ATHENS — Kirby Smart and Georgia looked like the best team in the nation against UAB, and that matters when you are voting on one of college football’s most prestigious polls.
That’s why I voted the Bulldogs No. 1 in the FWAA Super 16 poll (my ballot bottom of page) — ahead of Alabama, which is my No. 2 team. There were five other voters that voted Georgia No. 1, too.
It means that’s where I think the teams are right now because Georgia’s win over UAB was better than the TIde’s win over Mercer. The Bulldogs win over Clemson also looks better than Alabama’s win over Miami the week before after the Hurricanes squeezed by Appalachian State 25-23.
Georgia is by no means a finished football team.
The cornerback play is suspect (if the opposing QB can get enough time to throw), and the offensive line is not as dominant as Georgia fans have become accustomed to.
The running back rotation seems more about appeasing than playing the hot hand, and some in the receiving corps were still learning wear to line up and how to block in the opening game against Clemson.
But the fact the Georgia defensive front is dominant, and the quarterback play of JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett is top shelf.
And, here’s the kicker: the Bulldogs figure to get better soon when tight end Darnell Washington and star defensive back Tykee Smith return from foot injuries Receiver Dominick Blaylock also appears close, an at some point Kearis Jackson will determine that if he’s healthy enough to return punts, he should also be about ready to go at receiver.
South Carolina beat writer Ben Portnoy
Portnoy did a deep dive on the “Ingles On The Beat” Show into Shane Beamer’s disposition and the program’s ability to return to the success Steve Spurrier enjoyed when he had three straight 11-win seasons and beat Dabo Swinney and Clemson five times in a row.
Portnoy, who works for The State newspaper, said the Gamecocks’ units that need to step up on Saturday are the offensive line, defensive line and secondary.
How about them Hogs?
Georgia fans looking for the next “scary” game on the schedule need look no further than Oct. 3 when former UGA assistant Sam Pittman brings the Razorbacks to Sanford Stadium.
Pittman knows how to motivate college football players and get them to buy-in, as evidenced by Arkansas’ win over Texas last Saturday.