ATHENS, Ga. --- The 19th-ranked Georgia football team kicked off season-opening game-week preparations with a two-hour practice on Monday at the Woodruff Practice Fields.
 
"Here we are," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "This was the last practice in full pads. We'll do shells on Tuesday, and shorts on Wednesday and Thursday. We'll have some walkthroughs, some meetings, travel and the pregame meal. And then let's play. There's not much time yet. There's five days left. I remember when it was 105. It's upon us."
 
Georgia and Boise State will open the season on Saturday in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in the Georgia Dome. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be televised nationally by ESPN.
 
In preparation for Saturday's game, the Bulldogs strapped on full pads for the final time in preseason on Monday.
 
"Today was a pretty good day," Richt said. "Most of what you do at this point is scout work, which is not as exciting as offense versus defense, but that's where we are. The scout team is trying their best to simulate what we'll see, which is hard. We've got to keep banging away."
 
Richt said he is confident cornerback Branden Smith will play on Saturday. Said Richt, "My guess is he'll get some work (Tuesday)." Richt said tailback Richard Samuel "is not 100 percent yet, but he's getting there."