Just another day at the office.
That's what Saturday felt like to me, a bit of a ho-hum two-touchdown win over (perhaps) the second best team in the SEC East.
Last year I would've been thrilled with a two-touchdown win over a conference opponent.
This year, it felt like a regular day. Nothing fancy.
Just choppin'.
Here's a few more thoughts on that.
1) Mecole Hardman is turning into even more of a multi-use weapon.
We already knew Hardman was blazing fast. We can see that any time he catches a slant from Jake Fromm, or any time he starts upfield on a punt return.
But Saturday we saw something else from Hardman.
As a receiver he went over the top of the defender and hauled in a nifty 20-yard touchdown catch on third down in the third quarter.
So now we have another vertical threat at receiver, along with Javon Wims and Terry Godwin, for Fromm to continue to "only throw slants" toward.
Oh, I did I mention that Hardman might well be the best gunner on the Bulldogs' punt team too?
I actually laughed out loud in the stadium at how casually he gathered in a rolling punt inside the 1-yard line.
Just another day at the office.
2) Two notable streaks came to an end.
Coming into this game, Georgia had scored points every time it had the ball inside the 20.
That streak came to an end Saturday when Terry Godwin was stripped as he picked up a first down inside the 10.
And, in a different streak, it hadn't been since the Notre Dame game that the Bulldog defense surrendered points to any team in the third quarter, a streak broken by Parker White's 25-yard field goal with 9:28 left in Saturday's third quarter.
The Gamecocks would not score again, however.
3) Georgia sustained the heck out of some drives.
For one thing, the Dawgs held the ball for 38 minutes on Saturday, and that stat alone is indicative of how much ball control the offense exercised, including punching out 26 first downs.
If we exclude the final drives of each half, Georgia averaged 9 plays per drive, and 4:31 in time of possession. That's a lot of time for the defense to be catching its breath on the sidelines.
Here is the Bulldog drive chart, if you want to check it for yourself.
Q1 13:05 — 10 plays, 67 yards, fumble — 3:54
Q1 7:28 — 11 plays, 69 yards, touchdown — 5:30
Q2 14:07 — 10 plays, 75 yards, touchdown — 4:40
Q2 5:15 — 8 plays, 34 yards, punt — 4:31
Q2 0:04 — 1 play, 0 yards, end of half — 0:04 (Fromm Hail Mary)
Q3 15:00 — 10 plays, 75 yards, touchdown — 5:32
Q3 3:29 — 4 plays, 28 yards, punt — 2:31
Q4 13:50 — 15 plays, 65 yards, field goal — 7:32
Q4 4:25 — 4 plays, 7 yards, punt — 2:19
Q4 1:43 — 4 plays, 8 yards, end of game — 1:43
4) The look ahead.
Welcome to the biggest test since the trip to play the Irish.
Auburn looms in what could be the second best team Georgia will play in the regular season, and the odds makers opened with the Bulldogs as a 2-point favorite on the road.
I don't know what to think about this game. On the one hand, it may well be strength against strength in a lot of areas.
The Tigers have an excellent defense, especially against the run, essentially mirroring Georgia's offensive strength.
Meanwhile, Auburn prefers to ground and pound on offense itself, a good match-up for the Dawgs' defense. Where the Tigers struggle is in pass protection, an area where Georgia has left a bit to be desired.
On the other hand, it's a wild, whacky rivarly that the Bulldogs have owned of late, winning 9 of the last 11.
What am I trying to say by all this?
I'm trying to say this game will likely be tight. This game could decide the fate of both teams this season.
Auburn would maintain control of its own destiny with a win, leaving the door open for an Iron Bowl upset that could setup a rematch with Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
A Bulldog win all be secures a date with Alabama, provided the Tide don't lose to Mississippi State Saturday night.
My gracious, have things gotten interesting.
