Weekend Predictions: Dogs go down to Gators again

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According to legend, or sources close to legend, the origins of Halloween date back over 2000 years when the summer harvest ended and the weather turned cold and the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead were so narrow that SEC football coaches figured it was safe to start recruiting and NCAA executives and college presidents lounged inside their palatial suites that were paid for by network executives and texted each other, “Time To Close Our Eyes. Hey, are you going to Urban’s pool party later?”

Hello. It’s that time again.

Where are you going this year? St. Simons? Jekyll? Some dark and secluded place, perhaps near the border of the Netherworld, just in case you feel the need to slip into a neighborhood where they don’t get the Georgia-Florida game but still show Lou Holtz career highlights on an endless loop?

It’s the 30th anniversary of Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott. Now let’s advance to more recent decades. The Gators have won 17 of the last 20 meetings. The last two came by a combined score of 90-27, give or take a major organ.

I know. Georgia has the better quarterback. Georgia has the better running game. Georgia has the best player in the game (A.J. Green). Georgia even has the coach who didn’t drop-kick his conscience and morals this week. Florida coach Urban Meyer will bring back Time To Die Guy Chris Rainey. He will hand off to Time To Die Guy. He will throw to Time To Die Guy. I’m guessing he will even wear an wristband with the inspirational initials: “WWTTDGD.”

Should I pull the trigger? (Kidding! It was just a text!)

No. Just can’t do it. Meyer has had an extra week to fix the problems. He is 31-3 in his career when he has had more than a week to prepare. He is 5-0 after bye weeks at Florida.

The Dogs are better than they were three weeks ago. How much? Don’t know. They’ve won consecutive games over Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky (2-11 in SEC). How do we gauge that? They have lost to the only three teams on their schedule with overall winning records (South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State).

Can’t do it. Seen too much. Seen Dogs fans leave Jacksonville looking like zombies too often.

“Run, Lindsay! … No wait! Come back Lindsay!”

Not seeing is not believing. Until then: Give me the 2½ points. But I won’t need them. Gators, Gators, Gators.

Will it be this (Georgia fans shopping after the game)?

Or will it be this (30 years ago)?

Is This Gonna Be On The Test?

Oh, geez. And Tennessee thought the Alabama game was tough.

Oh, geez. And Tennessee thought the Alabama game was tough.

Auburn at Old Ms.: Is this too obvious? Auburn wins a big game against LSU, vaults to the top and becomes the next No. 1 to spill the soup? Almost. I’d probably call upset here if it didn’t mean taking sides with a coach (Houston Nutt) fond of recruiting from penitentiaries for a one-year fix. Tigers win but give me the Rebs and 7.

Tennessee at South Carolina: I understand Derek Dooley is entertaining and well read but he might want to hold off on any more analogies that liken his football team to panicking Nazis when the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. Better to just mix in a Lane Kiffin joke. Gamecocks cover a big number (17½).

Kentucky at Mississippi State: The note of the year: Dan Mullen (6-2) is bowl eligible before Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino. He doesn’t make as much money as the others but there’s that psychic income of living in Starkville. Wait a minute. Other Dogs cover 6½.

Vandy at Arkansas: Ryan Mallett’s first three games: 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions. Last four games: 6 touchdowns, 5 interceptions. (Sorry for the research. I slipped.) Fortunately, Vanderbilt stinks. Piggies cover 20½.

Georgia St. at South Alabama: South Alabama has won seven games by an average score of 44-7. I guess Tuscaloosa will be a step down for the Panthers. This week, they go down by two TDs.

Pros and Cons

The walking boot is just to get sympathy. Don't buy it.

The walking boot is just to get sympathy from his wife.

Sext-Pistols at Patriots: Brett Favre has a bad ankle and doesn’t know if he can play. Seems like a good exit strategy, and it gives him time to work on a new story to tell his wife. Patriots cover 5½.

Jaguars at Cowboys: The really cool thing about those huge video screens in the Cowboys’ $1.3 billion stadium is now you can see Jerry Jones’ head explode in high-def. Hemlock now being served in the martini bars. Dallas wins but take Jacksonville and 6½.

Steelers at Saints: Actually factually: Drew Brees has one less interception (10) than he had all of last season (11), and if he throws four against Cleveland, what’s he going to do against Pittsburgh? The party is winding down in the Quarter. Steelers win (and take the gift 1).

Bucs at Cardinals: Raheem Morris is a good guy but when you say stuff like, “We’re the best team in the NFC. Yeah, I said it,” dude, just go ahead and start chugging the embalming fluid. Arizona covers 3.

Packers at Jets: Rex Ryan said, “It’s hard to say we’re not the best team in the NFL.” When did NFL coaches turn into Ali? Jets cover 6.

Toteboard

Last week: 8-3 straight up, 7-4 against the line.

Bottom dollars: 65-21 straight up, 46-39-1 against the line.

“Sack Schultz” Update

LogoGrass_652173aWent 11-4 last week.  Was outdone again. Jack Terrill of St. Johns, Mich., went 15-0. Jack, you using a Ouija board? Overall leader is “Tuckys” (Ohio) at 96-24. “Dgoehner” is top Georgia contender at 95-25. Click here for more info.

Want to catch up on previous Weekend Predictions? Click here.

Want to catch up on Georgia-Florida week posts? Click below

Urban Meyer slammed again for Chris Rainey decision

This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up

Dogs’ key to beating Gators: QB, defense or something else?

Early Georgia-Florida primer (and why Meyer is catching heat)

Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC

530 comments Add your comment

Gary

October 28th, 2010
3:35 pm

Not gonna happen this year either. When Georgia Struggles they loose. The Tennessee Vandy games were too easy. THey gave us the games with Turnovers and field position. We played solid against Kentucky but a break the other way changes that game. If we play from behind we loose. Florida Lost to 2 good teams and one pretty tough one. We lost to 1 good team, 2 tough teams, and 1 sorry team. I just have to give the edge to Urban. He is not going to loose 4 in a row after a bye week. Look what SC did to Bama after a bye week and tell me they don’t matter.

kral

October 28th, 2010
3:37 pm

mcdavid or mcdonalds I sure hope you do NOT wear red and black

kral

October 28th, 2010
3:38 pm

Your my kind of man JB

MURPHY

October 28th, 2010
3:40 pm

JB,

I wish you well my friend.I hope im just alive at 57 much less chilled out at my lake house.GO DAWGS!

JB

October 28th, 2010
3:40 pm

Will Meyer wear that Whistle around his neck the whole game……No that scares me….!!!!

MURPHY

October 28th, 2010
3:42 pm

Still havent heard Urban announce if Rainey is playing on Sat.

JB

October 28th, 2010
3:43 pm

The three guys that made Gators believe and tough to beat are gone. Mullen, Strong, Tebow.

yankeedawg

October 28th, 2010
3:45 pm

You also picked Georgia Tech to beat Clemson!!!!!!!!!!!

UGA Insider

October 28th, 2010
3:46 pm

There will be no gimmicks this week, No Charlie Strong, No Dan Mullen. No Tim Tebow. Those little midgets on the current UF team doesn’t scare UGA one bit. I’m glad Rainey is playing, because when UGA wins 42-10 then Urban will truly begin to feel the wrath of the most spoiled fan base in the nation….. The University of Florida Gators. Savor the flavor this week UGA fans… I know I will.

DIT

October 28th, 2010
3:46 pm

I have to agree with Jeff on this one. Our defense has not stopped a good offense yet. The speed that UF has is incredible. I don’t think that Brantley beats us like Crompton did last year(still have nightmares of that defensive effect or lack of) I think their running game will wear down the defense. Our Offense needs to hold onto the ball for long drives that eat up the clock. We can’t get into a shot-out with their speed.
Like most on here it’s a tough game to call. I would like to say Dawgs by 10, but another part of me says gators by 10 because of their off week. That off week is huge even though we did not take advantage of it when we had it, except in 2007.
I don’t think I have ever seen both schools not able to get a feel on the game. Should be a good one!
GO DAWGS!

5150 P.O.A.D

October 28th, 2010
3:47 pm

BURN JEFF SCHULTZ on the stake like Joan of Arc. Open a bottle of Bordeaux and LET THEM EAT CAKE.

yankeedawg

October 28th, 2010
3:47 pm

The ad @ Florida should over rule Urban and make the Time to Die sit out the season!

MURPHY

October 28th, 2010
3:47 pm

JB,

Hope thats enough to swing the series our way for a while-sure would be nice.

MURPHY

October 28th, 2010
3:49 pm

5150,

Easy on our boy Schultz. He aint so bad.

I'm Gumby, Dammit!!

October 28th, 2010
3:49 pm

kral needs to get a life.

Tebrow

October 28th, 2010
3:53 pm

Ole Miss is in for an old fashion beat down this weekend.

greens23

October 28th, 2010
3:54 pm

couple of numbers here dawg fans….combined record of GA’s last three opponents: 8-14…combined of FL’s last three opponents: 20-4. see? thats why you look better than you are and we look worse…truth is, with our regular kicker we probably win one, maybe two of those games. thats how things go, cant use that as an excuse. dont think for a second Urban Meyer forgot how to coach football. He is still on the Florida sideline and you have Richt and Bobo….I like our chances every time.

Joey

October 28th, 2010
3:54 pm

Jeff, that second video (wiping a tear) always gets me. Thanks.

If I were a betting man, I would bet on the Gators. The teams are evenly matched this season, but when is the last time Mark Richt’s Dawgs beat an evenly matched team? No, don’t say UK. They are not as talented. No, don’t say LSU in ‘08. They wound up losing, what, 5 games?

It’s sad that I can’t remember us beating an equally talented team, much less a better team.

How about some help . . . anybody?

kral

October 28th, 2010
3:55 pm

Last translation Jeffie, I’ll put my sport’s resume, teaching resume, leadership resume, parenthood resume, grandfather resume up against yours anytime…Where are you clueless meaning without a clue

dawgfan

October 28th, 2010
3:55 pm

We have very little control on when the bye weeks are. Somehow Florida worked a little magic in the 90’s to get an almost annual bye week before the Georgia game. I would like to know how they did it. Schultz, any chance the AJC might practice some real journalism and get to the bottom of this, or is it just more TMZ type stuff from here on out? Thanks.

RiffRaff

October 28th, 2010
3:55 pm

Jeff, you owe me $20 bucks on the game. Dawgs will score early and often. Defense will rattle Brantley. 44-13 Dawgs.

JB

October 28th, 2010
3:56 pm

DIT……Have faith…….I saw something in our team I haven’t seen in a while. A sense of urgency from the kickoff……People NOW say it was just Kentucky, but the week BEFORE that game, after Kentucky had just upset Carolina, The same haters on here said they would kill us. WE looked pretty good against them……I’d say Florida is more worried at this point than us….And that’s been awhile ! Go DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!

1eyedJack

October 28th, 2010
3:57 pm

Wouldn’t Zombie references be more appropriate if directed at Tech?

kral

October 28th, 2010
3:58 pm

Gummy I have a life.. love the braves.. love the Dawgs..retired don’t have to work.. own a farm with a cabin setting on a 7 acre lake ..How’s your life

JB

October 28th, 2010
3:59 pm

tell’m kral

Dave

October 28th, 2010
3:59 pm

Knowing our luck, UGA will have 3 touchdowns called back, Florida will have three fieldgoals hit all three bars….and still go through, then Rainey will catch the winning touchdown pass with three seconds left…after it was tipped at the line, bounced off three other players and he will be lying on his back when it floats miraculously to him.

WHY CAN’T UGA BEAT FLORIDA???? WHY? WHY? WHY?….*sobbing

JB

October 28th, 2010
4:01 pm

Mark, Don’t look at our team Saturday before the game look at you with those puppy eyes…..Let Grantham handle that…..LOL

[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]

DIT

October 28th, 2010
4:02 pm

JB
I hear ya brother! We look much better than we did a month ago. The quick start against UK was a very good sign. The way they finished was not so good. To be honest even before this year started I always posted that it will take this defense 2 years to get it togther. We still look better than the past years! This is still the best chance we have had to beat them in the past 3 years so that to me is encouraging!

Joey

October 28th, 2010
4:03 pm

“The three guys that made Gators believe and tough to beat are gone. Mullen, Strong, Tebow.”
*********************************
Right, JB. Now the Gators have a coach who shows his toughness by threatening a little nerdy (no offense Techies) sportwriter.

Must not be working . . .

[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]

kral

October 28th, 2010
4:06 pm

I’ll give you the same offer, I gave Jeffie Gummy jump on it…

JB

October 28th, 2010
4:06 pm

I don’t think Meyer has been the success behind this team the last 3-4 years. All these top 5 classes, some close to number 1, if not number one, should not be this bad. Meyer is right, they have a coaching problem.

Gatorbait

October 28th, 2010
4:08 pm

dawgfan

You will happy to learn that UGA has an open date before the Florida game next year, just like they did in 2007. 2 open dates in 5 years seems to be fair.

Clueless Dawg

October 28th, 2010
4:12 pm

Sure, Meyer was just lucky. He didn’t play any role in his own success at UF. Nevermind that he trained Mullen. Nevermind that Strong was the coordinator of an 8-5 team each year under Zook. Nope. He’s just lucky. That and all those highly rated recruiting classes. But he didn’t have anything to do with those. Nope. Just got lucky.

Joey

October 28th, 2010
4:13 pm

Jeff, your answer at 3:04 kinda answers a question I ask myself sometimes – is Richt happy Evans is gone or not?

JSS

October 28th, 2010
4:13 pm

What gimmick will Richt use to motivate his legions this time? Will they wear throw back 1957 unis with the Ohio State helmets?

5150 P.O.A.D

October 28th, 2010
4:15 pm

Sorry
I talked to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and they are closed the Friday after Thanksgiving. Sorry to let the Fan bloggers down, but Hosea’s Feed the Hungry will be making meals for the Homeless. You can go to their website and signup to volunteer to help cook and serve meals. It happens Wednesday all Night before Thanksgiving and meals served on Thanksgiving Day.

Shawn

October 28th, 2010
4:16 pm

Don’t know that I’ve seen baldy here pick anyone but a UGA opponent. I’m not surprised by this prediction. I won’t be surprised by any outcome either. One thing I don’t have to predict is that the overweight, bald, nonathletic guy who wrote this never misses a chance to take a dig at the Dawgs! I wanna dig back!

jsmiith

October 28th, 2010
4:16 pm

shultz…. you should pick the dawgs because they are the state team , they are the most popular sports team in the state by far. more people care about the dawgs then the braves,falcons, hawks, thrashers , jackets combined!! do the right thing and put your faith in the dawgs

DAWG24

October 28th, 2010
4:17 pm

AS USUAL, YOU ARE AN IDIOT. YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT AUBURN AND YOU SURE ARE WRONG AS USUAL ABOUT GEORGIA. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY ABOUT GEORGIA? EVER? GOOD THING NO SANE PERSON LISTENS TO YOU.

5150 P.O.A.D

October 28th, 2010
4:18 pm

Murphy
You know I am joking. If we cooked Jeff on the stake it would smell like fasfood grease and coffee. AHAHHA

[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]

bjohndawg

October 28th, 2010
4:20 pm

I see end round passes, fake punts, fake field goals, on side kicks, hook and ladders…..et al. Both teams are going to open it up, yes open that playbook wide open. Florida may have Brantley put on a Tebow halloween mask. Georgia will you guessed it throw to the tigh ends again. What about PF 44 Chapas ( ode to PF 44- Haynes).

Richt should hire Bruce from Swamp People as a consultant. He knows a thing or two about taken care of Gators.

I think the Gators have been playing possum. But whatever happens Dawgs need to bring the A game of 1980( see above clip). And not that F troop style of Miss State and Colorado. The apple Dumpling gang cannot win in Jax.

Go Dawgs….and prepare for war.

SouthGaDawg

October 28th, 2010
4:20 pm

Jeff,

Have you actually been watching Florida play this year? They’re like the bad news bears. The only reason they even won four games earlier this year was because their defense got a lot of turnovers against sub-par teams. I mean Christ, the Tennessee game was a one possession game into the fourth quarter.

It wouldn’t matter if Florida had a month off to get ready for Georgia. At this point in the season “you are what you are.” And Florida is one offensively inept team.

Whereas, UGA on the otherhand has hit its stride and is tearing people up offensively and defensively.

You’re off your rocker on this one Jeff. Dawgies win big in Jax.

Did I Miss Any

October 28th, 2010
4:21 pm

1. The game is in Florida!
2. The refs are against us / for Florida.
3. The networks / ESPN all favor Florida.
4. The Gators always seem to have a bye week.
5. We’re the better team, but we always give the game away.
6. Florida’s players aren’t upstanding Christian role models like our boys.
7. The SEC favors Florida.
8. The location of the game is a conspiracy by fat cat alums at the expense of our team.
9. Ray Goof was a Florida double agent.
10. The sun is always in our eyes.

Joey

October 28th, 2010
4:22 pm

Clueless, I do think Myer is a really good coach. I was just comenting on a “toughness” remark.

I do think he had good fortune with his two best teams, as UF got voted into the Big Game with one loss. One (’06) by something like .008 of a point over Michigan. I’ll be the first to admit he, and the Gators made the most of those two appearances, winning both.

By contrast, Richt had three really good teams that didn’t get voted into the Big Game, one with the same 13-1 record of Myer’s two best.

So, Myer’s an excellent coach, who’s had some good luck.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

October 28th, 2010
4:22 pm

Dawgs by 6, Ole Miss & Tenn will pull upsets this weekend. Look for the Jags to beat Dallas w/ Romo out and Wade Phillips to be fired on Nov 1.

[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]

kevin

October 28th, 2010
4:23 pm

Kral,

You presume to know Jeff Schultz pretty well, assuming your various “resumes” are all better than his. Don’t forget, you also have a more convincing, bitter-old-jerk resume as well.