November: A fine time for a paycheck game

Yeah so this is a little weird. All of the buildup of exciting SEC games, the state championship and conference title games around the corner, but first, an FCS team.

This is one of the quirks of the new 14-team SEC schedule. There are only three conference games this week (Arkansas vs. Miss. St, Ole Miss vs. LSU, Tennessee vs Vanderbilt). Everybody else is playing a crypt game (I stole this from my dad, it's hard to explain, but tell your friends it means an easy game). A bunch of September games, just with no leaves and no humidity.

For the record, the last time Georgia played a team that wasn't in the SEC before Georgia Tech was in 1958 when Coach Wally Butts and Co. took care of The Citadel 76-0.

The Dawgs did play Idaho State between Florida and Auburn in 2010 (55-7 Final). That also was a little awkward.

But the Georgia coaches have made sure the SEC East champions don't screw around with this one (because it would be hard to play for the BCS Championship if you lose to Ga. Southern).

The Dawgs have had four full-contact practices this week. Usually they have one.

Fortunately there will be no need for scoreboard watching. The unbeaten teams ranked ahead of Georgia all play later.

Batting practice for that other in-state game

But if you have to schedule a game for the next-to-last week of the season. It might as well be the world's greatest scout team for your next opponent.

 As you may have heard, Georgia Tech runs a unique little triple option game.

So does Georgia Southern.

The Eagles (8-2, 6-2 Southern Conference, No. 7 ranking in FCS) dominated their class when current Jackets coach Paul Johnson was running his stuff in Statesboro. He led them to five playoffs appearances in five years and two Division 1-AA national titles.

Now head coach Jeff Monken is trying to replicate those glory years with a similar style. 

Monken worked for Paul Johnson at Tech, Navy and Southern. So he's brought the same playbook back with him to Statesboro.

They are pretty good at it too, rushing for 401 yards per game (that's right). Of course they only complete about three passes per game, but still. 400 yards is 400 yards.

Tech is the only team that does this in major college football. So this is a pretty good way to get ready.

QB Jerick McKinnon (So. Sprayberry HS in Marietta) is the leading rusher with 1122 yards. RB Dominique Swope (So. Buford) is second with 832 yards in eight games.

Southern has never beaten an FBS opponent, but they scored 21 points on Alabama last year, which was more than anyone else did.

Georgia's D has only allowed two TDs in the last three games, but that might be tough this week.

Expect the Eagles to play the Dawgs closer than Auburn did.

Could be another big day for Georgia's offense

The Eagles don't run across many QBs like Aaron Murray in the Southern Conference.

Georgia Southern is allowing 20 points per game to their conference opponents, which is ok. But they have allowed 88 points in their last three games to Chattanooga, Appalachian State and Howard.

Meanwhile, Georgia is putting up almost 37 a game and is 5th in the nation in passing efficiency.

Murray has thrown three touchdowns or more in five games this season and has three 300 yard passing games.

He also has some history ahead of him. Murray's 83 passing TDs puts him fourth on the all-time list for the SEC. Chris Leak and Tim Tebow are tied for third with 88. Peyton Manning is second with 89, while Danny Wuerffel leads with 114.

Speaking of milestones, Georgia own running attack isn't too bad either.

Freshman Todd Gurley could make history in the first series. He needs 27 more yards to cross the 1,000 yard.  He will  be the 11th Dawg to do so and first since Knowshon Moreno in 2008. He would also become only the second true freshman to pull it off (perhaps you've heard of the other guy named Walker who had 1,616).

He's the SEC leader in rushing yards per game (97.3). Not a bad start.

Meanwhile, the other freshman Keith Marshall has had four runs of 50 yards or more this season, including the 62 yarder against the Tigers last week. He's  tied for second nationally in that category. 

Don't get hurt. Period.

That's always the danger in games like this. Especially with Southern's cut-blocking, ball-control offense.

The Dawgs have lost four players to injury this season.

LB Chase Vasser decided Wednesday to undergo shoulder surgery next week. He's been out since Week 7.

WR Marlon Brown and Michael Bennett are also on the shelf, along with DE Abry Jones. Even though Richt thinks Jones could play in the bowl game.