To hear Mark Richt tell it, his No.1 Georgia Bulldogs are going to have their hands full today.

Forget South Carolina on Sept. 13 and Arizona State a week later — the Georgia Southern Eagles will present a major roadblock.

“They have a great program,” Richt said. “They are only 27 years old and they have more victories than anyone in the history of 1-AA (Football Bowl Subdivision) football and the most national championships. Of course Georgia’s Erk Russell started it all and started it with a bang and never looked back. You add coach (Chris) Hatcher to that success and all the things that he has done in his career with a wonderful winning percentage and a national championship at Valdosta. He went undefeated in the regular season two seasons in a row.

“He has done a lot of great things.”

All true, but only the most optimistic Eagles fans expect GSU to take on the role of Appalachian State and UGA that of Michigan. Hatcher’s team is young, it must rely on two quarterbacks (redshirt freshman Lee Chapple and sophomore Antonio Henton) against a great defense and eight players — including two defense starters (linebacker Terrione Benefield and bandit Ronnie Wiggins) — have been suspended for the opener due to “violation of institutional rule.”

All signs point to a big victory for the nation’s top-ranked team, although Richt says the ranking comes with some baggage.

“Is it a good thing? It’s good if we stay there and if we are there at the end,” Richt said. “It’s been good as far as a lot of positive publicity for our football team. Has it helped me motivate? I would have to think it’s a motivating factor for our guys. It is an exciting factor for our guys to feel like people believe that about our program. They know it will be up for judgment every week, so I guess it was fun while it lasted.”

While the Eagles are ranked No. 17 in the FCS poll and could make some noise in the Southern Conference this season, Georgia is expected to take control of the game and rotate younger players in early and often. The only real concern is an offensive line decimated by injuries.

“At offensive line, the next three to go in are freshmen and at safety we could have an issue in a hurry with another injury,” Richt said. “We had to do some things at fullback but everywhere else we’re okay.”

Even with the holes up front, UGA players hope to use the contest to work out the kinks before things get serious. Next week the Bulldogs host lightly regarded Central Michigan before entering a rugged stretch of the 2008 schedule.

“I just want to see us come out there and play with excitement,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “If we go out there and execute and play with a bunch of energy that’s all you can really ask for. We’ve been working really hard and beating up on each other. I think we are ready to get out there and play another team.”

Defensive back and return specialist Asher Allen wants to have a good time when the teams tee it up at 12:30.

“I’ve been a part of a 9-4 team and an 11-2 team, and I feel like we ended on a high note both years,” Asher said. “Obviously playing Hawaii and being able to beat them, that would give us, in the media’s eyes, a high ranking. But, I think our team considers itself a top team.

Going into the season, the hype has been increased tenfold; I think that’s something that comes with the territory.

“But we aren’t thinking about it, I know Georgia Southern doesn’t care what we are ranked and I just know that this game is going to be really fun.”

Richt, of course, expects a donnybrook.

“Appalachian State only lost one game (actually the Mountaineers also lost to Wofford) last year and that was to Georgia Southern, so that gets my attention,” he said. “We have a high level of respect for Georgia Southern. Most of their kids are from in state just as ours are. We think it will be a pretty heated rivalry. I know we have some players who played high school ball with these guys, so there is a lot of pride in this game. We are looking forward to getting it started.”