On Fridays, Ryan McGee will be previewing one of the weekend's top matchups by digging deep into the teams' rivalry and determining which one is set up for a brighter future going forward. From fan bases to coaching stability to recruiting success, he'll cover the rivalries from every angle.
This week, he's looking at the South Carolina Gamecocks and Georgia Bulldogs.
1. Recent performance
No, it's not South Carolina versus Clemson. And no, it's not Georgia versus Florida. But there are just enough pieces of both found within this matchup to make it one of the most underrated border battles of the rivalry-rich SEC.
Things are intensified this season heading into Saturday's matchup, which is already being hailed as the de facto SEC East championship game. Add in the fact that seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams have been decided by seven points or less, including three of the past four, and it's easy to see why fans of both teams are riled up ahead of Saturday's showdown.
But who holds the edge in this rivalry -- not as it pertains to this week, but going forward? The answer might surprise you. While the overall numbers lean heavily in favor of the Dawgs, South Carolina's recent success has made things very, very interesting.
2. Coaching stability
To read Ryan McGee's full evaluation of the South Carolina-Georgia rivalry, including his verdict on which program is better set up for future success, become an ESPN Insider today.
Ryan McGee | email
ESPN The Magazine, NASCAR- ESPN The Magazine senior writer
- 2-time Sports Emmy winner
- 2010 NMPA Writer of the Year
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ryan McGee
Ryan McGee is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. While you may know him for his extensive and very popular NASCAR coverage on this site and television, he's also been a constant in the Mag's coverage of college football. Why? Well, to wit:
• He started working in college athletic departments at 16 (Furman, Tennessee). Got his first sideline pass (UNC @ Virginia) when he was 12 and was totally run over by Tar Heels LB Micah Moon.
• His father was a college football official for 36 years (FBS 1981-2009), working 20 bowl games and two national championships.
• Ryan's a member of the FWAA (Football Writers Association of America).
• He's covered college football for ESPN The Magazine for the last five years.
• He's all over college sports -- Ryan authored "The Road To Omaha: Hits, Hopes and History at the College World Series."
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @ESPNMcGee
