Saturday will be a noise that makes it hard for one to hear themselves think when Georgia tees it up in Starkville against Mississippi State.
Even a novice SEC fan knows that a visiting team encounters in good ol’ Stark Vegas – those darned cowbells.
The Bizarro Dawgs even got an exception in 2010 to be able to use them during games, with conditions. Yes, really.
Will that noise be a challenge? Yes. But this isn’t the first time an opposing atmosphere has been an element to contend with – see Jordan-Hare and Neyland Stadium so far for this team so far in 2025.
As Kirby Smart said this week, “noise is noise.”
That’s not to downplay the rabid support of MSU fans, but that’s not Georgia’s biggest concern.
If you want the definition of a ‘trap game,’ this is it.
Starkville is a tough place to play to start with, and Georgia is not only coming off an emotional rivalry win with a CFP-heavy matchup next week against Texas, but this Saturday is sandwiched in between…at noon.
For whatever reason, teams tend to start slow in this time window on the road, especially at a place like Mississippi State. Georgia’s biggest problem on Saturday is not the cowbell. It’s avoiding a midday sleepwalk.
Georgia will be down some defensive line strength with Jordan Hall out. It’s hard to replace experience, and the Bulldogs absolutely lose that with his injury. Enter Joseph Jonah-Ajonye and Nnamdi Ogboko. Both had to step up when Hall left the Florida game with a knee injury, and they will, suffice to say, need to keep that up.
The revamped Lady Bulldogs easily handled Alabama State in the season opener. The Banner-Herald has some more detailed learnings from the first outing of the season.
Go Dawgs!
