Falcons, Dogs, Jackets: Pick your magic number
It's not often the Falcons have danced on stage. But 1998 was that kind of year.
In 1980, Georgia won the national championship and the Falcons won the NFC West, but Georgia Tech went 1-9-1 in Bill Curry’s first season.
In 1990, Georgia Tech shared the national championship, but the Falcons (5-11) had their eighth straight losing season and Georgia (4-7) had its worst finish in three decades under Ray Goff.
In 1998, we experienced the closest Atlanta has come to the three levels of football Nirvana. The Falcons went to the Super Bowl. Tech went 10-2 and tied for first in the ACC. Georgia went 9-3, which maybe didn’t completely satisfy the masses in Athens but it continued an impressive turnaround under Jim Donnan after the Goff years.
Loading ...Including playoffs and bowl games, the Falcons, Jackets and Bulldogs combined for 35 wins in 1998. That has never been equaled. I figure, it’s that time again.
Pick a number. Mine is 31. That represents the total wins by the three teams this football season, including playoffs and bowls games. I needed to limit how many choices I could give in a poll but you can air any prediction you like in the comments section.
Please note: Trends don’t project glory. Partly because of the Falcons’ tendency to fall off a cliff the season following a successful one, history tells Falcons, Dogs and Jackets will not be able to match last years’ 30 wins. In 1999, the win totals of all three teams dropped, individually and collectively (from 35 to 21).
But I’ll buck the odds here. Recently, I went through Georgia Tech’s schedule and projected a 9-3 season. I’ll add a bowl win, giving the Jackets 10. Georgia also will go 10-3, including a bowl, with losses to LSU, Florida and Georgia Tech. Neither will win the conference title. Despite my reservations about the defense, the Falcons will go 10-6 — back to back winning seasons! — and win one playoff game. My total: 31.
- YEAR Fals UGA Tech Total
- 2008 11 10 9 30
- 2007 4 11 7 22
- 2006 7 9 9 25
- 2005 8 10 7 25
- 2004 12 10 7 29
- 2003 5 11 7 23
- 2002 10 13 7 30
- 2001 7 8 8 23
- 2000 4 8 9 21
- 1999 5 8 8 21
- 1998 16 9 10 35 Highs: Falcons go to Super Bowl. Tech co-ACC champs
- 1997 7 10 7 24
- 1996 3 5 5 13 Lows: Falcons start 0-8, Georgia goes 3-5 in SEC
- 1995 9 6 6 21
- 1994 7 6 1 14
- 1993 6 5 5 16
- 1992 6 10 5 21
- 1991 11 9 8 28
- 1990 5 4 11 20
- 1989 3 6 7 16
- 1988 5 9 3 17
- 1987 3 9 2 14
- 1986 7 8 5 20
- 1985 4 7 9 20
- 1984 4 7 6 17
- 1983 7 10 3 20
- 1982 5* 11 6 22
- 1981 7 10 1 18
- 1980 12 12 1 25
- 1979 6 6 4 16
* Falcons went 5-4 in a strike-shortened season.
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186 comments Add your comment
JB
August 20th, 2009
7:32 am
Georgia will not lose to Tech. Worst defense in school history last year and they sneak out with a 3 point win, that with Samuels fumbling on the 6 yard line for an easy 6 and Stafford giving a easy pick for 6. Granted, all part of the game. Dawgs win by 2 td’s this year. That game is circled in Athens this year. We’ll stuff those bowl rings WITH THE GEORGIA SCORE up their butts !
Mac
August 20th, 2009
7:52 am
10 regular season wins … for all three = 30. Now add two bowl wins and two playoff wins for 34.
Max Sizemore
August 20th, 2009
8:00 am
The Falcons won’t win 10. Have a good year in the NFL and your schedule gets tougher. Up one year, down the next. And yes, Georgia will defeat Tech.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 20th, 2009
8:11 am
Birds, 9-7 don’t make playoffs, break the curse.
Dawgs, 10-2 with a bowl game win.
Bees, 7-5 with a blue field bowl game loss.
26.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 20th, 2009
8:15 am
My Tech tutor taught me math.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 20th, 2009
8:18 am
He now cuts my grass.
m
August 20th, 2009
8:22 am
Ugag couldn’t beat Tech last year at home @ the cesspool, in sanford & son stadium, with their best team in 30 years, #1 ranking, 2 NFL first rounders, with Tech having a new coach, a new offense that they were just learning how to run, and beset by injuries.
There is not a chance in helle that ugag could beat Tech this year with Tech running on all cylinders with their new coach and offense and ugag with basically a bunch of scrub players and having to play on the road.
You dawgs are delusional…hear me now and believe me later…Tech will stomp the dawgshiiite out of you this year…Mark it down.
Thank God and Greyound that the worst coach in the history of the world is gone forever…you dawgs are really going to miss him…in fact you miss him already.
45-42…glad it hurts so bad…and it is only the BEGINNING!!
SAINT SIMONS
August 20th, 2009
8:25 am
DID SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT BUTTS? CALL ME
Jeff Schultz
August 20th, 2009
8:27 am
JB – On Georgia vs. Tech: After what I saw last season (from both teams) I have to see Dogs do it defensively on the field. Tech is only going to be better offensively. Georgia should be better defensively but have to see it first.
Mac – So you’re putting Falcons in NFC title game (or in the Super Bowl if they have a first round bye)? Confident. You might be right.
Tim – Ah, the blue field. I’ve covered two games in Boise. Actually, I’ve come to like Boise. Not the blue field though.
JB cry baby
August 20th, 2009
8:32 am
They snuck out a 3 point win, by scoring 45 points in Athens! Against the number 1 team in the country! OH no wait a minute………
You are why everyone makes fun of Georgia fans, you’re the greatest in August and in November you got unlucky, injuries, bad weather, wait till next year. LOL!
Cuz
August 20th, 2009
8:33 am
The blue field is evil. It is part of the Scientology cult to turn us all into autotrons babbling incoherently over and over, “Must give BCS bowl to Boise State, must give BCS bowl to Boise State…….”.
JB cry baby
August 20th, 2009
8:34 am
And they did it with a rinky dink high school offense! LMAO
Cuz
August 20th, 2009
8:39 am
Don’t forget the non-neutral field excuse in JAX. That one is my favorite excuse. I just think we lost the games, no bad karma. You play the hand you were dealt. Our hand last year was not so good but we bluffed our way to a ten win season. Not to shabby if you look at the big picture.
Total wins by all teams 29.
Cuz
August 20th, 2009
8:40 am
That high school offense may be rinky, but it is not dinky.
The Real YellowJacket
August 20th, 2009
8:49 am
Them Dawgs just love to scratch and moan. Welcome to ATLANTA this year!
ForTheRecord
August 20th, 2009
8:50 am
I’ll take the Under on the 31 line.
Tech will win 10.
Falcons will win 9.
Dawgs will win 7.
Total……..26.
Some thing never change...
August 20th, 2009
8:52 am
U.S. News and World ranks GT #7 and UGA #21 (some things never change); and, Tech beat UGA 45 – 42 last year (while other things sometimes change). Some days are better than others when you are not the lead dog!
But, yesterday the ticket broker did pay me $2200 for my 4 UGA season tickets (all upper level), and when I offered him my Tech season tickets (lower level, 35 yard line, 45th row – I’ll be going to Clemson games this year – kids a senior there) he said there was no demand right now for Tech tickets so he declined. Some things, obviously, never change
Tom
August 20th, 2009
8:55 am
I believe the ACC tie-in to Boise is over.
Nerdz
August 20th, 2009
8:57 am
Since when is playing at Boddy Dodd High School a bad thing. 35,000 UGA fans + the tech band…What will we do?
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
August 20th, 2009
8:58 am
Falcons win 8, GT wins 8, Ga wins 9, One bowl win = 26
PMC
August 20th, 2009
9:00 am
The Falcons winning at least 9 and going to the playoffs is all I really care about. I hope collectively they win 31.
CW
August 20th, 2009
9:01 am
So let me get this straight, UGA will beat OK state’s high powered offense but lose to the wishbone option high school crap from tech for the second year in a row? LOL! You folks at the ajc crack me up. I will make one prediction. I don’t know about the other 11 games on UGA’s schedule but I KNOW FOR A FACT Mark Richt will NOT lose to Paul Johnson 2 years in a row
MiltonDawg
August 20th, 2009
9:04 am
I foresee the NFC South being weak with the exception of the Falcons- 11 or 12 wins for the Birds, 10 or 11 for the Dawgs, 8 or 9 for the Jackets. Soooo..anywhere from 29 to 32 Wins combined.
DawginLex
August 20th, 2009
9:10 am
Tech 10-3 Losses to UNC, FSU and UGA
UGA 11-2 Losses to UF and Ark
Neither wins the conference or their division.
Both win the bowl games
Falcons 11-7 (10-6 RS, 1-1 Playoffs)
32 is the number. Jeff, this may be as close to a golden age as your going to get with these 3 actually all having a chance to be good.
Throw in the Hawks and the Braves and right now, GA sports is probably as good as it has been.
SavannahJacket
August 20th, 2009
9:10 am
For the Record… Jeff I pretty much believe that you and your writing really SUCK! However, I really like this article and I believe that you are pretty much on with your picks. I don’t think that UGA will win 10. They will get losses to Okie State, LSU, Florida, & Georgia Tech. You are just about right with Tech, but I do think thing Falcons could make it a little deeper in the playoffs. I would go with 32.
Cuz
August 20th, 2009
9:10 am
Milton, the blue field whispered 29.
DawginLex
August 20th, 2009
9:11 am
You’re going to get, not your. The nerd herd likes to spell check my posts.
Eastside Jacket
August 20th, 2009
9:13 am
Yep, a Top 10 ranked school academically and STILL whup the football factory in Athens on the gridiron. Man it’s great to be a Tech fan.
BLAZER
August 20th, 2009
9:19 am
it’s still 45-42 and 49-10!!!!!!!!!
30 wins between them
A Realist
August 20th, 2009
9:20 am
I am hoping that all three teams have winning seasons this year, ESPECIALLY THE FALCONS!!!
Tech is going to surprise “The Dawgs” again this year with back-to-back wins and I can’t wait to hear all the moans and groans from the Bulldog fans wanting to run Richt out of Athens. It is going to happen and I can’t wait to read all the hateful comments coming out of Athens on the AJC blogs.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!
Shmoopie
August 20th, 2009
9:27 am
It takes both. You could not live without the engineers. They invent and build everything that we use. You also couldn’t live without the mutts. They pump out the Port-A-Potties and bring the pizzas and bag the groceries. So you see, it takes us both to live in this world! And thank you guys , by the way!
Concerned Friend
August 20th, 2009
9:34 am
JEFF: When I clicked on your link the following banner popped up over your name and picture:
“THHE SOAP SCUM IN YOUR SHOWER”
(YOUR PICTURE HERE)
JEFF SCHULTZ
Dave
August 20th, 2009
9:36 am
I laugh when I see all the Tachies use words like “Whipped ‘em”, “crushed” and “lousy dawg defense” when referring to last year. Yet the staunch Jacket defense gave up 407 yards passing and 42 points on their own. UGA simply self destructed with turnovers and bad tackling. True, you won the game which makes you 1 out of the past 8. Oh wait..I forgot the “It’s only the beginning…” from Tech. Face it nerds, after your 3 pt win you will be put back in your 4th tier place for the next 7 years. Even a blind squirrle finds a nut every now and then. I’m just glad you finally DID win one, so we could actually get some motivation for you. See you in November where UGA will re establish the correct world order again.
DawginLex
August 20th, 2009
9:37 am
Shmoopie,
It also takes all the accountants, doctors and lawyers that graduate from UGA to clean up all the mess made by the engineers. Especially when they way underestimate the cost to build something and all the UGA grads have to figure out a way to pay for it because they are the folks doing the actual work.
Suck it Nerd
August 20th, 2009
9:39 am
meh.
Falcons win 9
UGA wins 9
Tech wins 10
UGAfans=lozers
August 20th, 2009
9:40 am
Tech 10-2 + 1 bowl win
Ugag 7-5
Falcons 11-5 1-1
I’ll take 30 wins.
G
August 20th, 2009
9:40 am
Since 1979, UGA has had 19 seasons in which they won more games than Tech while Tech has had 5 seasons in which they won more games than UGA (with 5 draws).
During this same span UGA is 22-8 straight up against Tech (and 3 of Tech’s wins during this span are unrecognized by the NCAA due to fielding inelgible players).
Suck it Nerd
August 20th, 2009
9:42 am
Kills me to say it but Tech beats UGA this year with the pass. No record setting day or anything but enough to keep UGA off balance.
RedandBlack
August 20th, 2009
9:42 am
The teams that wear the Red and Black shall persevere with 25 wins combined, while the other team will bring up the rear with 8 wins. That is a total of 33 wins, Math Majors. Go Falcons, Go Dogs!!
Eagles hater
August 20th, 2009
9:44 am
The 1st poster got it right…. 45-42 was a fluke and wont happen again especially this season.
third priority Destroy the bugs by 21 or more
second SEC champs
first NC
Cox will have a fine year. O and D line will play at a high level and RB shuffle will keep the legs fresh.
Ramblinwreck83
August 20th, 2009
9:45 am
31 Wins should be expected. UGA will have a pretty decent year (9 wins), Tech will win 10 (with a win over UGA) and the Falcons will win 12, losing in the NFC championship. All in all, that sounds like an awesome year for Georgia sports.
Joey
August 20th, 2009
9:47 am
Falcons and Dawgs had tough records – 9 wins each. Tech should win 9. =27
law dawg
August 20th, 2009
9:51 am
the end of november cannot come soon enough……..
Beautiful Monte
August 20th, 2009
9:51 am
The first football game of the 2009 campaign has yet to be played, but I see that the UGA fans are already in mid-season form with their asinine comments and excuse-making.
In particular, these in-bred bozos make me laugh with their comments about GT’s “high school offense”. Manned with players who were recruited to run an entirely different scheme, that “high school offense” stomped a mud hole in Uga’s arse last season.
Therefore, if Tech has a “high school offense”, the Dawgs must be utilizing a K-4 defense.
The bottom line is this: there’s not another college football program IN THE ENTIRE NATION that’s done LESS with MORE than UGA. The Dawgs have a great recruiting base, fantastic facilities, rabid (literally) fans, and a huge war chest … and yet they haven’t been able to win a national title since Herschel still had one personality.
In the meantime, while UGA is talking the talk, the Gators will be walking the walk … again.
Ramblinwreck83
August 20th, 2009
9:53 am
UGA fans are in another world if they think SEC champs and NC this year. Be realistic about your chances. By the way, most teams actually got better this year from last. Not just UGA.
G- ineligible players. UGA is one school that shouldn’t start talking about eligible players. How many actually really make the grades to play. Not just fudged to get them on the field. Don’t call the kettle black.
Flarrrda Fan
August 20th, 2009
9:54 am
The incessant posting about how great Georgia Tech is because they beat Georgia last year is laughable. Last time I watched Tech they were getting absolutley mauled in the bowl game 100 yards from your campus. As a Gator fan, I have my own gripes with Georgia, but I’m not delusional enough to talk myself out of the fact that they are one of college football’s big boys. Even so, I was surprised to see how dominant UGA has been over Tech in the last 30 years.
DawginLex
August 20th, 2009
9:57 am
Monte,
Judging a program based on national titles is apoor indicator as to whether a program is successful or not. Using your formula, there is only one successful program every year and everyone else underachieves.
tell Pete Carroll that-he has 1 title
tell Mack Brown that-he has 1 title
tell Steve Spurrier that-he has 1 title
tell Jim Tressel that-he has 1 title
Richt is the best coach UGA has ever had, better than Dooley, because of the strength of the SEC now vs Dooley’s time. If 82 wins and 2 SEC titles in 8 years is underachieving, what is success?
Ramblinwreck83
August 20th, 2009
10:02 am
Yes we have been dominated by UGA, but all things come to an end. I have plenty of UGA fans that just think that every year they will win against Tech without thinking twice. It eventually happens. FLA thought the same thing against UGA for 12 years and it eventually happened and FLA lost. UGA has a better program for sports. They have better facilities and normally better recruits. They also have had the luxury of having MR for all these years. I bet if i bring up Jim D’s name, UGA fans will start to forget who he was. I believe he lost to Tech 3 years in a row. It will be a close game for years to come.
TO Mr. Schultz
August 20th, 2009
10:05 am
Falcons 11W – Will not win the division (I hope i’m wrong)
UGA 8W – I am generous, probably wont happen
GT 9W – More realistic, will not lose to UGA (Really come on)
For a grand total of 28 (Still good for all teams)
“Chef” Tim Dix doesn’t your shift at KFC start soon? Yeah shut up and fry my chicken.
JB
August 20th, 2009
10:09 am
Tech is full of themselves and are wrong if they think that anyone 5 miles away from that Ghetto cares anything about them. They think they’re unbeatable ( See LSU 38-3 BEAT DOWN)
Yes, I repeat, they sneak out of Athens with a 3 point win ( refer to Chicken bowl and LSU for what a beating looks like). They are one QB injury away from losing 5-6 games and their Defense is suspect and not deep at all.They will lose week two to Clemson.