Final from Athens: Georgia 24, South Carolina 10

[jbcarol]

No. 1 Georgia and South Carolina.

Kickoff time: 3:30 p.m.

TV: CBS (Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, Rick Neuheisel, John Schriffen)

Historically, Georgia has had South Carolina's number with a 49-18-2 all-time lead in the rivalry. The series dates all the way back to 1894. Georgia has won the previous two games and three out of the last four against the Gamecocks.

Last meeting: Georgia defeated South Carolina 28-14 last season on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. The game was pushed back to a Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew coming through the area during the week.

Georgia's season thus far: Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) was tabbed the No. 1 team in the nation by the College Football Playoff selection committee Tuesday, which is the first time the Bulldogs have been given a top-overall ranking since the AP and coaches polls gave them this designation before the 2008 season started. Georgia has blown out seven of its eight opponents, including a 42-7 walloping of Florida. The lone close game the Bulldogs have played was in the second week of the season against Notre Dame. Georgia escaped South Bend, Indiana, with a 20-19 win. The Fighting Irish are considered the College Football Playoff selection committee's No. 3 team.

South Carolina's season thus far: South Carolina (6-2, 4-2) is riding a three-game winning streak, with victories over Arkansas, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

[jbcarol]

SC 7  UG 7  11:45 2nd

[jbcarol]

SC 7  UG 14  9:27 2nd

[jbcarol]

 Ace Sanders‏Verified account @WhyNot8Teen 11m11 minutes ago

14-7 at half? I'll take that ! Let's go

[jbcarol]

 Chuck Dunlap‏Verified account @SEC_Chuck 9m9 minutes ago

Georgia wins the SEC East and officially advances to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta - first appearance for UGA since 2012

[jbcarol]

 GoGamecocks‏Verified account @gogamecocks 46m46 minutes ago

South Carolina stays close but can't topple Georgia http://scne.ws/PzGHfS  #thestate #gg

[jbcarol]

 GoGamecocks‏Verified account @gogamecocks 2m2 minutes ago

South Carolina is 6-3 and has three games remaining in the 2017 regular season. All three games are at Williams-Brice Stadium.

[jbcarol]

Morale [sic] victory?

Michael Carvell‏ @Michael_Carvell

Against Georgia, proof of progress evident for South Carolina, even in 24-10 loss

Outside of those with large amounts of garnet and black in their wardrobe, it was hard to find anyone who gave them much of a chance. South Carolina entered Sanford Stadium as a 24-point underdog to the team ranked No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff poll. The Gamecocks left with a defeat but also with one of the program's more tangible signs of progress under coach Will Muschamp...

And given how these same Gamecocks fared in similar atmospheres a year ago — well, it was difficult to not see growth, even in a 24-10 loss.

Before a crowd of 92,746 and against a team capable of winning the national championship, South Carolina never looked scared. Short of enough weapons to win, maybe, and with a defense forced to spend a little too much time on the field in the second half, but never wide-eyed or out of place. Bentley doesn't get hit on a second-quarter pass attempt to an open Bryan Edwards on a deep route, and the teams perhaps go to the locker room tied.

Such a scenario was only a fantasy to South Carolina in similar environments last season. At a 22nd-ranked Florida team that would claim the SEC East crown — clearly much better days for the Gators, even though it wasn't even a year ago —