The Two-time reigning national champion Georgia Bulldogs are 3-0 on the season, taking the Southeastern Conference opener against South Carolina 24-14 this past Saturday. UAB checks in at 1-2. The Blazers fell to the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana 41-21 last weekend.
After Saturday night’s game against the Blazers, the Dogs will tangle with seven straight Southeastern Conference foes before the regular season finale against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta.
This will be the fourth ever meeting pitting the Bulldogs and UAB, all Between the Hedges, with Georgia winning the first three. Things were mighty nervy for the Bulldog faithful 20 years ago, as the fourth-ranked Bulldogs edged UAB 16-13 in 2003. Three years later, Georgia beat UAB 34-0, just eight days after legendary coach Erk Russell passed away. The Bulldogs recorded back to back shutouts against South Carolina (18-0) and the Blazers, the first time Georgia blanked successive foes since the 1980 national champions beat Vanderbilt 41-0 and Kentucky 27-0, Russell’s final of 17 seasons as Vince Dooley’s defensive coordinator at Georgia. Two years ago, the 2021 national champion Bulldogs blasted UAB 56-7. The game was a coming out party for both Stetson Bennett and Brock Bowers.
For Georgia last time out, it was a tale of two halves. The Bulldogs trailed South Carolina 14-3 at intermission. The Gamecocks cashed in on a pair of red zone trips with a pair of touchdowns, while Georgia had a made field goal and missed field goal on its two trips. In the second half, Georgia gained control. The Bulldogs marched 75 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-10 on a scoring run from Dainun Edwards. Then came great complimentary football with great coverage and a penalty. Georgia got a stop, then scored again, with Dillon Bell rushing in for the go-ahead score. The Bulldogs delivered what proved to be the knock-out blow on Cash Jones 13-yard TD. Edwards was outstanding against the Gamecocks in his first game of the season, fighting back from a knee injury. He carried 20 times for 118 yards against the Gamecocks, and gave the Georgia offense a huge lift.
In the second half against South Carolina, Georgia’s defense, on South Carolina’s six possessions, forced three three-and-outs, stopped the Gamecocks on downs and recorded two interceptions.
Georgia’s first two games were 48-7 wins over UT Martin and 45-3 over Ball State. UAB defeated North Carolina A&T in the season opener. Then came a 49-35 loss to Georgia Southern in Statesboro before falling to Louisiana.
Every win is precious and hard to come by. A good illustration, Alabama, LSU, Florida and Tennessee all have a loss as we head into Week Four. Texas, which beat Alabama, was tied with Wyoming in the fourth quarter before winning, while Florida State, which defeated LSU in Week One, edged Boston College 31-29.
Georgia’s school record 20-game winning streak is the nation’s longest, and the 21 straight victories at home marks college football’s longest active run. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs have won 36 of 37, and aim, for at least one more week, to remain undefeated two-time reigning national champions.