A week after one of the biggest wins Georgia has ever had over Florida, the Bulldogs return home for the first time in a month to take on the Ole Miss Rebels.
Geogia proved last week that a big win doesn't have to come on the back of a great performance, but this week, Georgia is looking to not only win the game, but start playing like a team that can compete for a championship. Georgia's task is very simple, win the next two games, Saturday against Ole Miss and November 10th against Auburn, and punch their ticket for a second straight SEC title game.
In the span on just one week, Georgia has gone from hoping to get a shot at a trip to Atlanta, to it being a huge disappointment if they don't get to Atlanta.
Before they look too far down the road, Georgia better be ready to play Ole Miss this weekend. Now, you might not know his name, but I bet everyone already knows the head coach of Ole Miss. His name is Hugh Freeze and the reason you know him is because he was the coach of Michael Oher, from the book and movie "The Blindside." Freeze was hired at Ole Miss last December, and he is a candidate for SEC coach of the year because he has the Rebels playing as well as they have since Oher left campus in 2009. Freeze is known for offense, and his team is averaging 32 points per game this season.
At quarterback, the Rebels have Bo Wallace, who has been good at times this season. Of his 9 interceptions this season, 7 of them have come in Ole Miss' 3 losses. Wallace has also been sacked 18 times in 8 games, so keep an eye on Jarvis Jones this weekend, because he could have yet another stand out game.
If there is one player for the Rebels that could really hurt Georgia it is running back Jake Scott. Scott has 3 100 yard rushing games this season and has rushed for over 600 yards on the season, despite the fact that he missed the first game of the season. However, Scott managed only 49 yards on 19 carries against Alabama earlier this season.
Georgia is a 14 point favorite in this game and they should cover the spread easily. While Freeze has improved this team greatly from last season, they are still not at the level of the elite schools in the SEC. They don't have the depth that Georgia has, so this game might be close at half time, but it shouldn't be close in the 4th quarter.
For Georgia, this game is about one thing, and one thing only: Get right!
Despite winning the game against Florida, this hasn't looked like a team that can stay on the field with Alabama for a full four quarters. We need to see something this weekend that makes us believe that we can, not only get to the Dome, but shock the world in the process.
We need to see something out of Aaron Murray. In his last four games, Murray has thrown seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Incredibly mediocre. Murray is the leader of this team, and if Georgia has a chance to do something special in December, he will have to lead the charge. Alabama won't give Georgia 6 turnovers, I promise you that.
We also need to see the return of the Freshman Phenoms. The last time Georgia was at home, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall were the talk of the SEC. They were playing at an amazing level, and Georgia was looking like an offensive jugernaught. For the past month, however, the two freshman have been MIA. Gurley has only one touchdown in his last three games. We need these guys to get back to doing what they were doing in September.
Finally, we need to see this defense play like they did last week, every week. Personally, it is far more frustrating to have a defense that is capable of playing great but constantly under-performs, than it is to have a crappy defense to start with. It makes no sense that this defense has to be called out and challenged before they come prepared to play. In my opinion, if we see Georgia's defense return to playing the way they did against Kentucky, then it is not a problem with coaching, it is a problem with the players. In this league, you have to come ready to play every week, not just when your backs are against the wall. I believe this defense has something to prove, because at this point, they might be talented, but I think they are also lazy.
In the last 4 weeks, Georgia has gone from the top of the world, to the bottom of the barrell, and back again. The Dawgs have four games left in the regular season, and they are going to be double-digit favorites in every game. Three of the four games left are in Athens. Four games is a quarter of the season, and it is time for this team to create some momentum heading toward Atlanta and the SEC title game. Play well on Saturday. Then head to Auburn to give Gene Chizik a final farewell. Then come home and beat the daylights out of two in-state teams. That is the plan for November. Simple, right?
Now, very quickly, I have a quick guide for Georgia fans for the rest of the college football season. Because the Dawgs have gotten themselves back in the picture for the big game in January it is worth taking a look at what Georgia needs to happen. First we need Kansas State to lose to Oklahoma State this weekend. After the Cowboys, K State only has Texas left on its schedule and they don't play a championship game. I don't trust Texas to beat anyone, so OSU needs to take K State out of the ranks of the unbeatens this weekend.
Secondly, Georgia fans need to be USC fans on Saturday night. Just hold your nose and close your eyes and hopefully it will be over quick. USC is the most talented team on Oregon's schedule.
Okay, I forgot, you need to just buy a USC T-shirt because the Trojens are probably the only team left that could be Notre Dame too. Ugh.
Georgia needs 2 of the 3 remaining unbeatens to lose to open the door for a 1 loss team to make it to the National Championship Game. After Alabama beats LSU this weekend, Georgia will be the highest ranked 1 loss team, so the chance is there for Georgia.
Oh yeah, then Georgia has to beat Alabama, but we will worry about that later.
Have a good week, and GO DAWGS!!!!!
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