Weekend Predictions: Dogs go down to Gators again
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)?
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Is This Gonna Be On The Test?
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.
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Pros and Cons
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.
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Toteboard
Last week: 8-3 straight up, 7-4 against the line.
Bottom dollars: 65-21 straight up, 46-39-1 against the line.
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“Sack Schultz” Update
Went 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.
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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)
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530 comments Add your comment
Beast from the East
October 28th, 2010
6:21 pm
CF,
Lot’s of UGA fans in Florida….especially North Florida. There are also a ton of Gators up here. I know the Atlanta Gator Club was the second largest for many years. I pull for the Dawgs when they’re not playing us. I have to do it secretly, as my family would write me out of their will if they found out! LOL!
CF
October 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
Beast, don’t take this “fraternization” stuff too far now! haha.
Beast from the East
October 28th, 2010
6:28 pm
What?,
I am very proud to say that I have NEVER owned nor worn a pair of jean shorts. Hate ‘em. I’m a shorts (khaki) and flip-flops kind of guy. Jimmy Buffet is my hero!
That calls for a shot of Cuervo with a margarita as a chaser!
Nurse Rachet
October 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
kral And what Jeff did is important why?
What?
October 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
I hope I am drinking one in celebration Saturday evening. Too funny….out
patrick
October 28th, 2010
6:32 pm
FRED
October 28th, 2010
3:23 pm
CMR WILL NEVER BEET MEYER. EVEN IF GAME WERE PLAYED IN ATHENS.
====================
ummmm, 2007????
Cuz
October 28th, 2010
6:32 pm
Jeff, I stomped you last week in Sack Schultz so hear me now and hear me often. You is wrong,
Dawgs win by 14 and Urban Meyer needs a police escort off the field, to the bus, to his house and hires Blackwater for home security.
I even picked the score of whatever game it was last weekend perfectly. Dang Midshipmen kept me from being perfect and a new fathead. Guess I will just have to live with this highly inflated head.
Heath
October 28th, 2010
6:33 pm
These guys are all in for Florida.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b1RJ02emR14/SgMZi9RZVII/AAAAAAAAAXw/KJLbvBvSdcY/s400/Gators_fans_in_jorts.jpg
(no, that picture never gets old)
Cuz
October 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
Beast, the Cuervo is okay but I would rather have a draft 32 oz Dos Equis with it. Jimmy Buffet is something Gators and Dawgs can meet together and Havana Daydream.
JB
October 28th, 2010
6:37 pm
Beast….. What do you really think about this Saturday…..Do Gators get “it” back, or is Georgia on a pretty good roll….You know we win about 1 in 5, be a good year for us to do it ……..
Roger
October 28th, 2010
6:42 pm
It’s Ole Miss you moron!
Beast from the East
October 28th, 2010
6:43 pm
Heath, I have to admit that picture is classic!
Cuz, Either way I say CHEERS!
JB, I honeslty have no idea who will win. I can see why UGA is favored. Ya’ll have won 3 in a row while we’ve dropped 3 in a row. That says UGA. The open week and recent history tells us UF will win. This is surely “the” year to get us! My head says Dawgs but my heart always says Go Gators! Just hope both teams play well and may the best team win.
Danny G
October 28th, 2010
6:44 pm
Guys over 55 do not have to be nice. We paid our dues, so if you don’t like us, just ignore us. We are happy either way. Go Dawgs!
JB
October 28th, 2010
6:46 pm
classy Beast, as always….
JB
October 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
here here Danny G
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
@ cuz…I went 11-4 last week…(but I nailed the Navy over ND pick)
I hope you are right about Ga/Fla
POAD…there is nothing wrong with watching the gym dawgs…(but I can’t do it when the wife is home) she questions me watching them…
I also thinf Auburn covers the spread in Oxford..
I like NC State +3.5 over FSU tonight…anybody agree??
Beast from the East
October 28th, 2010
6:51 pm
Heath,
I still can’t get over that picture. How in the world could those maroons even afford a ticket? I think I may make that my screen saver. I can’t help but bust a gut laughing every time I see it!
Beast from the East
October 28th, 2010
6:53 pm
Terry Funk,
I’m with you on the game tonight. Can’t bring myself to pull for the Semis. Kinda like you guys with Tech.
Gators, Gators, Gators.
October 28th, 2010
6:58 pm
Nuff Said!
kral
October 28th, 2010
7:00 pm
I’m right with you Danny G… Although, Today I’m not to popular with some bloggers and I have this blogging vendetta with JEFFIE…I don’t take kindly to others critizing me for it…And I tend to speak my mind cause H…it’s just typing right…No predictions on the game..Heck the way the season has gone I was worried about Vandy…Will say this..No Sec team this season has put up 40 pts. on there opp. 3 wks. in a row..What that means I do not know..but I hope….
Heath
October 28th, 2010
7:01 pm
It’s actually UGA fans goofing on Gator fans. They are tailgaiting. See the red all around them.
Paul in RDU
October 28th, 2010
7:03 pm
UF has had an off week before the UGA game 14 of the last 20 years.
UF is 13-1 against UGA with the off week, 4-2 without
There was no off week in 1990, 91, 04, 07, 08 and 09. UF won in 90, 91, 08 and 09.
From 1992 to 2002 UF’s schedule went Auburn-Off week-UGA
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/florida/index.php
Paul in RDU
October 28th, 2010
7:06 pm
Video of Urban Meyer with the UF team song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pCZ5E5tn4I
Heath
October 28th, 2010
7:08 pm
I think it’s just Georgia fans goofing on Florida fans. Look at the red all around them.
Beast from the East
October 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
Heath,
Must have been one of the years we played on Halloween. GREAT costumes.
Murray > Brantley
October 28th, 2010
7:13 pm
Dawgs win easy and cover the spread. This Dawg team has finally got it together. Grantham’s 3-4 D will shut down the bad florida offense cold and Murray and AJ will light it up on O. Richt will call some late timeouts when he gets way ahead as payback to meyer for 2008. Ga will roll it big in Jax baby! Time to head down there on Friday and start the party early!!!
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
7:31 pm
@ Heath…I disagree that pic is legit….
@ Beast…I’m worried Greg Reid has a big night..FSU always screws me
BobbyDawg
October 28th, 2010
7:43 pm
Our Dawgs will have to have their best game so far this year to beat Florida, and even if we do beat Florida we’ve still gotta play Auburn who is just quietly sneaking along undefeated this year. I don’t know how Mr. Schultz figures Mississippi and 7 is good against Auburn. I wouldn’t take 14. Remember! Mississippi lost to Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt. Go figure.GO DAWGS!
skydawg
October 28th, 2010
7:44 pm
Yeah. Schultz picked the Turds so that means a sure win for the Dawgs. WOOHOO!!
FLA DAWG
October 28th, 2010
7:50 pm
The Dawgs have won 3 in a row against the worst of The SEC – this is not a roll.
The Dawgs once again play The Gators in Florida – that’s worth 7 points for UF.
The Gators have dropped 3 and are sick of losing.
Meyer has dropped 3 and is mad about losing.
The Gators have had a week off to prep for this game and their coach is one of the best.
This weekend The Gators pull their team back together while The Dawgs lose all of the skill they thought they learned over the past three weeks.
Florida 31 Georgia 10
» Blog Archive » Florida’s Meyer: WR-RB Rainey will play against Dogs; K Sturgis out - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
October 28th, 2010
7:52 pm
[...] against Georgia, Gators coach Urban Meyer said at a news conference in Gainesville, Fla., …Weekend Predictions: Dogs go down to Gators againAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Dogs regain bark _ and still have shot in SEC EastWashington [...]
AFDawg
October 28th, 2010
7:55 pm
Dabo — Are you serious? Have you ever looked at the series record between UGA and Clemson — UGA owns you guys, including the most recent games played between the two schools.
dagnabit
October 28th, 2010
7:56 pm
Do the Georgia players have drivers licenses? If not, do they vote? Do they know they can vote?
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
@ FLA DWAG…your post is plausible…it could very well happen….I’m prepared for a crappy Saturday…as any Dawg fan should be….Halloween weekend isn’t my favorite past history tells no lies
icedawg
October 28th, 2010
8:01 pm
Maybe if we (UGA) score the first touchdown the team can run out on the field and make a pile in the end zone, of course in our nice new purple uniforms. Humor aside, after the three wins for the Dawgs I think that they could possibly pull this one out, too. The offense can score points. The win will ride on whether the defense can keep the Gators out of the end zone.
Cuz
October 28th, 2010
8:05 pm
Terry , I would just like to say besides Dusty Rhoades, you are my all time favorite rassler. They don’t make em like you guys anymore.
Cuz
October 28th, 2010
8:08 pm
icedawg, with Brantley at the helm, I think my no win high school alma mata could keep the Gators out of the endzone. I think Urban may get caught looking ahead to next week against Vandy.
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
8:14 pm
@ Cuz….you like me better than Ric Flair…???? thanks Cuz….I’ll sleep like a bear tonight….I appreciate you man
Eric C.
October 28th, 2010
8:21 pm
Jeff, I have a problem with this bye week record logic. It can certainly help, but let’s face it, Meyer wins period. You can twist his stats around anyway you want…afternoon games, night games, games after a loss, games the day before Halloween, etc. etc. etc…anyway you twist it, the record is great. There may be an advantage with the bye week…but it is not as much as should be perceived by the record after bye weeks.
And as for this UF team, you can’t shine a turd…which is basically what Meyer is trying to do right now. He claims it is not desperation, but what else do you call making modifications to the offense at this point of the season? And bringing Rainey back despite the intense scrutiny of the media and shelters for violence against women is one more sign of desperation.
Having said all of that, it is still tough game to pick as UGA has its demons as well. I try to relive the 80s but getting beat 17 of 20 times makes it tough…Dawg fans can only be cautiously optimistic at this point.
BG
October 28th, 2010
8:23 pm
Meyer has let Rainey back on the team. Now that is just priceless! Meyer is a slime ball that only cares about winning. Rainey should have been kicked OFF the team!!!
NashDawg
October 28th, 2010
8:23 pm
Georgia wins 28-10.
Big L
October 28th, 2010
8:28 pm
Hey Beast from the East! Where the hell you hell off being all level headed and sh!t. Ain’t no room for civility here bubba.
Big L
October 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
Ain’t nothing like stealin a great QB form Florida to reclaim UGA’s dominance. What Orson Charles started with that crystal football, he’s gonna finish with two td’s and a big ol W against the jean short syndicate.
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
8:36 pm
@ Big L…I love your thought process….but calm down….I’m a historian….be carefull w/ loving UGA at Jax…they’ll break ur heart…
JSS
October 28th, 2010
8:37 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
Good thing I didn’t post the ‘Basket Case 3′ trailer. Annie Ross has a potty mouth! You should check out the “Double Tap” from ‘Zombieland.’
@ POAD…
Didn’t your folks teach you not to use the good stuff for social intimidation?
Cuz
October 28th, 2010
8:48 pm
We all knew it was true, Ric Flair was skeered of the Funks, Terry in particular.
BassinDawg
October 28th, 2010
9:01 pm
The one elephant in the room that nobody on here has mentioned is…….. Will the Dawgs do something stupid like wear black jerseys or black helmets or black pants or some other dumb*ss uni change? RICHT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please don’t let that happen. Stick with the traditional uni, celebrate with the whole team rushing the endzone, at least that worked in 07′
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
@ you’re killin me Cuz…….I’m ready to fight and I can’t stop laughing…!!!!
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
9:04 pm
@ BassinDawg….hush…that aint happenin…Richt knows better…( or does he..??)
Terry Funk
October 28th, 2010
9:05 pm
@ Cuz….is it okay if I yell…WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!