ATHENS, Ga. -- When Aaron Murray was Georgia's starting quarterback, he often treated his offensive linemen to Sunday ice cream after games in which he didn't get sacked.
That is not a tradition Hutson Mason has maintained.
"I'm on a limited budget," a smiling Mason said Tuesday. "I've told them we can go to McDonald's and get an ice cream cone but that I can't take them to expensive Ben & Jerry's and get them $9 ice cream cups. That would run me dry, so I just tell them that I love them."
Mason was not sacked in last Saturday's 44-17 win over Vanderbilt, and if the No. 13 Bulldogs can emerge sack-free and victorious again this week, some ice cream may be in order. Even the expensive stuff.
Georgia is visiting No. 23 Missouri and its defensive end tandem of junior Shane Ray and senior Markus Golden. Ray leads the Southeastern Conference with 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks, while Golden is among the top five in each category with 6.5 and four.
Leading the charge against that duo will be Bulldogs left tackle John Theus and right tackle Kolton Houston.
"I don't know if anybody can just shut them down," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "They're just very dynamic rushers, and you're going to have to find a way to give them some help. I will say that Theus and Kolton have improved, but they've got their work cut out for them."
Introductions will not be necessary among Georgia's tackles and Missouri's defensive ends before the noon EDT kickoff on CBS. Theus and Houston rotated at right tackle for much of last season, while Ray and Golden were part of an effective quartet that included Kony Ealy and Michael Sam.
Ealy was a second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in May, while Sam was a seventh-round pick of the St. Louis Rams after being voted co-SEC defensive player of the year.
"These guys are actually a little more athletic than the guys they had last year," Theus said. "They are very quick, so they definitely match up to what they've had in the past, if not better."
Ray and Golden each had a 6-yard sack in Missouri's 41-26 win at Georgia last season. Golden had a fumble recovery, and Ray stripped Murray to cause a fumble Sam scooped up for a 21-yard touchdown run that put the Tigers up 28-10 before halftime.
Theus said he faced Golden most of the time in last year's game and faced Sam some as well.
"I know I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge, and I think any competitor likes an opportunity like this," Theus said. "I'm working hard this week, because I know this is a showcase of what I can do. Clemson had a good pass-rusher, and we've faced some talented guys, but this team is exceptional and has given us problems the past two years."
Georgia has allowed six sacks through five games, with half of those coming in the 35-32 win over Tennessee. The Bulldogs are on pace to allow 16 sacks in a 13-game season after allowing 22 in 13 games last season.
"Kolton a year ago was coming off that NCAA deal, and really the whole summer I don't think he even knew what was going to happen," Richt said. "Kolton is just a better player now than he was a year ago, but he struggled that day. Theus had his moments, too, struggling against those guys.
"We're better than we were, but are we good enough to keep them from harassing the QB? I don't know if we're that good. That will be a big challenge and a big matchup."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.