At Augusta National, holes 11, 12 and 13 make up the “Amen Corner.”

For the Georgia Bulldogs “Amen Corner” consists of consecutive dates with South Carolina, Arizona State, Alabama and Tennessee.

And while it’s far too early to break into a Hallelujah chorus, Mark Richt’s charges faithfully executed their duties Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium – although they flew in on a wing and a prayer.

The No. 2 team in the nation, averaging more than 50 points per game coming into the USC battle Saturday, managed just one touchdown and was victimized by 11 penalties for 112 yards.

A national championship contender? Mark Richt’s team didn’t look the part, not on a muggy Saturday better suited for a baseball pennant chase than a football game.

But three contests into the season, style points really don’t matter. And considering it was this same team that cost Georgia a berth in the SEC title tilt last year and possibly a spot in the BCS National Championship Game, a 14-7 victory will do just fine.

In a way it was probably good for the Dawgs. Georgia Southern and Central Michigan provided no real test, and the men from Athens had their mettle tested mightily against the Gamecocks.

A play here and a play there and Steve Spurrier is smiling and celebrating USC’s first-ever victory over a team ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation.

But it was Georgia who made the plays and stopped the plays the Gamecocks tried to make.

“We found a way to win, and I’m so thankful,” Richt said. “I don’t know what it was … I thought we were a little tight. But again, you’re tight when the other team you’re playing is pretty stinking good.”

In an age of parity, talent won’t do it alone. A team needs some luck.

UGA had it Saturday in the sense that it was lucky to escape South Carolina with a victory.

So while the nation might now cast a wary eye at a team that beat a team by the same number of points Vanderbilt did nine days earlier, Richt doesn’t care. Nor do his players or fans of the Bulldogs.

“We just have to relax a little bit and play,” Richt said. “Let it go, turn it loose. Don’t be so concerned about the outcome.”

Bottom line, the Bulldogs came into hostile territory against a bunch of guys who always take them to the limit. They didn’t thrive, but they did survive.

And with college football season still in the month of September, survival is all that matters.

And I’ll guarantee if Richt knew he could win the next three games by scoring just one touchdown and gathering a hundred yards in penalties, he’d gladly take it.

After all, it doesn’t matter how you get through Amen Corner — you simply have to get through it.