THIS WEEK'S GAME: LSU at Georgia, Oct. 2 -- These teams met twice last year with LSU winning both games, 17-10 in Baton Rouge on Sept. 20 and then 34-13 in the SEC Championship Game on the way to a national championship. In both games, LSU proved to be more physical and dominant on the line of scrimmage, so the Bulldogs must change that to win this game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
RBs Danny Ware and Thomas Brown -- The Bulldogs are depending on two true freshmen backs to carry the running load, and this young duo will be put to a whole new test against the LSU defense.

QB David Greene -- The offense has yet to click in three games this season. While that isn't the fault of just one player, there's no doubt Greene needs to do a better job of getting the offense moving in the right direction.

MLB Odell Thurman -- Thurman will return from a three-game suspension against LSU. Thurman made 125 tackles last season. "I think he's got his skills in pretty good shape," coach Mark Richt said, "and it will be nice for him to have a couple of weeks on the first game plan he'll be able to get in."

ROSTER REPORT
Last week's open date helped Georgia get some key players healthy, starting with true freshman RB Danny Ware, who would have been out with a bruised lung if the Bulldogs had played last week. Ware will move back into the starting lineup, backed by true freshman Tomas Brown and junior Tony Milton, who is returning from offseason leg surgery and offers Georgia the best help in pass protection. Meanwhile, Michael Cooper is slowed by a thigh bruise and Tyson Browning has fallen out of the starting rotation because of fumble problems. ...

Middle linebacker Odell Thurman will likely return to the starting lineup this week after missing the first three games due to a suspension for unspecified rules violations. The time off has given him extra time to prepare for LSU and given increased playing time to linebackers Jarvis Jackson, Danny Verdun Wheeler and Derrick White at both the middle and weakside spots. White, who started the season opener at middle linebacker before missing the past two games with a sprained ankle, will probably move to strongside linebacker and compete with Arnold Harrison for the starting job. Junior Jamario Smith, who has hurt by the flu over the past week, will likely backup Thurman at middle linebacker. ...

OG Josh Brock, who started 24 games the past two seasons, was originally expected to be back in time for the LSU game after offseason shoulder surgery, but he remains sidelined for at least another week. ... Backup QB D.J. Shockley hasn't seen much playing time this season, but coach Mark Richt has hinted that Shockley will play a more significant role against LSU. ...

All-American DE David Pollack is playing with a cast on his broken left thumb. So is DT Ray Gant, who suffered torn ligaments in his right thumb against South Carolina. ... Andy Bailey is off to a strong start in his first season as Georgia's kicker and leads the SEC in scoring with 27 points, but he was slowed last week by a strained groin from kicking too much.

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