Georgia facing a classic “trap” game
Nobody asked me but:
1. Georgia-Arkansas is a classic “trap” game: I made this point a while back and now that we’re here, it bears repeating. I think Georgia has a better football team than Arkansas. Arkansas has improved over last season but Georgia, I believe, has more weapons on offense and more athletes on defense. But circumstances give Saturday’s trip to Arkansas all the makings of a “trap” game for the Bulldogs. Arkansas has had a week off since opening the season with a 48-10 win over Missouri State. Georgia has had two very tough, physical games against Oklahoma State and South Carolina. Now Georgia has to get back on a plane and fly to Fayetteville, Ark. You can’t ignore the fatigue factor. This is a dangerous game for the Bulldogs.
2. I don’t think we’ve seen the real LSU: LSU wasn’t particularly impressive in its first two wins over Washington (31-23) and Vanderbilt (23-9). But I’m hearing that the Tigers haven’t shown everything they have and probably won’t need to until they go to Georgia on Oct. 3. LSU hosts Louisiana-Lafayette (which beat Kansas State) this Saturday and goes to Mississippi State on Sept. 26. LSU, for example, has just scratched the surface of what freshman Russell Shepard can do. Stay tuned.
3. Al Groh is in trouble at Virginia. For this season Groh did what Tommy Tuberville did at Auburn and Phillip Fulmer did at Tennessee. He hired a new offensive coordinator to run the spread hoping to put some energy into a program in trouble. It didn’t work at Auburn or Tennessee and apparently it is not working at Virginia. The Cavaliers, who hired Gregg Brandon, the former head coach at Bowling Green, had seven turnovers in the opening day loss to William & Mary. Last week against TCU, Virginia had only seven first downs and did not run a single play inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. If Virginia loses at Southern Miss to start 0-3, things are going to get ugly in Charlottesville. If Virginia fires Groh it will owe him about $4.5 million.
4. The Auburn-West Virginia game is really under the radar. Everybody is talking about Florida-Tennessee and Georgia-Arkansas. But the best game of the weekend has a chance to be West Virginia’s trip to Auburn. West Virginia will never be able to replace the great Pat White, but it has found a very good quarterback in Jarrett Brown, who threw four touchdown passes to beat East Carolina (35-20), the defending Conference USA champs. Auburn has re-energized its offense under Gus Malzahn with 86 points in two games.
5. Bobby Bowden desperately needs a win at BYU: Based on its lackluster performance against Jacksonville State, where it had to score inside the final minute to win, it’s clear that the loss to Miami took a great deal out of the Florida State team. Now the Seminoles have to get on a plane and go to Provo, Utah, and play a BYU team with BCS aspirations. BYU not only wants to win the game, but coach Bronco Mendenhall will be looking to tack on some style points to convince the voters that the Cougars belong with the big boys. If Florida State loses and starts 1-2, I wonder if this team starts to unravel a little bit.
Please follow me on Twitter:
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
185 comments Add your comment
Johnnty Test
September 16th, 2009
5:53 am
The Dawgs can handle Arkansas if they don’t turn the bsll over and get some pressure on Mallett
LSU is always a little over rated. This year is no different.
What do expect from the ACC? Al Groh is gone.
It is payback time for West Virginia. Auburn rolls.
FSU loses to BYU… Sad but true. The ACC is falling apart.
Atlanta Gator
September 16th, 2009
6:21 am
(1) Yup, Saturday’s match against Arkansas is a potential trap game for Georgia. This is a “character” game for the Georgia, too. Good teams find ways to win when conditions are against them. This is where we find out if the Dawgs can meet their own expectations for their football program.
(2) LSU will handle its next two games in “cruise” mode. Georgia is the next real test.
(3) Al Groh is gone in December. Like any good offensive system, the “spread” requires system-specific personnel. Virginia doesn’t have them. Too much, too little, too late.
(4) Auburn-West Virginia “under the radar?” It better not be for the two teams. This is the biggest inter-sectional match-up of the year for both, and the first real opportunity to show the pollsters and pundits that these teams are on the road to recovering some of their usual prominence.
(5) Yes, Florida State needs this win. FSU looked respectable against Miami, but awful against Jacksonville State after a short week. The FSU-BYU game should reveal a lot about the 2009 potential of both teams.
UGA_2001
September 16th, 2009
6:21 am
Why oh why did Evans schedule both Ok State and ASU in the same year? As if the SEC isn;t hard enough.
And why do you schedule a trip to OSU the same year as a trip to Fayetteville? They are in the same part of the coutnry and are both long trips.
Idiotic.
UGA could’ve had a 9-3/10-2 type season this year but now will likely end up 7-5/8-4 due to the lack of easy weeks on the schedule. We already have a handful of guys out for the year and the number grows each week.
Boy, could we use a cupcake game next week. …
#2 BAMA FAN
September 16th, 2009
6:22 am
Georgia and Arkansas will be a real good game and LSU is going to be good with all the great athletics on the team. Al Groh can back to the NFL and be a dc or hangout with all that money he will
get after Virginia fires him. Auburn offense is really looking good but they have not played a good defense yet and West Virginia does not have a good defense. FSU needs this game real bad to get over
the lost to Miami and the horrible game against Jacksonville State.
Southwest Conference
September 16th, 2009
6:29 am
Petrino goes down.
Coach Mark Richt
September 16th, 2009
6:40 am
Trap game, were gonns kick their arse. You have an excuse every week Tony. Give it up!
If Okllahoma could not beat BYU...
September 16th, 2009
6:41 am
…though Sam got hurt (didn’t seem to hurt them last week) then Florida State has NO chance!
BS Patrol
September 16th, 2009
6:43 am
UGA_2001,
Evans (or whoever)scheduled OSU & ASU because they were and are CUPCAKES, you idiot. After that you only have the usual SEC CUPCAKES ( ex FL)
As for “trap game”,AR will simply line up and beat the doggies, Mr.SEC Football. Trap Game, Haw! Delusions of grandeur.
benadawg
September 16th, 2009
6:48 am
A motivated team from georgia should win, can we be motivated? I have waited a year for redemption for the dogs, get some fire under your ass…
Sautee Dawg
September 16th, 2009
6:57 am
Hey Tony, listened to your interview with Loran Smith on saturday while driving to the game. Can’t wait to read that book. Should be a good one. Game in ARK should be a good one too. No turnovers= no problems hopefully. Petrino is a good coach and will have his team ready. May be a trap game though as you say.
BL
September 16th, 2009
7:02 am
If I’m CMR, I’d run Samuel & King (provided he’s healthy) until they were both on oxygen! You’d have to think that Arkansas “wants” Joe Cox to beat them, and he’ll do exactly that if we go out there and play UGA football! With a relatively vanilla AR offense, CWM should have the defense up for this one, so if the coaches don’t blow it, this should be a W! Go Dawgs!!!!
Carlton Powell
September 16th, 2009
7:04 am
Probably right about “trap” game. Good teams don’t let such games derail their goals. Do any of us think Urban Myer would allow the Gators or himself fall into the “trap” game syndrome? Nope. They would just go out to F’ville and take of business. It’s time for CMR and team to do same. UGA needs to somehow get the “edge” back. It’s been gone since BVG left. He was their “edge.” Of course, a couple of good defensive ends would go a L-O-N-G way towards solving a lot of defensive ills. Would help their undersized DB’s by getting pressure on the opposing QB. UGA SHOULD win this game, but one never knows. If UGA can get out of September 3-1, they probably should feel pretty good.
JB
September 16th, 2009
7:12 am
Dawgs win suprisingly easy 28-17
GT
September 16th, 2009
7:16 am
The word trap bothers me to some extent, it implies as we have done most of the year that Georgia is the same Georgia we thought they were in the beginning of the year when the trap idea came about. I thought it would be a trap because by now they would have put the real OSU in their place and escaped South Carolina like they normally and luckily do , only to forget the next year how lucky they were, and would relax in the Arkansas game. Now every SEC team and ACC team that comes to play Georgia will be a challenge. The only team I see Georgia being better than 50/50 this year in the SEC is Miss. State. The good news to Georgia fans is it will force them to learn how to coach or get good coaching since they are not or can not depend on a heavily favored talent pool to cover the coaching mistakes. Every team in the SEC grows this way, Georgia has been living on borrowed time too long.
m
September 16th, 2009
7:16 am
Ugag is in serious trouble at arkysaw. Ugag luckily beat one of the worst south caroliner teams ever. The trap is that ugag sucks this year.
Al Groh is the chan gomer gailey of virginia. I hope they keep him a long time.
West Virginny will probably kill awBarn because the sec sucks…okie state and ucla were not afraid of the pitiful sec and neither is west virginny. They will celebrate by eating their state delicacy, fried squirrel brains.
Lsu is just like the rest of the sec…below average. The Chick fil a bowl was a fluke.
Bobby Bowden probably doesn’t even realize that there is a game on Saturday. But at least FSU is playing a real quality team and not the type of teams that the sec power floriduh has played like charleston southern.
The sec is the most overrated overhyped conference ever. If floriduh is good….and that certainly is still to be determined…then it is floriduh and the 11 dwarfs…because the rest of the league sure sucks.
Look for Tech to take Miami to the woodshed for the 5th straight year. Miami thought they would dominate the Acc when they joined….they have found it that the ACC ia a lot tougher than they thought and that they sec fools on here think.
Thank God and Greyhound that chan gomer gailey is gone forever.
southgadawg88
September 16th, 2009
7:17 am
1.I’d rather be battle tested than rested.UGA should roll over the Razorbacks.Folks keep talking up ARK but who have they really beaten since Petrino has been there?
2.LSU does less with all these top 3 recruiting classes than any team in the country.They have had top 5 classes 4 years in a row.At this point they SHOULD be up there with Fla but they are not.Les Miles is totally overrated
3.As bad as VA is they still seem to find a way to beat GT.What’s up with that?.
4.Aub is better than they were last season.
5.Whose to say FSU/MIA are any good?They have only played each other.We shall see if either is truly a decent team this week.
First thoughts about Georgia-Arkansas « Get The Picture
September 16th, 2009
7:35 am
[...] refers to Saturday night’s game in Fayetteville as a “classic ‘trap’ game”, which I don’t get (what, the Dawgs are looking ahead to Arizona State?), but also mentions [...]
Motown Hound
September 16th, 2009
7:43 am
GT & M jealousy is unbecoming, the only trap being set is Brandemonia! Woof woof woof woof sic em
Fleischman in Chattanooga
September 16th, 2009
7:44 am
UGA learns the how strong the SEC West is. Bob Petrino sticks it to the state of Gerogia again. Arkansas 28 UGA 20
Oh Really
September 16th, 2009
7:48 am
UGA_2001 said:
“Why oh why did Evans schedule both Ok State and ASU in the same year? As if the SEC isn;t hard enough. ”
I don’t think the Mountain West (Utah), Big 12 (Okie State) or the Pac 10 (UCLA) think the SEC is all that tough.
Brian
September 16th, 2009
7:49 am
Hey Carlton, you must be talking about the way Urban and the Gators “took care of business” last year against Ole Miss. Please, let’s not pretend that good teams and good coaches can’t have letdowns and perform less than their best.
CaliDawg
September 16th, 2009
7:52 am
Carlton Powell–Meyer and the Gators fell into that trap last year against Ole Miss — and it wasn’t even on the road.
G Force
September 16th, 2009
7:58 am
Georgia players would have to be feeling pretty good about themselves for this to qualify as a “trap” game. I’m not sure that’s the case. I think they feel they have something to prove, and that should be enough to avoid any letdown following the tough battle with USCe.
JWC
September 16th, 2009
8:00 am
Tony,
Playing Troy State between Florida and Auburn is a trap game, playing a much improved Arkansas team on the road which has probably one of the 5 best college football coaches under the age of 50 is not a trap game. In fact, it should be a big game for both teams… the way UGA has played these last 2 games I think Ark has the advantage in the game and will come out a winner.
Carlton Powell
September 16th, 2009
8:05 am
To all those who chastised me for my reference Urban Myer and the Gator’s, I concede the point. The Ole Miss game last year caught the mighty Gator’s flat footed. But, I think we have to admit that the Gator’s and Myer probably learned a thing or two from the game. Generally, no one goes through the SEC without a loss, and the Gator’s were no exception. This season is yet to be played out. Petrino will probably have success at ARK, but it’s a little early yet. All the ‘Dogs have to do is go out and play smart, tough football and a win is definitely in the picture. Again, if the ‘Dogs can come out of September 3-1, they’d have to feel pretty good.
MiltonDawg
September 16th, 2009
8:10 am
Let Samuel run more please Bobo!! Keep the chains moving and UGA should be fine. Let the D actually try to make turnovers and some pass rush wouldn’t hurt either.
m
September 16th, 2009
8:15 am
ACC was 6-4 last year vs. the SEC.
The Chick fil a bowl was a fluke.
Mark my word, Tech will play UConn in the ACCC (Thank God & Greyhound we don’t play William & Mary).
BTW Tony, where is the ACCC game being played?
I hate everybody.
bamafan
September 16th, 2009
8:18 am
UGA 2001 – don’t want to hear anymore whining about Florida’s schedule being easy. Instead of being proud of the fact that UGA is going out of the conference and out of the region to play somebody decent, you whine and ask for a cupcake game. Not smart. Ask any Bama fan who has seen our losses to LA-Monroe, Central Florida, Memphis, and others thru the years. Most Bama fans loved the two years we played Oklahoma and UCLA (2000-2001 and 2001-2002) even though we lost all four. The 10 year series with Penn State (1981-1990) was great despite a 5-5 record.
Look at the grief FSU is getting as a result of its game against Jax State (Jax State was always a Div II powerhouse but had to move to Div IAA when it couldn’t find Div II opponents). Bottom line – cupcake games are bigger “traps” than a trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas.
UGA NATION
September 16th, 2009
8:20 am
Read what I have to say…
http://uganationblog.blogspot.com/
William
September 16th, 2009
8:21 am
The Dawgs have to score 45 points to win. Remember WILLIE MARTINEZ! He make a mediocre offense look great. The question is can the Dawgs score that much? You decide.
T
September 16th, 2009
8:27 am
Tony .. your updates should be renamed The Dawg Blog
Got 12?
September 16th, 2009
8:28 am
1. I’m not sure how the Ark game is a trap game for UGA. Ark is favored to win. Ark has the better offense and both defenses are horrible.
2. LSU is what it is. They’ll be better next year but, for this year, what you’ve seen is what you’ll get.
3. I’m sure the UVa AD has already been in touch with an executive search firm. Groh is toast.
4. Let’s be honest: Nationally, no one is talking about Ark v. UGA or AU v WVU.
5. This game will tell the tale for BYU. OU with it’s brand new O-line was overrated.
MoDawg
September 16th, 2009
8:29 am
Now that Tony has weighed in and has some doubts about the Dawgs, I feel even better about the game on Saturday!
Go Dawgs! (and thanks Tony)
hammerhead
September 16th, 2009
8:31 am
Well, it’s good to see ol’ “m” is back with us after the Tide stomped a mudhole in Va Tech’s arse. Still cherry picking games to try and argue the ACC is superior to the SEC. I thought he may stay in hiding until basketball season. Would’ve been nice.
coach smith
September 16th, 2009
8:31 am
I think it is HARD to have a TRAP GAME this early in the season once you have already lost a game
“Trap games” are usually when you have just come off a huge win and have a lesser opponenet sandwhiched in between two BIG GAMES …..Georgia has AZST next week, there is NO LOOK AHEAD….so there is NO TRAP
AND
I keep hearing all about how great MALLET is…??? He has played in 4 games in 3 years and the ONLY game he has played at Arkansas was against MizzouST….
MALLET HAS NOT PLAYED IN AN SEC GAME!
Georgia will win as long as they don’t turn the ball over too many times
coach smith
September 16th, 2009
8:39 am
m
UCONN is not in the ACC so……techies can’t play them in the ACCC
David
September 16th, 2009
8:41 am
-For the longest time I had Arkansas winning this game but I feel like UGA is about to turn it up a notch.
-I still have LSU pegged as my darkhorse nat’l champion. They may win ugly but they win.
-I’m surprised Groh hasn’t already been let go. Remember when all these hotshot coaches first joined the ACC and it was claimed the league had the best coaches in the biz… T. Bowden, Groh, Coker, Friedgen, Amato, Gailey, Jagodzinski (sp?)… Funny that they’re all gone or about to be.
-2 years ago this probably would’ve been THE game of the weekend but with Rodriguez and Tuberville gone… who cares.
-Not sure what my take on the FSU/BYU game. Everything indicates BYU will smoke the ‘noles but I don’t think they’re dead yet. It feels like BYU is already counting they’re BCS chickens and may overlook FSU.
F-105 Thunderchief
September 16th, 2009
8:42 am
I wish for the Seminoles to defeat the Cougars. Let it be so, oh Great Spirit.
Oledawg
September 16th, 2009
8:45 am
The Porkers will try to suck our Cox….into a “trap”, but where is the trap? They iz what they iz. They have prepared all year for us and we know they aren’t an easy play. What we get from these athletes determines the game, not some made up “trap”. Did anyone ever consider that you waited (after introduction of the word 2mos ago) to look like you are pontificating on a new word for “tough”? It will be a tough game, not a trap. “Sucking our Cox…” would have been a better play on words than “trap”. Where the heck is the analysis to promote such a mysterious thing to happen to this team and coaches? Javon Snead is the best qb talent we will face in the SEC…end of story. How good his receivers play versus our pass rush is the game. Not as mysterious, but at least analytical. In case you haven’t read our full schedule and will come up with something “mysterious” for each game, please let me help you. Coach Richt has already told you before the season that they are ALL tough. How about comparing each team’s attributes that make them tough. Makes better reading and discussions.
m
September 16th, 2009
8:46 am
The m at 8:15 above is just a silly imposter that doesn’t like it because the sec is so overhyped and overrated.
45-42….glad it still hurts so bad…and it is only the beginning!!
Fleischman in Chattanooga
September 16th, 2009
8:47 am
soooooooooooooooooo weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !
F-105 Thunderchief
September 16th, 2009
8:54 am
Saw a shopper in the grocery story last night in a blue T-shirt with organge writing. It said: Memo to Lane Kiffin (smack). Here’s to hoping the Gators vaporize the Vols. I’m a Florida fan one week a year and this is it. Go Gators! (this week only)
PMC
September 16th, 2009
8:58 am
If they are overlooking anyone at this point…. they might not be college material.
m
September 16th, 2009
9:00 am
The m at 8:46 continuously flogs the bishop & cannot remember…
38-3!!!!!!!!!!!!
When does lacrosse season start?
Eric
September 16th, 2009
9:02 am
“m” obviously is for MORON! GA was lucky to survive SC. If that QB had run rather than thrown on that last play, GA would be 0-2 today. LSU has a boob for a coach, they’re probably over rated. He’s just been blessed with some talented players. It’s already over for Al Groh. The WV game is huge for us. War Damn Eagle!!! It looks like Fl State is already unraveling.
Dawg Foot
September 16th, 2009
9:09 am
Sounds like the Dawgs are not “man enough”
Monticello Dawg
September 16th, 2009
9:15 am
Unless Georgia loses the turnover battle, they should be able to beat any team on their schedule with the exception of the Gators. Will probably need to be +2 or +3 in turnovers there to win.
12 & 21
September 16th, 2009
9:15 am
Tony? A trap game? are you kidding? Stop being such a Homer. UGA is nothing more than an average/good team. Why do you act like losing to Ark would be such an upset?
m
September 16th, 2009
9:16 am
All of the above m’s are imposters. The one at 8:17, 8:46, and 9:00…I am the real m. It stands for mandy.
Anyway, UCONN is to in the ACC. And we will defeat them. When we play them. If we play them in the georgia dome for the SEC championship game. Anyway we will beat Florida State thursday night and Miami will know we are the best team in the SEC Atlantic Division.
UGA sucks and they will not win their game this week against Oklahoma….and whoever keeps bringing up that we lost to LSU in the citrus bowl last year, stop bringing that up because we only lost because FSU cheated and the referees messed up our….did….someone…just…whisper my name?????? I thought I heard a voice tell me…..
Anyway, the score of that game with LSugag was shouldn;t hves been 38-9 bcvslc jonathatn dyer is my hero. ..he plyd hard all game before them aliens took his hat……I like that episode of spongebob thats on right now….anyway…..I;m the REAL m……there anit nobody else on heere named m but me.
Someone get my crayons……its only gonna get worse bulldogs because my diaper needs changing. And for your information….Saint Simons is going to change it!!!! He will tell you that I am the real M….right after we have a tickle pile…..together….just the two of us….hahahahahaahahahahaha
Habersham Dawg
September 16th, 2009
9:21 am
m, wasn’t the ACC 6-6 vs the SEC last year? Last I checked, the bowl games count.
UGASlobberknocker
September 16th, 2009
9:27 am
bamafan is right on about cupcake games. I know many Ga fans who whine about playing people like Ga Southern; but they are the same ones who are now whining about opening at Ok State. As bamafan points out, losses to the good team are not near as hurtful as those to people like Jax State and La-La.
If the Dawgs run the table (unlikely but, hey, im a dawg fan)..the Ok state loss wont mean a thing..we will still be in the championship game . the BCS champ has been undefeated only 3 or 4 times in 11 years..LSU won it after losing their last reg season game and despite the fact that was loss #2. If the Dawgs had lost to say, Coastal Carolina (see 2011 schedule) rather than Ok St…then we would be toast for the year( for the natl champ)..so bring on the big boys!!
However, the way Damon Evans has been scheduling lately, he seemingly would rather have cupcake games..it is pathetic to compare our future schedules to those of Alabama and Tenn. Among the major SEC schools, only Fla has worse future schedules than Georgia. Clemson and Oregon are the only decent non conf opponents we have on the scedule thru 2016..and they are second tier programs…Meanwhile Ala and Tenn have Penn State, Ohio State, No Dame, just to name 3.
C’mon Damon, grow some nads, would ya? No one wants to see Coastal Carolina or New Mexico State (twice!!!!!!)
AUATL
September 16th, 2009
9:28 am
I think UGA is in trouble this weekend. They haven’t been impressive and Arkansas has a much better QB/RB combo with Ryan Mallet and Micheal Smith. Two years now under Petrino’s system Arkansas may suprise a lot of folks.
Auburn may be a sleeper too. If we can soundly beat a good WVU team and Ball St, that will be three teams Auburn has beat that went to a bowl last year. I haven’t been all that impressed with LSU, Bama, or Ole Miss and think the SEC west could be a wide open race included Auburn and Arkansas. It’s early, but that is my gut feeling right now.
m
September 16th, 2009
9:31 am
habersham dawg….ok count the bowl games 6-6. The ACC and sec were EVEN…..the sec is all hype.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 16th, 2009
9:35 am
No trap game, you get on the damn plane fly out and play ball. For those you whining about the schedule. It is what it is abd you play it to win every game. Luckily we have had a couple of supposedly better than FCS opponents that will have kicked us up a notch for the remainder of the season.
FSU needs this win in the biggest way. Bowden will pretty much be gone after this year if he falls too far behind JoPa. If they can’t keep those wins from being vacated then in steps Jimbo (or maybe not). I don’t understand that coach in waiting senario anyway. If things aren’t going well now what hand does he have in things to try and make them better? Surely he would if he could, right?
It is nice that LSU can hide the cards till they play us. I don’t think for one minute that Miles would hold back playing a close game with Vandy. Get better by playing the games yes. But holding back, no.
Groh is gone.
Auburn has a chance to make a statement this weekend. Good luck to them.
DawginLex
September 16th, 2009
9:39 am
Hey m,
WHAT IS THE RECORD OF THE ACC VERSUS THE SEC IN 2009??????
12 & 21
September 16th, 2009
9:39 am
Monticello Dawg……………you are a perfect snap shop of the typical UGA fan. Reality is not part of your thinking process. There will be losses to LSU, GT and maybe AUB. And the Gators…………whew…you don’t even want to watch that one. UM will comtinue to spank CMR for his poor decision making in 2007!!!
YellowandBlackAttack
September 16th, 2009
9:39 am
I think we (GT) will beat Miami. I think they got a great young QB, but I’m not convinced they got the horses on D yet to stop our TOA. GT 37 UM 21 and my boys keep rolling!
I think UGA beats Ark. I think Cox is gaining confidence and their D gets Justin Houston back from suspension. He’s their best DE. And whether anyone (especially Tech fans) wants to admit it….Branden Smith looks like the real deal and he scares the crap out of me! That kid had rockets tied to his feet on that reverse. If Bobo gives him about 20 touches a game, the Dawgs O will be scaaaaaary.
Auburn will beat WV. Their new O coor looks like he has things rolling.
I’m worried for FSU…I want them to beat BYU so the ACC will not continue to look soft, but gees, they had to come from behind in the 4th quarter to beat the same team we crushed. BYU 24 FSU 13
Yes, I’m afraid Groh is indeed…history.
Good luck to all….play hard, stay healthy.
Denver Dog
September 16th, 2009
9:40 am
Dogs win, come back, blah blah blah. Ark comes out hot, dogs clean house
LSU is a mystery every year. Who knows?
Groh keeps coaching at UVA, shoot he has still done better than anyone there recently.
Auburn is in a trap game too! Watch for this to be a low scoring, first half wild second half maybe even overtime
FSU beats BYU.
m stands for moron
September 16th, 2009
9:41 am
the SEC has won the last 3 National Championships and is top-to-bottom the best conference every year. and any dolt with a media guide could verify that. why don’t you check the facts (AND use a spell-check) before your next post. or go write on an ACC board – you won’t be missed here…
Mikey
September 16th, 2009
9:45 am
Trap game?
THAT AINT TRUE !!!
Will
September 16th, 2009
9:45 am
This is the type game that CMR loves…. a road game at night where everyone is thinking the dawgs are going to get beat. Not so fast UGA haters, we will play much better on D because Leftover Mullet cannot scramble and our offense will put up 500+ yards. UGA 42-17. 2-0 in the SEC will give us some momentum heading into the heart of the schedule.
Gary
September 16th, 2009
9:50 am
1) This should not be a trap game any longer for UGA. Maybe going into the season it was, but after the first two games, the way the team held on to beat South Carolina, and the fact that we are not even talking about the ASU game at all this season; the real trap game (like in 2006 when Colorado came to town) will be next week with ASU. The following week LSU comes to town before we go to Knoxville to play Tennessee. Arkansas hasn’t shown much so no one really knows what to expect from them. However, we have been to Fayetteville before under coach Richt when it was considered a “trap” game and we came away with a victory. Extra note: If you want to blame Evans for the schedule, don’t blame him for scheduling OSU and ASU in the same season. Blame him for only one week off this year (even though it is before the Florida game).
2) Not sure what to make of the current LSU bunch. Vandy slowed down an offense that looked solid against Washington. This is put up time for Les Miles. These are his kids now so let’s see what he does now with his own team of seasoned recruits. He has two and possibly three tough games in a row coming up with UGA, Florida, and Auburn.
3) If Virginia struggles again, look for the change to be made instantly a la Clemson last season. Al Groh surely sees the writing on the wall already. This season was supposed to have been an improvement. Unfortunately this team is regressing and fast. Groh will be lucky to make it into October.
4) I like the Auburn-West Virginia matchup. Being an SEC homer, I am pulling for Auburn to win this game, but don’t take them lightly Tigers. A win here and people will start taking notice.
5) A tale of two teams going in the opposite direction. BYU took advantage of a missing Sam Bradford and beat the Sooners. Last week they did what great teams are supposed to do after a big win and dispatched a very bad Tulane team. This week they have the struggling Seminoles coming into their house. A win here and we are talking about BYU possibly cracking the top 5 and a realistic shot at the BCS title game. FSU is lost and a loss here will begin the Jimbo Fisher era a little earlier than many expected.
JMc12203
September 16th, 2009
9:51 am
Hey southga88, a question – How many championships have your precious, and yearly OVERRATED Dawgs won with all of those top rated 4 and 5 star laden classes??? That is what I thought. LSU has 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, and Florida this past season climbed UP to their level. LSU and Florida are the class of the SEC, with Alabama trying to get up there. Everyone else is on a lower plateau. They are wannabe’s. BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE IT IS TRUE!!! Talk to me again when your team has won 2 national championships.
Da truth
September 16th, 2009
9:59 am
yep AUATL – Auburn is great….great …great…keep believing and maybe it will change reality.
Starring Harry Morgan as Sherman Potter
September 16th, 2009
10:03 am
I wonder what kind of night life they have in Provo? What happens if you sneak in an illegal can of Coke into the game? Can you imagine the tailgating scenario? And if you are a graduate, do you take all of your wives to the game or just one?
PMC
September 16th, 2009
10:04 am
More pressure should be put by the NCAA on every program to schedule only FBS teams. Every schedule should look like Georgia’s this year every year. Breather games are a joke… Not one FCS team win should count for a bowl.
Damon Evans should be applauded for giving us these games even if they do lose 3 or 4 this year.
shards1967
September 16th, 2009
10:04 am
Bama takes the West with one loss. They will play Florida in the dome in the SECCG. They possibly can handle Florida too. They are very,very, very physical and fast.
UGA takes third in the East behind Florida, U of T or SC. The East is far and away the weakest division this year. Ole Miss and LSU are second rated to Bama and Auburn is just ahead of MSU and Arkansas.
There will STILL be about 7 SEC teams in mostly mid tier to much lower rated bowls this year. UGA will be in Music City or the Weedeater in Shreveport. Do they still do that bowl thing in the Dome in Pontiac, Michigan??? …………..maybe Auburn of Ole Miss end up there. LSU in the Cotton maybe.
The Big 12 and the PAC 10 and the Big 10 are all down this year ( except S Cal) and we will see more new names like BYU coming into the prominence in major bowsl. Sort of like Obama being elected Pres. …. a dumbing down if you will. Obama is the equivalent of the Weedeater Bowl to 58% of Americans. Bottom of the barrel so to speak.
SEC is also really down this year. ACC? They are now the worst “major” conference in the nation. Their “powers” are Miami, FSU and VA Tech and they are simply put in the Ole Miss, SC level of play. Fair.
Ga Tech? At best they will be 8-4 and will play in the Weedeater vs. maybe Ole Miss ( 9-3) or ( 9-3 ) LSU. These two would slaughter Tech. They would simply play assignment football which defeats the Bone with better athletes. Easy to do or the Bone would have remained a mainstay of NCAA play but it was canned back in the early 80s. Assignment football defeats that game. See Tech vs LSU and that ugly slaughter. A passing team will destroy tech. A balanced team will overwhelm Tech. Clemson is about as “good” as Arkansas or Auburn. Nice teams but also 7-5 teams.
One final word ………..the tech wishbone will be exposed more and more as they play teams with D players that can run and it begins Thursday night. Va Tech, Miami, FSU and one huge ACC upset
( VA ) and UGA will render the jackets a very average season of 7-5 to 8-4. CPJ will leave for a ND or a Miami where he can win big.
Go Dawgs
DawgCrazy
September 16th, 2009
10:06 am
No worries! Arkansas is not that good. The Dawgs win this game easy, and get their starters some good second half rest. Dawgs roll: 41-23
Got 12?
September 16th, 2009
10:06 am
AUATL,
It’s a little early for Auburn fans to make plans for the SEC Championship game but I appreciate your enthusiasm. As much has I dislike Auburn, I will give you guys credit for beating two horrible teams the way you did. We don’t usually do that. I just play around and play around. Hopefully, we will take care of business early against N. Texas.
Gary
September 16th, 2009
10:06 am
One more thing I would like to add. I am a UGA fan. I love the schedule this year and in the coming years with quality opponents on the OOC schedule.
Why? Well instead of opening against GA Southern, Tennessee Tech, Central Michigan, etc……UGA is opening and playing against quality opponents who give the team a real test in preparation for the SEC. Last year this team could have really used an opening game in Stillwater in addition to the trip to Tempe because then the team probably would not have taken Alabama lightly.
Now the best part about the schedule this year is we are going into the third game and we have not played an easy team yet. We are playing a lot of young guys and this will only make them better and more battle tested as their UGA careers continue. You want to be standing at the end of a season with a Championship trophy in your hands and you want no doubt as to why you are holding it. A tough schedule with quality non-conference opponents will help you achieve that.
Todd
September 16th, 2009
10:07 am
Tony, you can’t overlook the MR factor and his allegiance to Joe Cox being a SR. Sure, you start the 5th yr. SR every time, who’s questioning that, but now after 2 games you see what Joe Cox is capable of, you question why you wouldn’t rotate in Logan G.
When you bring this up, you get a wave of Dawg bloggers who come with the MR coached Charlie Ward, Matt Stafford, D. Greene….. I think he knows, Yea he coached Joe T. and started him even later in the yr. against Tenn. until it became so apparrent and blatent, he had no choice but to announce the keys were handed to Matt Stafford.
He’s doing the same thing with Joe Cox.
MR will pay the price this season at some pt. I say Sat. night unfortuately. Logan G. will get thrown in to a bad spot eventually. Then all heck breaks loose in the Dawg Nation.
Mark it down.
DamnGoodDawg
September 16th, 2009
10:07 am
This is one of those games where we have better players but will be out coached.
JB
September 16th, 2009
10:07 am
m is…………………..Mandy…? wonder what the body looks like…. We know the face has acne and thick glasses with 50’s looking Sci fi black rims……..
McDawg
September 16th, 2009
10:10 am
agree with Gary perhaps at one time this was a trap game but now its a survival game-i see the real potential for a dynamic offense and IF IF IF we get a pass rush i think our D will be solid-certainly have the personel-
BTW Arkanasa has one of the best kick returners in the country
Chuck
September 16th, 2009
10:12 am
LSU isn’t the class of S#!T, jackasses. They play the biggest joke of a schedule on the planet year after year after year. These morons don’t play a meaningful game until OCTOBER, and they never play a quality non-conference opponent on the road. Stop telling me about the win in Washington. Those guys had lost 13 straight in the PAC 10–the PAC 10. Keep pumping your chests about that one if it makes you feel better. LSU is the most over rated program in the country, and their fans are the biggest turn-coats in college football. I just love it when their own stadium is empty with 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter (see 2008 games vs. Troy and UGA), and it makes me laugh even harder when these same drunk idiots all claim to have been there to the bitter end. That school, it’s program, and its fans are a joke!
JB
September 16th, 2009
10:13 am
You are so right Gary…If Florida wins it all this year, it’ll need to have a asterisk next to it. ‘ played no one to prove it. Yes, That will include Dawgs this year.
PTC DAWG
September 16th, 2009
10:14 am
When UGA scheduled OK ST, they were coming off a bowl win. I have no idea about ASU, but I know who their Coach is, so who’s to think what they would be? I think we all understand the Pac-10 is all about USC. The others are playing for 2nd’s…
As far as any opposing teams fan calling them patsies etc., why doesn’t your respective team schedule 3 OOC BCS eams, with two on the road? I can think of only one other school in a major conference doing this, and they also happen to play in Georgia….GT….I’m not complaining, I’m hoping our opener (which I have to believe is tougher than Fripp Island), will help us down the road.
KR
September 16th, 2009
10:15 am
Call me cautiously optimistic about Auburn’s season. Unlike some of my fellow Auburn fans, I’m not quite ready to say we’ll take ‘Bama this year. (I never actually say that ahead of time; I’m not stupid.)
We’ve done the right things so far this season and gotten good results. This week, the competition ramps up significantly and we’ll be tested to see if we can match. I like our chances.
WAR EAGLE!
JB
September 16th, 2009
10:16 am
LSU is a lot of things, but kicking Tech’s ARSE last year was priceless………..I watched the game again this summer. The look on Johnson’s face was worth the time. didn’t sniff the end zone.
Darindawg
September 16th, 2009
10:17 am
“shards1967″…..Are you a UGA fan or GT fan or neither? Anyway, Paul Johnson to ND..hmmmmm. Sounds interesting, haven’t really thought about that, but I doubt they get him since fat guy has only recruited pro-style QBs. Anyway, Meyer will probably bolt for ND after this season, leaving the Gaytors Tebowless and Meyerless.
Anyway, UGA will take down Ark….we get our best DE back and Ark’s DL is not as good as SC’s was. Our OL takes over by the 3rd quarter.
GT will beat Miami if they can contain that young QB. He’s young, but got a good arm.
Auburn will beat WV.
FSU will take down BYU and end the cinderella story.
The Real SugarHillDawg
September 16th, 2009
10:18 am
I saw the team Arkie played (Mizzou St.) and they had WHITE d-backs!UGA has been battle tested and Arkie played a middle school team! It will be an enjoyable NON stressful game for UGA fans.
Okefenokee Dawg
September 16th, 2009
10:21 am
Eric, did you read what the South Carolina quarterback said the reason he threw the ball rather than ran – he saw ole #35 out of the corner of his eye.
RK
September 16th, 2009
10:23 am
Being a good boy from T’ville, I wasn’t going to bring up the Fla/OleMiss game Sheriff.
murfdawg
September 16th, 2009
10:26 am
Zoo Dawg,
Don’t you remember how tough flying used to be? Drinking all the Scotch, chasing the stewardesses,mile high club,etc,etc. how can you ask a 19 year old to get on a plane,turn on his i-pod, sleep for two hours and then play a ballgame? It’s a trap!!A communist conspiracy!!What can we do? Yankees in Tara!!! Help!!!!
JB
September 16th, 2009
10:26 am
Dawgs win this week. Arkansas not there yet. Petrino is a pretty good coach, but you need horses to win the race. They aren’t there yet. I think cox get better every week, these young guys with speed get more plays and the D, although not what we are used to, we will be better than last year. I thinks Samuels had a light go off. If he plays like that the rest of the year, he’s going to hurt some people. SC could NOT stop him.
Got 12?
September 16th, 2009
10:31 am
Okefenokee Dawg,
I doubt Garcia saw #35 out of the corner of his eye. If Garcia had used his peripheral vision at all, he would have seen the receiver standing alone at the three-yard line.
jamlock
September 16th, 2009
10:31 am
Huge Hogs fan and moderate Dawgs fan who matriculated from both. Georgia has been mildly overrated and Arkansas somewhat underrated this season. Should be a great game, but I hope the Hogs pull it out!
Got 12?
September 16th, 2009
10:34 am
JB,
Please quantify how you guys will be better this year. Will you have a better record or do you mean team cohesiveness or what?
Are you worried about Arkansas? | The Junkyard Blawg
September 16th, 2009
10:36 am
[...] in the preseason folks have been pointing toward this game as a dangerous one for Georgia, with Tony Barnhart making the point again: Georgia is coming off two tough games while the Hogs have had an off week [...]
gdawginkalamazoo
September 16th, 2009
10:49 am
Better be out there practicing in the rain this week. Saturday forecast in Fayetteville is calling for rain. That tends to slow down all that speed that we supposedly have. Makes the ball slippery and it appears that we have had problem hanging on to the dry ones so far.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 16th, 2009
10:57 am
murfdawg, you forgot the in-flight massage table to keep the kinks worked out.
azdawg
September 16th, 2009
11:00 am
ARK will be every bit as tough as SC was for UGA. They’ll complete a ton of passes unless the dawgs D can pressure the QB. Hopefully, Houston’s return will help. ARK’s running game is better than SC’s and they have as good KO returner as UGA has seen thus far. Hopefully, UGA will snuff the run but there will be some big runs that was absent in SC game. ARK will be well rested coming off a bye and don’t think they won’t be prepared. Difference maker will be UGA talent on the field must be better than the oppositions and want it more. Say what you want about their head coach but he has won big games as a college coach. He’s not new to winning. Just have to hope CMR’s winning track record for away games gets back on track after the losing effort at OKI state.
Eliminate TO’s, get the ball to your best players, tighten up the special teams, don’t give up on the running game, throw some blitz’s in for a change, and hope we score a bunch to keep pace w/the points CWM is going to allow w/his bend but please don’t break my back defensive strategy. Go Dawgs!
Stephen
September 16th, 2009
11:03 am
A trap game is a game where you’re overconfident against a weaker opponent and slip up. That is NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE to an accurate description of UGA vs Arkansas. UGA was a Rennie finger’s length away from an 0-2 start and hasn’t been impressive in either game. Anyone that is overconfident hasn’t watched those two games. The informed commentary is pretty reserved.
An actual trap game would be if UGA puts all the pieces together against Arkansas, then mails it in against ASU….
Speaking of mailing it in, not much substance in this column.
JB
September 16th, 2009
11:05 am
Got 12……….Washington and Houston and Brandon smith plus they know they were bad last year, so
more pride…..and the other big tackle back, his name escapes me at the moment.
CharlotteGator
September 16th, 2009
11:05 am
Let’s see if you can find the non-flattering quote in this article.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/sep/15/simek-acknowledges-having-talk-with-kiffin/?sportscollege
UT prez, what were you thinking? What do you base any of your comments on?
Chuck Uga
September 16th, 2009
11:10 am
Let’s get this out of the way. “m” as he calles himself is a village idiot. Most of the other Techie bloggers fall into the category of “ignorant.” They aren’t used to any kind of success, so their lack of football knowledge really stands out in these blogs. Like a small child, just ignore them.
Georgia has not lost to Arkansas since 1993, and terribly fluke loss that ranks up there with one of the worst losses ever. UGA has also never lost at Arkansas (nor at Little Rock). Arkansas is going to surprise some people this year (again, much like they have done against LSU on occasion). Georgia might very likely lose Saturday in a close game. I don’t think Richt has Georgia there “mentally” yet. The likelihood of an 8-4 or 7-5 season is becoming somewhat clear. LSU will beat us, so will Florida and likely Auburn. UGA will beat Tennessee who is terribly overrated with poor line play on both sides. A 2-2 September is more than likely. Georgia will be much better at the end of the season as they will be primed for an SEC East title in 2010. Did I mention they will neat Ga Tech? Yes, they will, which will propel them into the Outbacl Bowl or Peach Bowl depending on what other teams do. South Carolina will also finsish 8-4 or possibly 9-3. Stephen Garcia has grown up.
Chuck Uga
September 16th, 2009
11:12 am
Did I mention I need to spell check my posts? Geesh, these old fingers are hitting the wrong keys.
Chuck Uga
September 16th, 2009
11:17 am
Charlotte Gator,
Be assured, Lane Kiffin is short-term at Tennessee. he will not make it in the SEC, good running back recruits or not. No one yet has followed a legendary coach and been successful…not in the past 50 years anyway. That is documented by the way…look it up.
Gary
September 16th, 2009
11:24 am
I agree with Chuck. Lane will get the recruits in at Tennessee, but a new coach will come in around year 3 or 4 and take that program back to the level they are accustomed too. Kind of like what Houston Nutt is doing at Ole Miss now, what Les Miles did with Saban’s leftovers at LSU, and what Urban Meyer has done at Florida with Zook’s recruits. Lane is stuffing the cupboard so to speak.
G8R GRAD
September 16th, 2009
11:27 am
Charlotte Gator:
I love the metaphorical “pat on the head” by Simek.