This match-up should be won by the Georgia Bulldogs, but the Cajuns are a feisty team and did catch at least one BCS team sleeping last season, defeating the Kansas State Wildcats, 17-15, on their home field.
Subsequent contests against BCS teams would not be as successful. They lost to both Nebraska and LSU by a combined score of 86-3. However, this early in the season, it is reasonable to expect that the Cajuns will be ready to go.
In anticipation of the game, Lets take a look at the various head-to-head match-ups that we'll see that day. These will be relatively brief looks and will focus in on one particular aspect or position.
Up first is the quarterbacks—Aaron Murray and Chris Masson.
The first question that has to be asked with Murray is, will he be mentally ready to take the field and play as effectively as he has in summer practices?
Both coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, have given Murray their full vote of confidence. However, despite the strides he's taken, most fans will still be on pins and needles until Murray proves he can perform in front of a large crowd.
Murray, himself, still admits to having "jitters" when he steps onto the field at Sanford Stadium—even an empty Sanford—and while a few frayed nerves are expected, the crowd at Stanford, which is expected to be a sell-out, will anticipate his calming down in a hurry.
It should help that he won't be facing too much of a pass rush from the Cajuns.
The offensive line should have no problem getting Murray the time he needs to scan the field and find an open receiver. The Cajuns ranked 106th in sacks last season, tallying only 12, and often were stalled in their efforts to get into the backfield. On the other hand, the strength of the Cajuns defense lay in their second-level defenders—the linebackers and the secondary.
Senior linebacker, Grant Fleming, who ended 2009 with 89 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 5 tackles for loss, will be one to watch. He was moved from outside to middle linebacker over the spring and will be the leader of this unit.
Fleming, along with outside linebackers, Daylon McCoy and Devin Lewis-Buchannan (both starters in 2009), will look to slow down the Georgia running game—which fans can expect to see a lot of early.
Even more, the secondary returns all three of its starters. As a unit they were responsible for a, more than respectable, 16 interceptions in 2009 (23rd in the nation). It's an impressive number to be aware of, especially when you consider Georgia—with their above average talent—had only ten.
Hopefully Murray can avoid some of the mental lapses and overthrows that have plagued him at certain points this summer.
As for Chris Masson, he will be in his second full season at the helm. He was fortunate in 2009, as is Murray this year, to have a very good offensive line to stand behind last season. However, the Cajuns will replace three starters in 2010 and there is some doubt as to whether or not they will have a sufficient running game to offset their passing attack.
The Cajuns ranked 72nd in the nation in rushing offense 2009—nearly last in the Sun Belt. They are playing around with several options at that spot this summer and hope that someone will step up and be the difference.
Junior Julian Shankle returns and will offer some experience in the backfield but, the odds on favorite to get the most carries is likely going to be the incoming freshman, Rob Walker—he has impressed all summer as both a runner and a pass-catcher.
If Masson's reconstituted offensive line can give him some time, as well as offer sufficient lanes for the rushing attack, then he will have plenty of options in the passing games to target.
Ladarius Green (TE) and Marlin Miller (WR) return to offer their talents and it is reasonable to expect to see Masson targeting both on a regular basis.
Finally, Masson is a fairly nimble quarterback himself. He was responsible for six rushing touchdowns last season—leading the Cajuns to No. 16 in the nation in redzone offense. He is just as much a scoring threat as any of his receivers or running backs and, in the Cajuns multiple offense, he will need to be accounted for at all times.
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