University of Georgia – UGA, Dawgs, Bulldogs, Georgia commentary, news, notes, and predictions; mostly football, but could touch on other UGA sports and SEC coverage
You know it is a good weekend of football when you go 5-3 with your picks, and end up with a Georgia victory! Winners included Arkansas, Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. I missed on my picks of Florida, Kentucky, and LSU. My total on the year is now a much healthier 37-29; keeping my head about water!
No comments on the Dwags because I did not get to see Georgia’s 38-0 dismantling of Tennessee Tech. I was going to watch it on ESPN360, but a regional blackout was in effect.
This week’s SEC action features Alabama playing host to LSU. The winner is pretty much guaranteed to be the SEC West Champion unless something fluky happens. As for the rest of the action, most are “get healthy” type games against teams looking for a pay off. When SEC teams host Eastern Kentucky, Furman, Northern Arizona, and Tennessee Tech, something is wrong.
I am using Danny Sheridan’s odds as seen in the USA Today for today’s picks, and most of the games are off the board due to inferior opponents. I could go with a different line, but why bother? Just to make things interesting, for the games off the board, I am going to say that the SEC team has to cover 31. We will go it Calvert’s Odds.
Going into this weekend I am 32-26 through the first 9 weeks of SEC action. Let’s see if I can bump up the winning percentage a little!
South Carolina at Arkansas
Arkansas by 7; they cover, they win, and pig fans everywhere rejoice.
Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky
The Wild Cats have to win by 31 [Calvert’s Odds].
Furman at Auburn
Another Calvert’s Odds game; Tigers will cover the 31.
Memphis at Tennessee
Every once in a while Memphis will jump up and play a hell of a game, but the way Tennessee is playing right now, I think they will cover the 26 points.
Vanderbilt at 1 Florida
Florida is giving up 35, which is a lot of points. I am kind of snake bit with this one. When I go for the team that should win by a lot, I almost always have a miss, but I am done picking Vanderbilt this year. Reluctantly, the Gators cover the 35.
Northern Arizona at Mississippi
I am sure Mississippi will use this game to knock out some frustration, but I just do not like the way they are playing right now. I’ll take Northern Arizona with the points; Mississippi does not cover the 31 [Calvert’s Odds].
9 LSU at 3 Alabama
In the best game of the weekend, that somehow was not good enough to earn a prime time slot, Alabama is favored by 7.5. I think Alabama is the better team, but I think it is time for them to slip up. Maybe. I am going to take the points and LSU; not sure if they will win, but I do not think Alabama covers.
Tennessee Tech at Georgia
At this point, I really do not care. The Dawgs are not looking towards the future, so even if they get healthy in a hurry, will anyone care? What a meaningless game. In fact, a buddy of mine offered me tickets, which I turned down in favor of family weekend activities. Just for the hell of it, I am going to say that the Bulldogs manage to cover the 31 [Calvert’s Odds].
Go Dawgs!
Yesterday was a horrible day for the Dawgs (41-17 loss to the Gators) and for my picks. I only had three wins; if you want to call them that – Arkansas (just .5 shy of covering the 36.5), Vanderbilt (it sucks that I had to pick Georgia Tech), and of course Florida (I picked this one to be 33-17 so I was pretty damn close). My four losses included Mississippi (what a serious let down), LSU (I really thought they would save some for Bama), Kentucky (I almost picked Mississippi St), and South Carolina (looks like Tennessee has their grove on).
After a disastrous weekend of predictions, my record on the year is now 32-26. I was hopeful of going 4-3, so 3-4 was a letdown, as my record creeps ever so close back to .500 on the season. I am glad I am playing with funny money and not betting the mortgage.
I am not even sure what to say about Georgia. I expected them to lose, but coming out in black helmets and black pants was not going to save the day. I wonder if the Dawgs are going to try their best to become Bowl eligible. They are sitting at 4-4, looking at home dates vs. Tennessee Tech, Auburn, and Kentucky, followed by a short trip to end the season against the soon to be Top 10 ranked Bumble Bees. Things are not going to be pretty; a Bowl date at this point would be one of the petty, meaningless Bowls that only matter for practice time. Lord knows the Dawgs need practice time, but at this point practice is not going to help Cox. Where is the QB of the future? I think it is a terrible mistake not to get another QB more playing time. If the season is lost (and for all intents and purposes it is lost) then please get next year’s starter some playing experience.
The only solace for me this year is that Texas is playing well, and they are in the driver’s seat to land the non SEC half of the BCS title game. Hook ‘em!
This is going to be a quick pick day; been sick as a dog the last 24 hrs, so I want to get these posted and go back to bed. I am using the Danny Sheridan odds as seen in USA Today.
Going into today I am 29-22. I will be happy if I escape for a 4-3 record, but will gladly go 0-7 if the Dawgs beat the Gators!
24 Mississippi at Auburn
After getting off to a 5-0 start, Auburn has found itself in a tailspin, dropping the last three games. The Tigers are getting 4.5 at home, but it will not matter as the Ole dudes win, cover, and send the boys from the Plains spiraling with four straight losses.
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas
At 0-7, it is painfully obvious that Eastern Michigan sucks, and Arkansas will use the Eagles as part of their get healthy plan and stop their two game losing streak. The hogs are giving up 36.5, which is an awfully big number to cover, but just for shits and giggles I am going to say the Razorbacks only win by 35. As a Native Texan, I don’t care for Arkansas; never have and never will.
11 Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
The Commodores are getting 11.5 from the Bumble Bees. Obviously I have some serious hatred for Tech, but I have to pick them here (to cover and win outright) as they continue to march to a one loss season.
Tulane at 9 LSU
This is another game with a boat load of points to cover; LSU by 36? Tulane stinks (2-5) and their wins (McNeese State and at Army by 1) do not exactly inspire confidence that they have a chance keep the Tigers from lighting up the scoreboard. With that said, the Tigers have not scored more than 31 this season, so it is hard for me to say that they are all of a sudden going to light things up.
I think LSU is better than BYU (they beat Tulane 54-3), but you just have to expect LSU is looking towards next week’s SEC West showdown against Alabama. It is with some trepidation that I say LSU does not cover the 36. I came this close to saying they will cover, but even if the Tigers have this one in hand, I expect they hold something back for the Tide.
Mississippi St at Kentucky
I think this is one of the better games (from a competiveness standpoint) this weekend. Kentucky is expected to win by 3.5. Before looking at the line I was thinking this was going to be one of those games that ends on a last minute field goal, which means Kentucky does not cover, right? I do not see how Mississippi St gets back up after that tough one against the Gators, so I am going to say Kentucky covers.
21 South Carolina at Tennessee
The Volunteers seem to get better with each passing week, and they should have upset Bama last week. With that said, the Fighting Chickens are the ranked team, but are getting 6 in this one? Win or lose, I have to take South Carolina and 6; Tennessee is not going to cover.
Georgia at 1 Florida
I long for the days when this game actually mattered; when it was a rivalry. Some pundits (I would expect mostly Georgia homers) are saying that Georgia can pull the upset over Florida because the Dawgs are coming off a bye week. They go on to say that these #1 ranked Gators are just not playing well. I don’t buy it, and can easily see a 33-17 Florida win, which would be just enough for Florida to cover the 14.5 they are giving up to the struggling Dawgs.
The Bulldog fan in me looks back to 1985 when Georgia upset the #1 Florida 24-3, so there is some history of the Bulldogs doing the unthinkable. Of course deep down inside I want a win, but I just do not see my beloved Dawgs winning this one (outright or via the 14.5 line). Hope I am wrong on this one!
Go Dawgs!
Week 7 was a damn good football Saturday. Not only did Georgia get out of their funk against Vanderbilt, Texas also survived the Red River Rivalry to remain entrenched in the non SEC side of the BCS (or should we call it the BS C) race. Top it off with more wins (Georgia, Kentucky, Miss St, South Carolina) than misses (Florida, Mississippi) and my record on the year is a healthy 29-22.
This is the first real fall football weather weekend (currently 45F as I sit in my kitchen prepping this article). I love this time of year! Brisk, cool air; deep blue skies (but mostly rain around here lately), and SEC football!
This week I am turning back to Danny Sheridan’s odds. Let’s be honest; the point spreads this weekend suck, making this a scary weekend if you are throwing around something other than Monopoly dollars. Let’s see if I can improve on my 25-20 record
Miss. St at Mid Tennessee St
I am surprised that Miss. St. is only giving up 3.5 points to the Blue Raiders. I am not sure if this is an indictment on some of the lower tier SEC teams, or a stunning endorsement of the Sun Belt Conference. The Western Bulldogs will win and cover; it may be hard early on, but their depth will take them over the top. Miss. St is the pick.
Arkansas at 1 Florida
The Gators are giving up 24 points to the piglets; that is a lot of damn points, which makes this a total trap game. Arkansas may be over confident after thrashing Auburn, but are they 24 points bad to Florida? I am not sure why, but I am going to take Florida to cover.
UAB at Mississippi
Another trap game; the old guys from Mississippi are giving up 22 points to UAB of Conference USA. I don’t know jack crap about the Blazers, other than Roddy White rules thank you very much, but Mississippi is not about to beat the Blazers by 22 points. It is just too big of a spread to get folks like me to take the points. Done; UAB not to win, but I like the points.
Kentucky at Auburn
Kentucky is 0-3 in the SEC, but I do not think they are 13.5 points bad to the Tigers from Auburn. Both teams are coming off devastating loses, but they are different losses. The Tigers loss was just plain bad, while the Wildcats played their hearts out against the Fighting Chickens. Kentucky is the pick; not sure if they will win, but I like the points.
22 South Carolina at 2 Alabama
So far the Tide has easily dispatched all comers, and South Carolina should not be any different. The problem here is the spread; Alabama is giving up 17 points. Ouch. That is a nasty spread. If South Carolina brings their A defensive game, and their QB does not start throwing picks to the boys in crimson, the Tide will not roll. Alabama to win, but they will not cover. South Carolina and 17 points is the pick.
Georgia at Vanderbilt
It is always a scary proposition to take Georgia to cover (the Dawgs are giving up 8 points), but Vanderbilt is not very good this year. After the Commodores took it on the chin against Army, I am done picking them this year. Georgia covers.
Pretty bad state of affairs when I am just treating the Dawgs game as another ho-hum match up, but that is where we are right now with Georgia.
For what it is worth, I am taking Texas over Oklahoma. Not only will the Horns Hook ‘em, but I do not think this one will be as close as the betting lines are predicting.
Go Dawgs! Hook ‘em Horns!
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.
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.
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!
Not that it matters, or changes my bitterness over the call, but today the SEC said that the call made against A.J. Green for excessive celebration was a bad call.
“We looked at it from the TV recording of the video and looked at it quite a bit from a different angle than [the official] had,” said Rogers Redding, the SEC’s officials coordinator. “This was coming from the perspective from the field of play. But we concluded that the video did not support the call.”
The NCAA, or maybe just the SEC, needs to take a long hard look at these celebration penalty calls. Let the kids play; stop affecting the outcome of games.
Another week of college football, another week that shows the polls absolutely make no sense. Besides the fact that I am a Georgia homer, how in the hell does Georgia fall out of the AP Top 25 after a tough home loss to #4 LSU? Georgia lost the game in the final minute and the reward is to be booted out of the Top 25? You have got to be kidding me …
Georgia is out of Top 25 for first time since Dec. 3, 2006, after losing a 20-13 thriller at home to LSU. But with Southeastern Conference rivals Auburn and South Carolina moving in, the SEC now has six teams ranked, including three of the top four for a second straight week.
Not that I am bitter, but I am just saying that the polls completely suck.
One of my winners was Georgia; err, rather I took LSU and the points. I am still pretty bum’ed about Georgia’s 20-13 loss to #4 LSU; that one was just hard to take. Not sure I am up for a summary. I know I said I did not expect Georgia to win the game, but they had it in their grasp and let it slip away which is bitterly disappointing.
I entered this weekend’s SEC action 20-13. The South Carolina game was off the board, so I ended the weekend with more misses (Mississippi St, Tennessee, Vanderbilt) than wins (Alabama, LSU) which bringing my total this year to 22-16.
This is the second game this year (Oklahoma St was the other) were the officials directly affected the outcome of the game. I cannot believe that Georgia got called with a bullshit celebration call after A.J. Green put the Bulldogs ahead with only 1:08 left to play. Say what you will, but that call directly affected the outcome of the game. It is not realistic to expect the kids to not celebrate after such a big play, but there was absolutely nothing excessive about A.J.’s celebration with his teammates.
Without the call LSU may still have won the game, but the referees made it that much easier for LSU by shortening the field by 15 extra yards. Un f’ing real!