Monday ‘Dawg Bites hung with you for a solid fifteen minutes there.

A solid week of work days stands between you and another Georgia football Saturday. But before you dive into the daily grind like an SEC official trying hard to figure out whether Richard Lecounte’s left index finger looks unsportsmanlike, let’s take stock of what’s going on in Bulldog Nation.

It sounds like Jeremy Pruitt is looking for positives from his team’s 43-14 loss at home to Georgia over the weekend, noting that his team “pushed them [Georgia] for a little bit there.” I’m sure at this point Volunteer fans will be willing to overlook the fact that they’ve got the only SEC team without a victory over a Power 5 opponent as long as they’re making teams work for it.

Our friends at Rocky Top Talk did find something to be excited about with the performance of freshman quarterback Brian Maurer. I agree that Maurer showed a lot of confidence on the night, but would also point out that’s not unusual with young signal callers who haven’t yet realized that confidence is that feeling you have before you know better. It’s a lot harder to just grip it and rip it when you’re being asked to also make a full compliment of check downs, and once opponents have a good base of film on you. For now though, Maurer shows at least as much promise as Jarrett Guarantano did as a freshman, and probably more.

We’re still waiting on definitive word on nose tackle Jordan Davis’s left leg injury from Saturday night (although I would say big men and ankle injuries can be a bad combo). As for the Gamecocks, they’re battling a characteristic slate of midseason injuries as well. Of those injuries the most immediately significant is starting offensive tackle Dylan Wonnum. But it’s also worth noting that second string QB Dakereon Joyner also appears limited. If something were to happen to starter Ryan Hilinski, it’s no stretch to say that Saturday could turn downhill in a hurry for the Columbians if they’re choosing between an injury-limited second stringer and the third guy on the depth chart.

As it is Georgia opens as a 24 point favorite over the Fightin’ Muschamps. As has been discussed on these digital pages Kirby Smart has demonstrated little regard for point spreads during his time in Athens, and I could easily see Georgia leading this one late before giving up a score to win by 20 or 21. If you’re a bettor, I think there may be easier money to be made this week.

In other news, in case you missed it, Cincinnati not only beat the University of Disney at Orlando on the field on Friday night, they also won the troll wars afterward.

I’m not saying this is now a Cincinnati Bearcats blog. But I’m not saying it couldn’t become a Cincinnati Bearcats blog. Y’all have yourselves a Monday. Until later . . .

Go ‘Dawgs!!!