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FNAN: Muschamp on Georgia RBs; Connections between Gamecocks and Georgia

Having played for Georgia in the early 1990’s, Will Muschamp is quite familiar with the Bulldogs tradition of producing quality running backs.

This year, Georgia has two ball carriers capable of stepping up and carrying the offense as the No. 1 running back – Nick Chubb and Sony Michel – and keeping them bottlenecked is the unquestionably key to the game for the South Carolina defense.

“You see a lot of the same run game (regardless of which RB is in the game),” Muschamp said. “I’m sure (the Georgia offensive coordinator) has an idea of which runs each guy likes a little better. Each player is different. They do a very good job of outflanking you in the run game and creating edge issues. They have the traditional power game too.

“The run game is the same. Both guys are really good backs. They are extremely talented. I’m sure they have certain runs they like more than others, but both guys can make all the runs.”

Muschamp is just one of many several compelling connections between the Gamecocks and Georgia programs. USC wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon graduated from Georgia and spent his entire coaching career on the Bulldogs staff until accepting a job on Muschamp’s staff in December. McClendon served as UGA’s interim head coach in the TaxSlayer Bowl win over Penn State after Mark Richt was fired shortly after the 2015 regular season concluded.

“Coach B-Mac, (he’s) a great coach,” Georgia senior center Brandon Kublanow said this week. “He helped us a lot. “Things were a little crazy around here, but B-Mac held the fort down and did a great job. I’m excited for him, excited to see him. It’s going to be fun to compete against him.”

Former Gamecock assistant Shane Beamer was hired in the off-season as Georgia's Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach.

Additionally, 26 Gamecock players call the state of Georgia home, almost 25 percent of USC’s 2016 roster.

“It’s an important game for our guys because it’s a SEC East game and over the years it has been a great rivalry game since 1992 when South Carolina joined the SEC,” Muschamp said. “Anytime you play guys you know and play guys you grew up with, it certainly brings a little more to the table.”

WEATHER FORECAST: Sunday’s forecast stands in stark contrast to what the Palmetto State experienced on Friday and Saturday. Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70’s are expected for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff. Temperatures will rise slightly throughout the game, but stay in the 75-76 degree range with a zero percent chance of precipitation. Glorious day for football in the South. In short, this game won’t be Notre Dame-NC State.

NOTES:

-- While the Gamecocks are struggling offensively this season to put points on the scoreboard, they have scored 30+ points in five of the last seven meetings with Georgia. In the last seven meetings, the winning team has scored 35+ points six times.

-- The Gamecocks defense has held all five of its opponents to fewer points that they are averaging this season. Entering Week 6, USC ranked 6th in the SEC and 23rd in the country in scoring defense (18.6 ppg). Georgia is averaging 26.4 ppg.

-- Placekicker Elliott Fry enters Sunday’s game with 317 career points, 13 behind the school’s all-time points leader Collin Mackie (330). Fry is tied for 19th place on the SEC all-time scoring list. Fry has 60 career field goals.

-- ESPN.com’s Viewers’ Guide to USC-Georgia game: “This is a game that was moved back because of Hurricane Matthew, which also indefinitely postponed Florida's game with LSU. It will be interesting to see how Georgia bounces back after last week's painful Hail Mary loss to Tennessee after leading by 17 and almost winning on its own Hail Mary with 10 seconds left.”

-- CollegeFootballNews.com predicts a 26-16 Georgia victory: “It’s sure going to be interesting now that it’s on Sunday (afternoon). It’ll have its own sort of funky feel to it. Georgia will dominate the tempo and the game. South Carolina, for all its mucking up it does to keep games within range, doesn’t know how to go on long drives, much less long scoring drives. Georgia will have the ball for about 40 minutes. The Gamecocks simply won’t have enough chances offensively, and they won’t do enough with the chances they get.”

SEC WEEK 6 SCHEDULE (Oct. 8-9)

Sat., Oct. 8

Auburn 38, Mississippi State 14

Texas A&M 45, Tennessee 38 (2OT)

Kentucky 20, Vanderbilt 13

Alabama 49, Arkansas 30

LSU at Florida (PPD)

Sun., Oct. 9

Georgia at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m. (SEC Network)

BYE: Ole Miss (3-2), Missouri (2-3).

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