'Dawgs and Pokes duke it out in Athens

Aug 29, 2007, 15:30 GMT

Athens, GA - The Big 12 meets the SEC to open the 2007 football campaign, as the Georgia Bulldogs play host to the 13th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Last season, Oklahoma State finished a modest 7-6 overall, including a disappointing 3-5 in conference play. There is, however, reason to be optimistic, as the program has had back-to-back solid recruiting classes and welcomes back a number of starters on both sides of the ball. Mike Gundy is entering his third season as the head coach of the Cowboys, and he is two games under .500 at his current job.

As for the Bulldogs, they are led by seventh-year head coach Mark Richt who has compiled a 61-17 record at the school. Last season, Richt's squad won its first five contests, only to lose four of the next five. The schedule is tough once again, but there is reason to believe that this season will be more fruitful than last.

While both the Bulldogs and Cowboys have storied football histories, the two programs have never met on the gridiron.

Oklahoma State has a pair of standout performers on the offensive side of the ball in quarterback Bobby Reid and wideout Adarius Bowman. Last season, Reid racked up 24 touchdowns and 2,266 yards through the air while also running for 500 yards and five scores. His 2,766 yards of total offense was the second- highest total in program history. There is no reason to expect a decline, especially considering that top wideout [Bowman] is back in the fold. Bowman made 60 catches for 1,187 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and is one of the most potent big-play threats in the nation. Dantrell Savage is a player to watch in the backfield, as he has the potential to go the distance with every touch. Savage shouldn't have a problem finding running room on most Saturday's behind a line that welcomes back four starters, but Georgia represents a major challenge.

Last season, Oklahoma State ranked 89th nationally in total defense, so there isn't anywhere for the unit to go but up. Former Ohio State assistant Tim Beckman is now the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys, and he certainly has some work to do. There are seven starters back in place, and there is depth and talent at every position, but it remains to be seen if the unit is ready to take a major step forward. There are a few players worth noting, and Nathan Peterson certainly falls under that category. Last season, Peterson recorded eight sacks as a pass rush specialist, and he will attempt to become a more well-rounded defensive performer beginning in this first game. Sophomore linebacker Patrick Lavine posted 70 tackles a year ago, and he always seems to be around the football.

It is hard for any freshman to start at quarterback, let alone for an SEC team. That was the case for Georgias Matthew Stafford a year ago, and while he did experience some growing pains, the talented signal caller has all the tools needed to succeed. With 13 interceptions and only seven passing touchdowns as a rookie, Stafford has plenty of room for improvement, but he plays without fear and wants to make big plays through the air. He began taking better care of the ball toward the end of his freshman season and continued progress is expected. Clearly, all eyes will be on the signal caller in this opener. Mohamed Massaquoi is the top returning receiver with 30 grabs for 366 yards and two touchdowns. As for the UGA ground attack, Kregg Lumpkin and Thomas Brown are a pair of seniors capable of big numbers, while fullback Brennan Southerland remains one of the conferences most underrated performers.

With only three starters back on the defensive side of the ball, Georgia clearly has some questions to answer. Two of those three returnees are in the defensive backfield, so that can certainly be viewed as a piece of good news. Paul Oliver had three picks a year ago at his corner position, while safety Kelin Johnson is the leading returning tackler for Georgia with 60 stops. The hope is that a completely new group at linebacker and a revamped defensive line will provide immediate dividends. Marcus Howard will be a pass rush specialist, while Brandon Miller will be expected to stop the run from his middle linebacker position. Players like Miller and Howard must play up to their ability for Georgia to contend in the loaded SEC.

© 2007 The Sports Network