Take Tech over Georgia right now in the long run
The Jackets have issues, but Jonathan Dwyer created positive foreshadowing in last game.
Sometime today, Mark Richt and Paul Johnson will speak at their weekly news conferences and assess for the world their respective football teams to this point. And if either has actually figured them out, that puts them ahead of the rest of us.
I’ve covered two Georgia games (Oklahoma State, Arizona State) and two Tech games (Clemson and Miami). I saw most or all of the other ones on TV. Both teams leave me thoroughly confused. Also somewhat dizzy.
Loading ...Tech has extended its personality changes from half to half (vs. Clemson) to game to game (awful vs. Miami; great vs. North Carolina). So I guess that’s progress. At least it leaves a week between games for therapy and makes for easier billing with the insurance company.
The Dogs can’t seem to figure out what they want to be: a solid defensive but offensively inept team (Oklahoma State, Arizona State), which makes it easy to dump on Mike Bobo or Joe Cox (or both). Or a relative video game (South Carolina, Arkansas), built for thrills and maybe the WAC, which makes it easy to dump on Willie Martinez.
Bottom line: Both have issues. Neither looks like a BCS bowl team. But if I had to take one over the other right now, I’ll take Tech. Here’s why:
♦ The Bulldogs are too erratic, too sloppy (minus-nine in turnovers) and still take too many penalties to lead me to believe they have any shot at beating No. 4 LSU this week, or certainly upsetting Florida. Two other games that once looked like gimmes — Tennessee on the road and Auburn at home — now look like potential landmines. And Tech has to be favored to win the last game of the season at Bobby Dodd.
♦ For Tech, I’m assuming the Jonathan Dwyer we saw before the North Carolina game was an aberration, and the one from last week is the norm. The defense is not great and probably won’t get a lot better. But if the Jackets run the ball, that keeps opposing offenses off the field. Further, Tech doesn’t have a can’t-win game on the schedule. The toughest opponent is No. 6 ranked Virginia Tech but that game is at home in a few weeks. The next most difficult game on the schedule is at Florida State, which just lost to South Florida.
The Jackets could always blame fatigue (three games in 13 days) on their worst performance of the season at Miami. I’m not sure what Georgia blames its worst moments on, other than just not being very good. (If Cox had the flu in Game 1, what did he have in Game 4?)
Right now, it’s looking like Tech will be the better team at season’s end. Agree or disagree? I’ve put up a poll if you want to vote, as well as comment.
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503 comments Add your comment
AZ Jacket
September 29th, 2009
10:33 am
Facts are Stubborn Things, oh how you love to live in the past. By the way….Tech has produced Doctors, Lawyers and they have an MBA program…now all I have is a lowly EE MBA and I am certain I make more than a VET, CPA, or some Lawyers. I agree with you though, an education from UGA is solid and those that leave the institution with the diploma will succeed. Football is a game and deals with only a small portion of the campus population. I admire anyone who takes their education to the next level and improves. I always wanted to be an engineer and in the SE I only had two choices GT or Auburn. Now I could not have gone to Auburn…and UGA…No Engineering School.
Gatorman
September 29th, 2009
10:33 am
I pick Georgia to clean the downtown Atlanta streets with Tech this year. If Georgia has just one game this year to fire on all cylinders I’m certain it will be against Tech. The only noteworthy game Tech had so far this year was a spanking against a Miami team that got exposed by Virginia Tech.
Denver Dog
September 29th, 2009
10:34 am
WIley, you Tech boys fail out of school alot by doing stupid things. Making assumpitons for one equation ie bama v va Tech as being equal to Bama vs UGA. Also, potential is not an absolute. Sorry, you get an F in school. Statistical analysis, and calc must not be your strong suit.
hamburger lips
September 29th, 2009
10:34 am
Im afraid that highschool offense will be Willies undoing after this year. Mark it down!
AZ Jacket
September 29th, 2009
10:35 am
Good Post DirtyDawg
AZ Jacket
September 29th, 2009
10:37 am
Now we hear from the swamp.
bling and blang
September 29th, 2009
10:38 am
I got an idea ! Lets all do the Dooley shuffle to the tune of Birthday Sex this Saturday blaring on the loud speakers! Hip Hop Hooray!
Wiley
September 29th, 2009
10:39 am
I actually go to tech so the math insult doesn’t apply. My SAT score is probally twice yours \…but what else do we have to gauge the teams? You want me to gauge how good the teams are on dreams, wishes, and hope? lmao
Ramblinwreck83
September 29th, 2009
10:42 am
I can’t wait to see all these same UGA fans on here after Saturday’s beating by LSU. Your team will be exposed this weekend and the whole country will get to see. UGA defense will get hammered and the offense won’t move the ball. LSU remembers last year’s loss and will get revenge. Les Miles doesn’t forget.
Jake
September 29th, 2009
10:42 am
Ga goes up on az state, barely hangs on and it’s because they were in control and didn’t go for the kill. no it was TURNOVERS and sloppy play. and idiots dancing on the sideline.
tech goes up on clemson, they come back and ga fans say clemson sucks and tech sucks for letting them back in. nothing like a delusional ga fan. they are a dime a dozen
UGAIsSoLastYear
September 29th, 2009
10:42 am
60,000?! I wish. I think our stadium holds maybe 55,000 at best. Nice intimate crowd – no real bad seats, and, if filled with mostly GT fans – a fun place for a game.
DirtyDawg
September 29th, 2009
10:42 am
Oh yeah, I meant to mention…let’s see how Tech fares against MissState this season. My guess is that will say a lot about how far the bees have come, or not, since last year.
GT_DAN
September 29th, 2009
10:43 am
rok_dawg says “UGA is 3-1 even though they are -8 in turnovers!!!”
So these teams obviously aren’t as good as you thought…Okie St. got spanked by Houston, South Carolina should have beat you, Arkansas gave you all you could handle, and you stormed the field after beating a horrible Arizona State team…boy that schedule is TOUGH! The only tough games you have are up coming and I don’t think LSU, UF, Aubbie, and Rocky Top will be so soft and allow you to hang in the game like that…
Wiley
September 29th, 2009
10:46 am
Its a great stadium….and ive been to sanford, kyle field, bryant denny, jordan hare, ben hill griffin, and the big house among many others. Georgia Tech is one of the few places where college football is still about the college, and I love the fact that mostly alumni come to the game. There is nothing like a Thursday night game with the buildings of Atlanta in the back ground.
daltondawg
September 29th, 2009
10:46 am
Thats really not saying alot, they both are pretty bad this year! Techs just in a weaker conference
NavyFan
September 29th, 2009
10:47 am
As a Navy fan, I can definitely relate to GaTech through A.) Paul Johnson, and B.) being the underdog to a rival for so many years.
Do Bulldawg fans really believe that simply being an SEC team will garner wins over Tech? Through some sort of divine right and prestige inheritance? For years, Air Force had that belief over Navy. “It was just a fluke”, the first time we beat them with Paul Johnson. After 5 years of beating Air Force, it is clear that Navy success has not been a fluke. We had a crappy football tradition as of late… we were accustomed to losing. Paul Johnson changed that. So, I ask again, do Dawg fans really that being in the ACC, GaTech doesn’t hold a candle to Georgia? You laugh, but time will tell. If Georgia is so good, they’ll win, despite the conference. If not, they’ll lose.
Hey Dogtards
September 29th, 2009
10:48 am
Why is everyone on here harping on strength of schedule?
Tech and uga’s are pretty much even. Yeah, uog has Florida (maybe tebowless) and (a vastly overrated) LSU. Toss in Auburn (still hasn’t played anyone), Tech, and OK St (lost to Houston at home), and its definitely a tough schedule. Then again, there are also some snoozers in there: Arkansas, Arizona St (just because you barely beat them doesn’t mean its a tough game), Tennessee, Tennessee Tech (at least Jacksonville St. is 2-2), and Kentucky.
Tech on the other hand plays Va Tech, uog, FSU, Clemson, Miami, UNC. That’s not a cake walk either. Clemson nearly beat a top 15 team last week, FSU pummeled BYU the week before, uog is supposedly the second coming of jesus, Miami will run up the score on Oklahoma this weekend in better weather.
elviskl
September 29th, 2009
10:51 am
ga tech will beat the bullpups because we are academically superior and can communicate physically and mentally on the field
NavyFan
September 29th, 2009
10:52 am
Just to clear the air… College Gameday math is irrelevant. Miami loss + VaTech win over Miami = exposed team and yadda, yadda, yadda…
Each Saturday is it’s own animal. It’s one team versus another. You win or you lose. I am confident that GaTech will beat Georgia again, not because of superior athletes, but a better strategy and better coaching. Any other reference to wins and losses earlier in the season is just an excuse.
Yellow Fuzz
September 29th, 2009
10:54 am
georgia = Tech’s bitch
HAHA
September 29th, 2009
10:55 am
Haha – you ignorant rednecks are humorous. Your doggies will get beat and for the people who said Tech would be 0-4 with your schedule, you’re laughable just like your pathetic team.
The Alpha Male
September 29th, 2009
10:55 am
Lame conference, lame schedule, lame excuses…… yes, Tech is definitely a better program in that regard.
GatorDave
September 29th, 2009
10:57 am
I wish CPJ would stop saying G– D— on the sideline!!
JacketFan
September 29th, 2009
10:58 am
Both sides are illustrating the biggest issue facing both schools: being concerned about everything but the task at hand. I’m not even thinking about UGAG yet. We have other Bulldogs to worry about – a Bulldog team that actually had a chance at beating the #4 team in the country. Week to week, gentlemen – week to week.
I’m sure UGAG doesn’t have the luxury of looking ahead to Thanksgiving weekend and I know we don’t. Jeff, why not save this blog to a little further in the season next time. There’s plenty to talk about for both programs without stirring the pot for a game two months away, like, oh, I don’t know, the fact that GT has a possible showdown for their div. championship in two weeks (that is, if they get through FSU on the 10th). And how about UGA’s annual potential implosion against Tennesse – that is, after they face THE #4 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY!. Sheesh.
Go Jackets!
To Hell With Georgia!
What?
September 29th, 2009
10:59 am
GatorDave – does “G- D-” stand for Gator Dave?
BartBuzz
September 29th, 2009
10:59 am
Denver Dog: Your BS comments must really build up your self confidence. I know UGA fans everywhere are proud of your lameness.
mike
September 29th, 2009
11:02 am
UGAIsSoLastYear , are you kidding me!! no real bad seats??? did they remove those steel beams on the visitors side that used to block the peoples view that had to sit behind them. It cracks me up, tech is an engineering schoool but the stadium looks chopped up, sort of thrown together.
Big time?? Not
September 29th, 2009
11:02 am
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
Old-fashioned Hater
September 29th, 2009
11:04 am
all the dawgs say that UGA played bad in their loss to Tech last year, but from what I remember, UGA played excellent. didn’t have to punt once until the 3rd quarter. Massoquoi and Stafford were impecable on senior day. determination and fortitude by the Jackets was the difference last year and I believe this year will be the same.
THWG
LizDawg
September 29th, 2009
11:04 am
Tech has a weak arse schedule. That is all.
TigerBait
September 29th, 2009
11:05 am
I like my dawgs roasted … You pups are going to get smeared. Geaux Tigers!
Golden Hand
September 29th, 2009
11:05 am
Tech has played two Top 25 teams. Record 1-1, the loss coming on the road in their third game in 13 days. Georgia is 0-1 against the Top 25, with a road loss. We’ll know a good deal more after this weekend. If Georgia gets stomped by LSU and Tech wins at Mississippi State, the noisier mutt fans will stop barking — briefly (they tend not to let facts get in the way).
tim
September 29th, 2009
11:05 am
jacket fan, you are an idiot. CMR has a winning record against TENN. Annual implosion?? please clarify.
dan
September 29th, 2009
11:07 am
Jeff,
It is way too early for this kind of talk. If you judged UGA after 10 games in 2006 when they were 6-4 and had lost to Vandy and Kentucky, you would have said they would have tanked it against Auburn and Ga. Tech. But they pulled it together. In 2007, after getting whipped 35-14 by the Vols and barely beating Vandy, most bloggers would have been happy for a Peach Bowl Bid. But they pulled it together.
I agree that the Dawgs aren’t playing great football, which mean they’re due for a loss pretty soon. But the thing about this team is that they don’t quit and that shouldn’t go un-noticed. They have proven that they can finish games. If it’s close in the 4th quarter, I think UGA can hang in there and beat anyone.
GatorDave
September 29th, 2009
11:07 am
What??
G-D D–N
you fill in the blanks. He yells it all the time in his mike.
BigMike Said....
September 29th, 2009
11:09 am
Jeff you must have covered a game in Cali this weekend and gotten hold of some medical marijuana! Say what you want about the Dawgs, but they keep on winning. These Tech blow- hards only feel the way they do because of one victory last year. Jeff this is reality, Tech played a decent not great Miami team and got spanked royalie, they’ll play Va.Tech and get peed on like a tree stump, and when we come here the players will be so ticked off for last years performance they will not let it happen again. As for you Tech wankers, reality is a motherf**ker is’nt it. You will lose and lose hard. Just like you nerdy boys end up with the pretty girls, they always come and creep with the bad boys… usually off your money!!! Tech we are those bad boys.
GT
September 29th, 2009
11:09 am
Georgia is always discounted with reality. We hype them so much, not unlike Ohio State and a few others that we begin to believe the hype not our eyes, nor the record. They must go to a lot of trouble to find Az.State or OK. State as opponents. That along tells you they are hiding something over there in Athens. Of course Ohio State decided to play a real team and got beat by USC and he has Herbstreit on ESPN bad mouthing LSU of all teams to help the big ten overcome the SEC sex appeal, but I don’t think anyone considered Georgia a contender more less a conference standard bearer this year as Ohio State was.
Willie Martinez
September 29th, 2009
11:10 am
Man, I really got one over on CMR. Again this year, I am coaching one of the worse defenses in the COUNTRY, much less the SEC! The way we tackle reminds me of PeeWee league football!
If I can work this for another year, I’ll be rich! And just think, all I have to do is show up and stand on the sidelines every Saturday and still GET PAID! Good thing I got so many of my boys in the NFL so they can support me when CMR finally decides to FIRE ME!!
Worthless UGA Fans
September 29th, 2009
11:10 am
I love how the UGA fans make these sweeping predictions – “UGA will end with a better record”, “UGA will beat Tech,” etc. Didn’t you morons learn last year when you proclaimed there was “now way, no how” Tech beats UGA that your predictions don’t mean squat?
Fantastech
September 29th, 2009
11:10 am
Haha it is soooo nice to know that now Georgia has gotten past all of the powder puff games on their schedule (with the exception with the Tennessee Tech team) It is going to be quite fun sitting back watching the Pups get pounded for the entire rest of the season. Oh how sweet this year is shaping up to be. It’s ok ugay fans, you have 1 more win left on your schedule, Tennessee Tech) HAHA I am loving life right now……
Preston
September 29th, 2009
11:11 am
This is an obvious attempt to get a fire started between the dawg and bug bloggers, but that’s ok. All UGA needs to do is find a way to cut down on turnovers and penalties and they’ll be fine. The defense is much better this year it’s just the turnovers are giving the opposition a short field. IF they can get this straightened out, tech goes down easily. Even at their high school stadium.
Willie Martinez
September 29th, 2009
11:11 am
Oh, wait! He can’t fire me because it wouldn’t be Christian!! Dude, I’m set for LIFE!
ButlerDawg
September 29th, 2009
11:11 am
UGA has returned full circle to the Donnan-days. Loads of talent, no discipline, poor coaching, idiot fans who refuse to: 1) Remove the rose colored glasses 2) Have a man crush on Richt 3) Both 1 & 2
JacketFan
September 29th, 2009
11:11 am
Tim- first of all, Tenn. leads the series 20-15-2. And I’m referring to the back-to-back losses in the CMR era in 06 and 07. Last year’s win was in Athens. This year your boys are back in Neyland. Tenn. defense has the best DB in the country. AND there is always potential for a loss when you dawgs play Tenn. Always.
Willie Martinez
September 29th, 2009
11:12 am
Preston, my defense is not better. We’re ranked like 75th in the COUNTRY! Haha!!
BigMike Said....
September 29th, 2009
11:12 am
Bye the way TechHeads it took a UGA Dawg arriving in Detroit to break there shame, and to make a Tech guy get attention. Ask Calvin now I bet he would’ve went to UGA in hindsight!
BuzztheKiller
September 29th, 2009
11:16 am
Hey Calhoun Dog- you know the only good thing that has come out of Calhoun is the Yellow Jackets (class of 86′ here!)
ChrisinIndy
September 29th, 2009
11:17 am
Yea, BigMike, Stafford really broke their shame. 21 of 36 with 241 yards, one TD and one INT. Jon Kitna coulda done that
Tech75
September 29th, 2009
11:21 am
BigMike – Did you actually graduate from high school, much less college, with spelling and grammar like that?
You are the new poster-boy for staying in school…
UGA Fan (yeah right I am way too intelligent for that)
September 29th, 2009
11:21 am
UGA fans – Bobby Dodd stadium may not be as big as samfurd stadium, but it is DT ATL with a beautiful skyline and great tradition. Face it, UGA sucks and will probbaly only win 6 or 7 games this season. Oh yeah and Joe Blows Cox.