas beats LSU then whomever is ranked highest in the BCS gets the nod unless the team that they lost to is within 5 spots of them in the final bcs rankings i.e. bama over arkansas
ARdawg
November 8th, 2011
11:22 am
Delusional Dawg
You are delusional
Delusional Dawg
November 8th, 2011
11:23 am
Georgia is better this year than last year, but not by very much. Tennessee and Florida have both gone backward since last year.
Hollywould
November 8th, 2011
11:23 am
War Eagle!! I can’t wait. Headin up 316 to Athens sat. morn. Comin home to recoup/then be at the dome by 9 for the hated Saints. Doesn’t get any better AU 27 leg humpers 14. Falcons 31 Saints 30.
We will see how this defense you all speak of for the leg humpers does when finally facing a team with an offense and also a team with a winning record. Good bye Leg Humpers War Eagle!!
Delusional Dawg
November 8th, 2011
11:23 am
Of course I am. I’m a Dawg.
Idiot Dawg
November 8th, 2011
11:23 am
Gaytor Bob
Awburn can’t win the east. They are in the west.
Also I can’t be pulling for no gaytors but I won’t be pulling against them. Mnnnn fried chicken!
BrickyardDog
November 8th, 2011
11:28 am
The defense has really flopped against ranked teams.
Points:
35-42 per game
Yards:
390+ per game
Look for Auburn to win, since UGA D can’t stop ranked teams, and SC to regain 1st place in East.
TampaDawg
November 8th, 2011
11:29 am
The East is not worse than last year. Last year had 4 teams finish under .500 and the East winner, that powerhouse known as the fighing male chickens, finished the season with 5 losses. Neither of those will happen this year.
Delusional Dawg
November 8th, 2011
11:30 am
Hide & Watch.
OldFan
November 8th, 2011
11:30 am
Thanks for the verification. I also believe it will happen for Murray this Saturday. I’ll take the win, but I sure won’t give the 12.5 points.
SEC Insider
November 8th, 2011
11:30 am
Georgia’s 2012 Schedule Leaked:
9-01-12 Buffalo
9-08-12 South Carolina
9-15-12 Florida Atlantic
9-22-12 Vanderbilt
9-29-12 Tennessee
10-06-12 Missouri
10-13-12 Kentucky
10-20-12 Open Date
10-27-12 Florida
11-3-12 Ole Miss
11-10-12 Auburn
11-17-12 Georgia Southern
11-24-12 Georgia Tech
12-01-12 Idle
soga-gator
November 8th, 2011
11:31 am
P_Ricker – USC and UGA are ranked by virtue of being in the SEC and beating teams that suck but happen to be in the SEC (us included). Keep swallowing that horsesh*t cuz. There is a huge difference in talent (even with AU) for UGA and the west SEC. Get your shots in now – you will lose Saturday and even worse in SECCG…
Alabama Dog
November 8th, 2011
11:32 am
Hollywould: I wouldn’t be buying any toilet paper just yet (I’m from the Godforsaken state of Alabama, so you know I know what that means). Too bad y’all don’t still have $cam this year. With no pay for play QB this year, it definitely minimizes the Cow College’s chances.
TampaDawg
November 8th, 2011
11:33 am
@Brickyard .. The defense got beaten up pretty good against BSU but HAS NOT given up more than 24 points to ANYONE else all year. Including SC with Lattimore. Don’t just look at the score when you’re trying to figure up what the defense has done. UGA special teams has been the best players for the other teams most of the year.