ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 10-4
2011 conference record: 7-1 (T-1st)
Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 9; kicker/punter: 0

Top returners:

QB Aaron Murray, OLB Jarvis Jones, S Bacarri Rambo, S Shawn Williams, LB Alec Ogletree, RB Isaiah Crowell, WR Tavarres King, N John Jenkins, CB Sanders Commings, DE Abry Jones

Key losses:

OT Cordy Glenn, C Ben Jones, CB Brandon Boykin, TE Orson Charles, K Blair Walsh, P Drew Butler, OT Justin Anderson, DE DeAngelo Tyson

2011 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Isaiah Crowell* (850 yards)
Passing: Aaron Murray* (3,149 yards)
Receiving: Tavarres King* (705 yards)
Tackles: Shawn Williams* (72)
Sacks: Jarvis Jones* (13.5)
Interceptions: Bacarri Rambo* (8)

Spring answers

1. Mitchell joins defense: Georgia’s coaching staff planned to experiment with receiver Malcolm Mitchell as a two-way player even before several members of the Bulldogs’ secondary ran into disciplinary trouble. Now Mitchell’s services are a necessity on defense rather than a luxury. He will probably play defense almost exclusively in the first few games and convinced his coaches that he should fare well there after becoming one of the Bulldogs’ breakout offensive stars last year as a freshman.

2. Washington, Drew shift to end: Georgia’s depth was a bit thin at defensive end, but outside linebackers Cornelius Washington and Ray Drew cross-trained there during spring practice, which should also bolster the Bulldogs’ pass rush off the edge. Washington lamented that he was picking up the position slowly during the spring, but he had worked his way into a starting position and earned widespread praise for his work at end by the G-Day game.

3. Tight end turnover: With Orson Charles leaving Georgia after his junior year and Aron White and Bruce Figgins exhausting their eligibility, one of the Bulldogs’ least experienced positions is tight end. However, Arthur Lynch and redshirt freshman Jay Rome made it clear that the position is still in good hands. Rome, ESPN’s top-rated tight end in the 2011 signing class, caught a 66-yard touchdown in the final minute of the G-Day game.

Fall questions

1. Offensive line: Coach Will Friend began determining a pecking order on his rebuilt line this spring, but the competition will likely carry over into the season. When the Bulldogs closed spring practice, Kenarious Gates and Kolton Houston manned the tackle spots with Chris Burnette and Dallas Lee at guard and David Andrews at center. That lineup is subject to change, particularly with stud offensive line signee John Theus set to join the competition when he arrives this summer. Mark Beard, Watts Dantzler and Austin Long are also worth watching.

2. Special teams: Not only was Georgia’s kick coverage incompetent last season -- the Bulldogs were 116th nationally in punt return yardage defense and 88th against kickoffs -- but the Bulldogs must replace longtime starting kicker and punter Blair Walsh and Drew Butler. The Bulldogs signed Marshall Morgan and Collin Barber to take over for the departed kickers and Coach Mark Richt promised that the Bulldogs will work more on live kicking situations in preseason camp than perhaps any previous time in his tenure.

3. Secondary: This appears to be a temporary problem, with starters Sanders Commings, Bacarri Rambo and Branden Smith facing possible disciplinary suspensions to open the season. Mitchell’s shift to cornerback will help Damian Swann and Devin Bowman hold down the position until Commings and Smith return. Depth will also be an early issue at safety without Rambo. Commings, who will sit out the first two games, has safety experience, but few other Bulldogs have played significant downs at the position besides Rambo and Shawn Williams. Corey Moore is a player to watch here.

We all know that defense wins championships and the SEC is very much a testament to that. Alabama possessed the nation's No. 1 defense last season and now possesses another national championship. Runner-up LSU ranked second nationally.

Alabama ran away with the crown as the nation's and the SEC's best defense, but that title is for the taking in 2012. Alabama is down key players from last year's squad, like linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive tackle Josh Chapman, and defensive backs Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, and DeQuan Menzie.

Alabama's defense isn't as green as the 2010 group, but it's still drawing some comparisons to it. That's exactly what the Tide wants to hear. Nico Johnson seems primed to be a true leader at linebacker, while Adrian Hubbard could be a budding star at Upshaw's old position. Defensive backs Robert Lester and Dee Milliner are back and will be joined by a couple of JUCO standouts and talented sophomores Vinnie Sunseri and Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix. Jesse Williams could be a real force at defensive tackle along with end Damion Square.

Then you have LSU. The Tigers lost All-World cornerback Morris Claiborne to the NFL draft and two starting linebackers. Michael Brockers is gone at defensive tackle as well. But LSU is still loaded. The Tigers return Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon, who should be fine with an expanded role at cornerback. Junior Kevin Minter really stepped up at linebacker last year and should pick up right where he left off. Even without Brockers, the line is solid with future first-rounder Sam Montgomery at one end position and the underrated Barkevious Mingo at the other. The two combined for 17 sacks last season.

Bennie Logan and Anthony Johnson should provide some meat nastiness in the interior, while the very talented Eric Reid is back at free safety.

Georgia and South Carolina both finished the 2011 season ranked in the top five nationally in total defense. South Carolina was third, while Georgia was fifth, respectively. The Gamecocks lost first-round defensive end Melvin Ingram, but return freshman standout Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor, who many thought would be better than Ingram last season. Kelcy Quarles is back at defensive tackle and the coaches think he'll be even better in his second year.

Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens, who combined for 96 tackles last year, will grab time at linebacker again, while the very athletic DeVonte Holloman returns to the Spur for his senior year. There are questions in the secondary, but seniors D.J. Swearinger (safety) and Akeem Auguste (cornerback) return.

Georgia returns nine defensive starters. Brandon Boykin is gone at corner, and the Bulldogs will enter the fall with a lot questions in the secondary, especially with starters Branden Smith, Sanders Commings and Bacarri Rambo suspended to start the season. Star freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell moved to corner this spring and fits right in, but there are depth issues at the position.

Other than that, the Bulldogs are still pretty stacked. Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree will serve a suspension to start the year, but Georgia will fill his spot by committee. Mike Gilliard, Cornelius Washington, Christian Robinson, Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson provide Georgia with a very solid linebacking unit alongside star Jarvis Jones, who racked up 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Georgia's defensive line should also be pretty stout with the massive John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers battling in the middle. Abry Jones really progressed at end as well this spring.

Or maybe someone else will step up and take the crown ...

David Ching writes : This summer's influx of new freshmen, including ILB Leonard Floyd, will only bolster Todd Grantham's masterful orchestration of carefully moving parts in the UGA defense.

Kipp Adams writes : With junior Arthur Lynch as the only returning TE with game experience, the Bulldogs are hoping to add another elite prospect in the 2013 recruiting class -- perhaps former Georgia resident Hunter Henry -- to keep the pipeline going.

And: Kipp Adams, Monday chat transcript

Kipp Adams writes: Athlete J.J. Green wasn't sure he would commit to the Bulldogs -- until he visited Georgia. The talented two-way player sealed the deal Monday with a verbal commitment.

Adams : With three commits Friday, UGA's Class of 2013 is filling up fast. ESPN 150 Watch List member Reggie Carter didn't want to miss out, so he joined in Monday as the Bulldogs’ No. 13 commit.

Adams: DawgNation’s "Five guys" – a watch list of who’s next for potential in-state UGA offers.

Adams : After being somewhat adamant in December that he wanted to play football anywhere but at home in Georgia, DL Montravius Adams is singing a different tune now.

David Ching writes : With leaders including stalwart nose guards John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers, UGA's already impressive D-line is building on its strengths -- and terrorizing the O-line.

Ching : Cornelius Washington is splitting time at DE this spring, and teammates and coaches expect him to be "a monster" once he gets comfortable in his dual role.

Radi Nabulsi: Georgia’s Abry Jones talks D-line and "chippy" spring practice.

David Ching writes : All-freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who was a coveted DB in high school, is nonetheless dealing with a huge adjustment as he works his way into Todd Grantham's defense.

Kipp Adams writes : Georgia and Grantham will have to hit the recruiting trail hard this year in order to fill some pending big holes along the defensive line.

Ching: UGA coaches are working on beefing up the entire defensive line.

Ching: Day 2, UGA spring practice.

Schedule: Georgia begins spring practice March 20 and concludes with the G-Day Game, 2 p.m. ET April 14 at Sanford Stadium.

What's new: For the first time in a long time, the Bulldogs enter spring ball without any coaching changes. Georgia let its coaches know how much the 2011 season meant by giving extensions to head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The Bulldogs also went through mat drills before spring practice, something they didn't do last year. Georgia welcomed three early enrollees in running back Keith Marshall, quarterback Faton Bauta and junior college offensive lineman Mark Beard.

On the mend: Wide receiver Chris Conley could be limited this spring with a wrist injury. Also, outside linebacker/defensive end Sterling Bailey had foot surgery in December and could be limited. Receiver Rantavious Wooten is coming off of a season in which he battled concussion symptoms for most of the year after being in a car accident, but he's expected to be completely recovered this spring.

On the move: One of the biggest moves in the SEC revolves around receiver Malcolm Mitchell. After quite the freshman season, Mitchell will work at cornerback this spring, because Georgia's numbers there are so low. Mitchell was one of the best in the conference at receiver in 2011, but with Georgia needing more help at cornerback, he could see more playing time on defense rather than offense this fall. Bailey was listed as an outside linebacker last season, but there's a chance that he could move to defensive end this spring. Ray Drew will also get more reps at defensive end, after playing outside linebacker last fall. He's likely to get more reps than Bailey, considering he played more and Bailey is recovering from surgery. Richard Samuel, who moved back to running back from linebacker last fall, could get reps at fullback as well.

Questions: The cornerback spot will be very thin heading into the 2012 season. Thanks to attrition, dismissals and suspensions, Mitchell moved to corner. There is starting experience, but depth is an issue, and Sander Commings has been suspended for the first two games. With Commings and Branden Smith the only vets, Georgia will have to rely on youngsters will little experience this spring. Damian Swann, Devin Bowman and Blake Sailors will have to grow up fast. The offensive line lost starters Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Justin Anderson, and returns zero seniors this season. All 14 who will partake in spring practice are underclassmen. The good news is that there is depth, and a lot of players can play different positions, but it's a pretty inexperienced group. Chris Burnette, Kenarious Gates and Dallas Lee all started games last season, but they'll have to coach up a lot of younger players this spring. And you can't forget about the running back spot. Isaiah Crowell has vowed to work harder, and has had the most time since he arrived to be healthy, so a big spring is expected. He'll need it, with Marshall on campus and ready to see a lot some time this fall.

Getting defensive: The Bulldogs return nine defensive starters from a unit that ranked fifth nationally last season. Those returners include the SEC's top sack man in linebacker Jarvis Jones. Complementing Jones on what is arguably the SEC's top linebacking unit are Alec Oglreetree, Cornelius Washington, and Mike Gilliard. The massive John Jenkins is back at nose guard, and Abry Jones, who is coming off a solid 2011, is back at end. There certainly are questions in the secondary, but having starters Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams, Smith, and eventually Commings, will help tremendously

Don't forget about: With defense being in Mitchell's future, Georgia's offense will take a hit, but the Bulldogs aren't without bodies at receiver. Mitchell is easily Georgia's best receiver, but there is still some good talent behind him. Tavarres King hopes his bowl performance is a springboard for this season. He didn't put up stellar numbers, but became a more reliable target in the second half of the season. Then you have Michael Bennett, who really came on as a third option at receiver, catching 32 passes and five touchdowns. Conley will be limited, but proved to be a trusted target last season. Of course, Wooten and Marlon Brown are still looking to put everything together, but time is ticking for these two vets. It's time for them to step up this spring, and the coaches feel both have the physical tools and understand the offense enough to make it happen.

Breaking out: Brown appears to be the healthiest he's been since arriving in Athens. The coaches have been waiting and waiting for him to step up and be a force in the passing game, but he's been so off-and-on during his career. He enters the spring with high expectations from the coaching staff, and his quarterback, Aaron Murray, has a lot of confidence in him. Tight ends Jay Rome and Arthur Lynch are players who could break through this spring, especially with Mitchell working on defense. Rome and Lynch will be looking to replace Orson Charles' production. Running back Ken Malcolme is another player to keep an eye on. His attitude has changed, and he will push to be the second or third running back. Defensively, linebacker Cornelius Washington is another players the coaches hope elevates his play this spring and finally reaches his potential.

All eyes on: Murray is coming off two seasons in which he broke Georgia passing records, but the redshirt junior still hears some criticism. His play in big games has been called into question because of the mistakes he's made. Georgia opened the season with two losses against ranked teams, and ended the season that way. In Murray's past four games, he threw eight touchdowns and six interceptions, including two interceptions in the SEC title-game loss against LSU, and two in the Outback Bowl loss to Michigan State. Improving the little things and trusting those around him more will help Murray tremendously this spring. He'll also have the responsibility of making sure this team is mentally ready for all the hype and the spotlight that will come with a team that will surely be a favorite in the SEC East this fall.

We move to linebackers today in our postseason position rankings.

Defensive lines are very important in this league, but there are other guys in the box who have to be pretty reliable as well in this league. This league has done a pretty solid job of producing some top talent at this position as well.

You can see what are preseason linebacker rankings looked like here.

And here are our postseason rankings:

1. Alabama: This unit was at the top of our preseason rankings and didn't budge throughout the season. When you have two All-Americans in Courtney Upshaw, who was the defensive MVP in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game, and Dont'a Hightower it's pretty understandable to see why. Those two combined for 136 tackles, including 29 for loss. Nico Johnson was fourth on the team in tackles, while C.J. Mosley added 37 of his own. Alabama's defense was first nationally in total defense and first in rushing defense, allowing 74.2 yards per game.

2. Georgia: Linebackers are essential to any 3-4 defense, and the Bulldogs' group did quite well in 2011. Georgia ended up with one of the nation's best linebackers in Jarvis Jones, who led the SEC with 19 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He also had 49 quarterback hurries. Michael Gilliard was third on the team behind Jones with 65 tackles. While Alec Ogletree missed part of the first half of the season, the speedster still finished with 52 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. Cornelius Washington, Amarlo Herrera Christian Robinson combined to add 101 more tackles, as Georgia's defense ranked fifth nationally.

3. Arkansas: Arkansas' defense had a lot of bend in it last season, but the linebackers found ways to make plays. Newcomer Alonzo Highsmith was third on the team with 80 tackles, led with 12.5 tackles for loss and had 4.5 sacks. The star continued to be Jerry Franklin, who led the team in tackles (101) for the fourth straight year. Then there was Jerico Nelson, who was all over the field as that hybrid linebacker/safety. He came away with 70 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. Ross Rasner, who played outside with Nelson, added 53 more tackles and two sacks.

4. Florida: The Gators' defense ranked eighth nationally in part because of the aggressive play of its front seven. Jon Bostic commanded the middle, leading the team with 94 tackles, including 10 for loss. Jelani Jenkins seemed to come more into his own outside, finishing third on the team in tackles. The big surprise was Lerentee McCray, who played both Sam linebacker and the hybrid Buck. He was one of Florida's most active linebackers and grabbed 7.5 tackles for loss. Ronald Powell started at the Buck, but saw most of his production from defensive end.

5. Vanderbilt: The Commodores entered the season needing to replace three starting linebackers and ended the year with a very impressive linebacking corps. It was led by vet Chris Marve, who was 10th in the league in tackles. Archibald Barnes had a solid year at the Will, ranking fourth on the team in tackles and grabbing two interceptions. Chase Garnham and Al Owens manned the Sam position and combined for 72 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. Against conference foes, Vandy's rush defense ranked fourth in the league.

6. LSU: The Tigers were in search of that dominant middle linebacker all season and might have found a budding star in Kevin Minter, really grew into the position by the end of the season and was fifth on the team in tackles. He started 11 games, but shared time with Karnell Hatcher, who finished with 24 tackles. Ryan Baker was LSU's best linebacker, was an outstanding leader and was fourth on the team with 64 tackles. Stefoin Francois was the starter at Sam, but he accumulated just 11 tackles, while backup Tahj Jones registered 27. Still, LSU owned the No. 2 national defense.

7. South Carolina: The Gamecocks saw improvement from this group as the season went on. While the defensive line got a ton of credit, the linebackers did their part in securing the defense's No. 3 national ranking. Antonio Allen spent some time in the box at the Spur position and led South Carolina with 88 tackles and had 9.5 for loss. Rodney Paulk and Shaq Wilson, who returned from injury, rotated at the Mike and combined for 109 tackles. Will linebacker Reginald Bowens added 44 tackles.

8. Kentucky: The Wildcats owned the SEC's top tackler in Danny Trevathan (143), who should have received more national attention. Trevathan was one of the most active defenders around at the Will. Winston Guy played the hybrid linebacker/safety and was third in the SEC with 120 tackles. Ronnie Sneed added 71 more tackles. Kentucky's defense was much more aggressive under new defensive coordinator Rick Minter and got more exotic looks from its linebackers.

9. Mississippi State: Cameron Lawrence was a beast for the Bulldogs in 2011. He was second in the SEC with 123 tackles, and had 49 solo. Senior Brandon Wilson added 94 more tackles. Brandon Maye, who transferred from Clemson, was expected to make a bigger impact for the Bulldogs, but played behind Wilson and was 11th on the team in tackles. Sophomore Deontae Skinner added 69 tackles and Mississippi State ranked in the bottom half of the SEC in total defense.

10. Tennessee: The Vols' top three tacklers were linebackers. The leader was senior Austin Johnson, who finished the season with 81 tackles, including 41 solo. Next were two true freshmen on the outside in A.J. Johnson (80) and Curt Maggitt (56). Both freshmen experienced up-and-down seasons, but were SEC All-Freshman selections. Herman Lathers, who was a projected started, missed 2011 with a fractured ankle, and after the big three, the Vols didn't get a ton out of their linebackers, as Dontavis Sapp was their next most productive linebacker with 20 tackles.

11. Auburn: The Tigers' defense really struggled in 2011 and gave up more than 200 rushing yards a contest. Auburn had to basically start over at linebacker, but lone returning starter Daren Bates had a heck of a year, ranking fourth in the league with 104 tackles. He really tried to make sure he played all over the field last fall. After that, the play was up-and-down. Senior Eltoro Freeman took over in the middle halfway into the year and finished with 58 tackles, while Jake Holland and Jonathan Evans combined for 83 tackles.


12. Ole Miss: The Rebels' defense had all sorts of problems defensively, including allowing 256.5 yards per game and 21 rushing touchdowns. The linebackers took a major hit with the absence of D.T. Shackelford, who missed the season with a knee injury. Mike Marry stepped up at the Mike and led Ole Miss with 81 tackles and five for loss. Freshman Serderius Bryant and junior Joel Kight combined for 122 tackles. Damien Jackson played the Spur and added 64 tackles, but Ole Miss' defense ranked dead last in the SEC.

We're almost done with the work week, so here are some SEC links to keep our SEC faithful happy.

• Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rodgers is helping to relieve some stress by doing yoga.
• Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn's star hasn't faded, but that doesn't mean that he'll leave the Tigers after this season.
• Georgia linebacker Cornelius Washington looks to move on after his arrest.
• Even with Vanderbilt two wins away from being bowl eligible, coach James Franklin is ignoring the bowl talk for now.
• Mississippi State is looking to fix its red zone issues.
• Arkansas' rush defense faces another challenge this weekend against Vanderbilt.
• South Carolina wide receiver Bruce Ellington was held out of practice Wednesday because of a tweaked hamstring, but he should be good to go Saturday.
• Florida's defense is in a desperate search of forcing more turnovers.
• Kentucky running back CoShik Williams has his head in the right place at the right time.
• LSU has an Alabama state of mind.
• Ole Miss is searching for a cure for its second-half blues.

The boost that Florida's offense is getting this weekend with the return of quarterback John Brantley is matched by the boost Georgia's defense will get with the return of inside linebacker Alec Ogletree.

Ogletree broke his right foot in the season opener against Boise State and hasn't played since. He's the Bulldogs' hardest hitter, the kind of big-play defender who can change a game with one blow and a piece of the puzzle that's been missing for the Bulldogs these past six games.

Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will tell you that Ogletree was his best football player before the injury. If he's indeed all the way back, then he should take a Georgia defense that's steadily improved and played well in his absence to a defense capable of being dominant.

One of the keys to the Bulldogs' five-game winning streak has been how well they've held up defensively despite some of the injuries and the two-game suspension of junior outside linebacker Cornelius Washington, who's one of the team's best pass-rushers.

Washington is back this week, and along with Ogletree, should give the Bulldogs their most disruptive front seven since the season opener. Getting Ogletree and Washington back also helps counter not having noseguard Kwame Geathers and safety Shawn Williams for the first half against Florida after they were suspended by the SEC for their actions in the Vanderbilt game.

Overall, this is a mentally tougher Georgia defense than a year ago and a defense that has bought into Grantham's system and his physical approach. It's also a defense that should play with even more of an edge now that the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Ogletree is back in the middle.

Are we really a week away from the midway point of the season?

Time flies when you’re having fun, and it’s always a lot of fun to gauge the temperature in this league with our weekly Hot and Not thermometer:

GLOWING EMBERS

Alabama’s offensive line: If you enjoy watching old-school, hit-'em-in-the-mouth football, then you absolutely love watching Alabama play offense. The Crimson Tide don’t do much of anything fancy, but they come off the ball on every down and keep pounding until the other team’s spirit breaks. They also have the ultimate weapon in the backfield (Trent Richardson) and are really starting to settle in as a unit right now up front. The two veterans -- left tackle Barrett Jones and center William Vlachos -- are both playing at an extremely high level. Vlachos was a man inside against the interior of that Florida defense last Saturday, and he’s also a reminder that it’s not about how good you look physically or what kind of frame you have, but how well you play, how smart you play and the leverage you play with.

HOT

Alabama’s run defense: Good luck in trying to run the ball against this bunch. The Crimson Tide lead the country in rushing defense, allowing just 39.6 yards per game. That’s nearly 20 yards fewer than the No. 2 team nationally (Virginia Tech). Alabama held Florida to 15 rushing yards on 29 attempts. That's after after holding Arkansas to 17 yards on 19 attempts the week before.

NOT

Kentucky’s offense: The only two FBS teams ranked lower than Kentucky in total offense are Florida Atlantic and Kent State. That’s not the kind of company you want to be keeping. The Wildcats are averaging 255.6 yards in total offense and have been limited to nine touchdowns in five games. In their 35-7 loss to LSU last Saturday, they managed just 155 yards and only had 59 through three quarters.

HOT

Arkansas’ pride: The Hogs were already coming off a deflating loss at Alabama where they got pushed around physically. The same thing happened in the first half last Saturday against Texas A&M, but Arkansas showed some serious grit and determination in rallying from an 18-point deficit at the half to win a game that tells you all you need to know about the level of pride in the Hogs’ program.

NOT

Georgia outside linebacker Cornelius Washington: He’s coming off the best game of his career against Mississippi State and figures to play a key role this coming Saturday against Tennessee’s passing game. So what does he do to celebrate? He goes out and gets arrested on DUI charges and will now be watching the Vols’ game from home.

HOT

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray: Try finding a hotter passer over the past 10 games than Bray. He leads the SEC this season with 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in four games. Over his past 10 games dating to last season, Bray has thrown 32 touchdown passes. Now, that’s what you call slinging it.

NOT

Marcus Lattimore against Auburn: Even the great running backs aren’t going to have big games every week in this league. That said, Auburn seems to have Lattimore’s number. In three games against the Tigers, Lattimore is averaging just 61 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry. He didn’t have a run longer than 15 yards in last Saturday’s 16-13 loss to the Tigers.

HOT

LSU’s defensive fury: The Tigers don’t just try to stop people on defense. They try to dismantle them. Through five games, LSU has forced 12 turnovers and also has 12 sacks and is tied for the lead nationally with 44 tackles for loss. John Chavis’ group is a load to move the ball against, but the Tigers are even better when it comes to taking the ball away and creating negative plays.

NOT

Belief in Auburn: Obviously, those on the Plains are the only ones who have any genuine belief in this Auburn football team. The Tigers are reveling in proving the “haters” wrong. They’re coming off a huge win at South Carolina and continue to be masterful at finding ways to win. Gene Chizik has now won his past 10 games that were decided by a touchdown or less.

FREEZER BURN

South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia: It’s not often that somebody makes a repeat appearance in the “freezer burn” section of Hot and Not. But how do you get around it with Garcia, who’s now thrown 14 interceptions in his past seven games dating to last season? Steve Spurrier was going to hang with Garcia as long as the Gamecocks kept hanging on to win. But now that they’ve lost, it looks like Garcia will be watching the next game from the sideline. The Head Ball Coach is apparently going to give sophomore Connor Shaw a chance. It’s unfair to place all of the blame for the Gamecocks’ offensive struggles on Garcia's shoulders. But to be a fifth-year senior, he’s made some inexplicable decisions and some even worse throws. Even the routine throws have become an adventure. It was a gamble to bring Garcia back in the first place after five suspensions. You wonder now if the Head Ball Coach wishes he’d never rolled those dice.

Georgia outside linebacker Cornelius Washington was arrested early Sunday and charged with speeding and driving under the influence.

Washington was pulled over after driving 92 mph in a 55-mph zone.

The starter is coming off of a game in which he registered two sacks in Georgia's 24-10 win against Mississippi State.

We aren't sure what will happen to Washington, but school policy for a first-time drug or alcohol offender calls for a suspension of 10 percent of the regular season, so Washington could miss at least a game.

And what a big game the Bulldogs have this Saturday.

Georgia, riding a three-game winning streak and very much back in the East race, heads to Tennessee for a game that could make Georgia the outright favorite in the East if it wins. With the shape that South Carolina and Florida are in, a win in Knoxville will go a long way this season.

But what an awful time for the Bulldogs to have a distraction like this. The last thing a hot team wants is a momentum-killer and having one of your fastest defenders make a boneheaded mistake like this could do that.

No. 5 Boise State and No. 19 Georgia square off Saturday night in one of the top nonconference games of the season. So who is going to win and why? How about a little debate between college football nation blogger Andrea Adelson and SEC blogger Edward Aschoff.

Andrea Adelson: So I hear you want to debate me on Boise State versus Georgia, Edward. I am glad to see you are not too scared to take on a little sister of the poor. Now I know you are new around these parts, but that does not mean little sister here is going to take it easy on you. I am in this debate to win it, just like Boise State has agreed to travel across the country to play in what is hilariously called a "neutral-site game" in Atlanta to play Georgia. The Broncos are in this to win it, and to show -- yet again -- they can beat the so-called big boys. Wait. What? Oh, right. You are going to bring up 2005, and the 48-13 shellacking Georgia delivered to Boise State. Well, if I am not mistaken, this is 2011 and Boise State has a fellow named Kellen Moore at quarterback. He just finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy race. Advantage, Boise State. Tell me where Georgia has an advantage.

Edward Aschoff: No, I won't bring up that 2005 game where the Broncos didn't belong on the same field. I also don't need to bring up that the Broncos are 0-4 all-time against SEC opponents -- all of those losses came in the past decade. But what are Georgia's obvious advantages? Well, besides the fact this game is going to literally be played in Georgia's backyard, the Bulldogs have tremendous speed on defense. Speed that I don't think Boise's offense can match. Georgia has one of the most athletic front sevens in the league. Boise's line is going to have to try to stop the likes of Kwame Geathers and big ol' John Jenkins in the interior. Together, they weigh close to 700 pounds. Plus, DeAngelo Tyson is going to drive tackles crazy on the outside. But even if the Broncos manage to squeeze by that front line, they'll have to meet one of the fastest linebacker corps around. Alec Ogletree dropped down into the box from safety and can absolutely fly around the field to make plays. With Christian Robinson joining him in the middle and the likes of Jarvis Jones and Cornelius Washington in there, the Broncos are going to need jet packs to get through the box. Kellen Moore might be back, but without Titus Young or Austin Pettis (142 catches, 2,166 yards and 19 touchdowns gone) to throw to, Boise is going to have to rely more on its running game and that wreaks of trouble.

AA: Does it, Edward? Doug Martin is one of the most underrated running backs in the nation, running for 1,260 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, averaging 6.3 yards a carry. Forget all that mumbo jumbo about playing against bottom-feeders. Scouts Inc. lists Martin as the top senior running back available in the 2012 NFL draft. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.48. Same time as Arkansas running back Knile Davis, and faster than Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Martin also ranks No. 2 in the Scouts Inc. power/balance evaluation and No. 1 in competitiveness. I should also mention he is a terrific pass-catcher, with 28 receptions last year for 338 yards. His offensive line also has a stud in left tackle Nate Potter, who made the ESPN.com preseason All-America team. Mel Kiper lists Potter as one of the top senior offensive tackles in the nation as well. So your argument about the plodding, unathletic Broncos makes little sense. Boise State is way more athletic than UCF, and I do recall the Knights beat Georgia last season.

EA: While we're discussing future NFL prospects, you might as well look at Georgia's offensive line. The same Scouts Inc. that you referred to ranks senior Cordy Glenn as the top-rated guard in the 2012 draft and senior Ben Jones as the top center. Glenn could have easily left school early for the NFL, but will be lining up at left tackle for the Dawgs on Saturday. Good luck to those Broncos trying to get by deceptively agile 6-foot-5, 348-pound monster. Also, left guard Kenarious Gates isn't well known yet, but he's extremely athletic and can move along the line if needed. Those guys will be blocking for the SEC's best quarterback in Aaron Murray, who set all sorts for school and SEC freshman records in passing and total yardage in 2010. He'll have one of the nation's best in tight end Orson Charles, an ESPN.com preseason All-American, who is too fast for most linebackers to keep up with and he's too big for most corners to guard. And while Tavarres King doesn't have the clout A.J. Green had, he's been tremendously consistent and has been Murray's go-to guy at flanker. Also, two freshmen to keep an eye on are running back Isaiah Crowell and receiver Malcolm Mitchell. Crowell could have a Marcus Lattimore-like impact, and word out of Athens is that Mitchell has been turning heads and breaking ankles in practice. Don't sleep on Georgia's offense.

AA: Well, I did fall asleep on them watching the bowl game against UCF last season. Murray, Charles and Glenn were on that team, right? Joking aside, I know Georgia will be much better on offense and defense. But I’m not sure the Bulldogs will be good enough against a veteran team with a senior class that has lost twice in their careers.

EA: The Broncos are in a must-win situation, meaning the pressure is on. For Georgia, the Bulldogs can lose this game and still make a run at the SEC title and maybe even the national championship if a ton of pieces fall into place. With that said, Boise has been in this situation many times before, and it's tough to pick against them in this situation. I think Georgia takes it down to the wire, but comes up just short in its opener against the Broncos.

Georgia already knew it was going to be without cornerback/return specialist Brendan Smith and receiver Marlon Brown against Tennessee.

But two other players are also out with injuries -- outside linebacker Cornelius Washington (concussion) and running back Carlton Thomas (hamstring).

Also, true freshman Kenarious Gates will start at right guard for Georgia. Trinton Sturdivant will get the start at left tackle and Clint Boling at right tackle.

With both teams desperately needing wins, Saturday's game may well come down to who can finally stop the big plays. Georgia and Tennessee are the two worst defenses in the SEC when it comes to giving up plays longer than 20 yards.

Georgia coach Mark Richt didn't expect to have a clear-cut answer at quarterback following the spring game, and he doesn't.

But he and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo will huddle this week and come up with a depth chart entering the summer. Of course, the competition cranks back up again when the Bulldogs hit the practice field in August.

Redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger had the better numbers and looked sharp throwing the ball this past Saturday in the Bulldogs' G-Day spring game. But with Mettenberger being suspended for at least the first game, most signs continue to point to either redshirt freshman Aaron Murray or junior Logan Gray being the No. 1 guy to open the season.

Richt, though, isn't ready to go that far.

"I know everyone wants to know what’s going on and wants to know who the starter is, and I couldn’t name the starter right now if I wanted to,” he said. “I really don’t think I could.”

Gray and Murray worked against the first-team defense Saturday, while Mettenberger worked with and against the second unit.

Mettenberger went 6-of-10 for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Gray was 10-of-17 for 132 yards and a touchdown, and Murray finished 10-of-22 for 96 yards.

An even bigger component than finding a quarterback this spring for Georgia was making the transition to the 3-4 defense under first-year coordinator Todd Grantham.

In particular, Grantham liked what he saw from inside linebacker Akeem Dent and outside linebacker Justin Houston, and Grantham was also impressed with the Bulldogs' cornerbacks. It's been a solid spring for senior Vance Cuff.

The defense held the No. 1 offense to just seven points in the game.

Georgia will unveil its new-look, 3-4 defense under first-year coordinator Todd Grantham on Thursday when the Bulldogs open spring practice.

That will be their lone practice until they reconvene after spring break on March 16.

Grantham thinks the Bulldogs have enough of the right body types to run his 3-4. But the 2011 signing class will also be very important in terms of recruiting to that scheme.

Georgia coach Mark Richt says there’s genuine excitement among everybody on defense.

“Let’s face it. It’s about guys who will run and hit and play hard, and we’ve got those kind of guys,” Richt said. “By the end of the spring, we’ll have a better feel if there’s a certain position we may be lighter at than we should be, or maybe we’ll be heavier at one because of the recruitment of a 4-3 compared to a 3-4.

“But, overall, we feel we’ve got at least a two-deep of guys who can play at these positions.”

In particular, the Bulldogs will be looking this spring for players who are flexible and can adjust.

Justin Houston, Cornelius Washington and Montez Robinson were ends in the old 4-3 scheme, but will be moving to outside linebacker, Richt said. Also, converted running back Richard Samuel will start out at outside linebacker.

At the nose position will be DeAngelo Tyson and Kwame Geathers.

Demarcus Dobbs, Brandon Wood and Abry Jones will start out at defensive end.

Richt said Nick Williams will move back to safety, but could still play some linebacker in passing situations.

Warren Belin, who joined the Georgia staff after spending the last eight seasons at Vanderbilt, will coach the inside linebackers. Grantham will work with the outside linebackers.