Category: Archive

I have high expectations for the Dawgs, but I am also reasonable. This year I predicted that Georgia would end up with an 8-4 record, which would be disappointing. Unfortunately, it is going to be tough for the Bulldogs to make it to 8-4, which is a damn good reason to start Murray (or whichever QB is anointed the crown of QB of the future). Mark Bradley of the ajc makes a case for at least getting Murray some playing time.

Clincher: Even as it was struggling in 2006, Georgia had already committed to going with true freshman Matthew Stafford. He suffered some reversals — in the loss at Kentucky, he threw interceptions from the Georgia 2-yard-line and the Kentucky 1 on consecutive series — but he learned.

Conclusion: I wouldn’t start Murray ahead of Joe Cox, but I’d bump him above Gray and give him some snaps. Murray is the future. With one more loss, the future officially begins.

As I have said before, nothing against Cox, but there is a lot that is clearly not working and the Bulldogs need to make sure someone is ready for 2010.

I have not written a lot about the ass kicking UGA took last week, but the ajc’s Jeff Schultz has plenty to say on the subject of the Bulldogs miserable season.

This isn’t a former No. 2-ranked team that has maintained its level of excellence. It’s a program that has regressed. Significantly. Whatever Richt was doing before is not working now. Either the wrong players are being recruited, or the right players are being coached the wrong way.

Blame Mike Bobo for the offense. Blame Willie Martinez for the defense. Blame Stacy Searels, the vaunted offensive line coach, who, by the way, hasn’t done bupkis. Blame anybody you want.

But it starts with Richt. It’s his program. He sets the tone and establishes direction. He is the one coaching at a school that hadn’t started a season so poorly since Jim Donnan’s first year in 1996 (3-5 on the way to 5-6). Richt is the one whose team committed three more turnovers against Tennessee and ranks as the worst in the conference and among the dregs nationally with 16 giveaways and a minus-11 turnover ratio.

Things are bad, and they will probably get worse before they get better.

It was a poor weekend for me going against the line, but I got to watch several games that made for compelling college football.

• Georgia/Tennessee – OK, not so compelling, and very disappointing.
• Alabama/Mississippi – Not much of a contest, and this was the one that scared Bama fans at the beginning of the year.
• Colorado/Texas – Defense and special teams saved Texas.
• Florida/LSU – Pretty damn good game, and now FL has the inside track to the SEC half of the National Championship.

I started Week 6 with a 22-16 record, and just like the Dawgs, I left with my tail between my legs. It always sucks to have more misses (Auburn, Georgia, Miss St, Vanderbilt) than wins (Alabama, Florida, Kentucky). My record on the year is now 25-20; reality is starting to set in, which is the reason I only do this sort of thing for fun.

Georgia’s Remaining Schedule
I wrote yesterday (45 points of disappointment) that it was time for the Bulldogs to focus on next year; find our QB of the future and get him some experience. At this point I can only find 3 more wins on the schedule, which is beyond disappointing.

• Win – Vanderbilt (Oct 17). The Commodores have been completely disappointing this year, and I just do not believe UGA can fall this far this year.
• Loss – Florida (Oct 31). Trick or Treat my ass; this one is going to get ugly quick.
• Win – Tennessee Tech (Nov 7). Granted, this year’s Dawgs cannot look at any game as a cake walk, but you can chalk this one up.
• Loss – Auburn (Nov 14). I was going to put this one down as a swing game, but right now, even after Arkansas embarrassed the Tigers, it is still a loss. This one could go the direction, making UGA Bowl eligible, if Auburn goes into a tailspin.
• Win – Kentucky (Nov 21). If this one was on the road, my pick would have been for the Wildcats.
• Loss – Georgia Tech (Nov 28). It is painful to make this prediction, which would put the bumblebees on top two years in a row.

I know only us pundits, critics, and naysayers write this kind of stuff, but reality sucks. Let’s play for next year.

What a bummer of a game. Tennessee completely demolished Georgia 45-19. Good old fashion ass whipping behind the woodshed is too nice a description.

I am not sure what is wrong with this team. Not enough fire in their belly? Certainly undisciplined. It is a travesty that a UGA team cannot even mount a semi-respectable ground game.

Nothing against Joe Cox, but it is time for the coaching staff to look forward to next year. 3-3 may not sound like a horrible year, but it is an unqualified disappointment for a team that has better talent than they are displaying on the field. It is time for Coach Richt to figured out who is his QB of the future – Logan Gray, Zach Mettenberger, or Aaron Murray – play him now and let him prepare for the 2010 season.

This weekend features a few interesting matchup and of course one hell of a bid for the early hold on the SEC half of the BCS equitation. So far I am 22-16 on the year, but I have a bad feeling that is about to change as I use the SPORTBETTING line (as of early Saturday morning).

17 Auburn at Arkansas
Do I really have to listen to the noise from the Planes when the Tigers go 6-0 on the year? Yes I do. Auburn easily covers the 3 points they are giving up to the Hogs.

Vanderbilt at Army
Kind of a ho-hum matchup unless you happen to be a West Point grad, or maybe spent your college days at Vanderbilt. In either case you are probably not reading this blog, so get over yourself already! Army is getting 10.5 in this one, and while the game will be close early on, Vanderbilt should cover. If they don’t, this is the last f’ing time I am going to pick them this year.

Houston at Miss. St
For the Western Bullpups there would be no shame in losing to the Cougars from Houston because this same Houston team took down a highly ranked Oklahoma St team, which happened to beat Georgia; who’s only two losses on the season have come to Top 10 teams (at the time of agonizing defeats). With that out of the way, Miss St is laying 2, which is kind of scary because I keep getting hosed by taking Miss St, but on any given week a mediocre SEC team is much better than so other junk from another conference. I am taking my chances for Miss St to cover.

Kentucky at 25 South Carolina
This one is easy. The Fighting Chickens have to give up 9.5 points to the Kitty Cats from Kentucky. No way they cover. Kentucky with the points.

3 Alabama at 20 Mississippi
I keep hearing that this is one of the marquee matchups of the weekend. Don’t go fooling yourself and get caught with your pants down. Alabama easily covers the 4.5 they have to give up to the Oxford Boys.

1 Florida 4 LSU
Of course this one is the marquee matchup of the weekend and all we keep hear is will Superman play? If LSU needed a miracle in the closing seconds to beat the Bulldogs, I do not see them beating the Gators. Even if the game is in Death Valley. At night. With Florida’s backup QB. The Gators are giving up 7.5, which seems like a hell of a lot, but I am sure that line is out there to entice some fools to take the Tigers. Except for possibly Texas, Florida is the best team in all the land, but those 7.5 points scare me. I am still going to pick ‘em to cover and win outright!

Georgia at Tennessee
I need more coffee before tackling this one in any significant detail. This one is Georgia’s season. Win and they have a change to recover to a decent Bowl. If they do not man up after that heartbreaking travesty last weekend against LSU, their season goes down the pisser in a hurry. They get one measly point, but for some reason I think they win big. Call me a fool.

Go Dawgs!