Richt’s Dogs have struggled against ranked teams
Mark Richt is only 2-7 in his last nine games against ranked teams. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
If most are doubting Georgia’s chances of upsetting No. 2 ranked Auburn Saturday, one reason is that the Bulldogs’ five wins have come over Louisiana-Lafayette (2-7), Tennessee (3-6), Vanderbilt (2-7), Kentucky (5-5) and Idaho State (1-8).
But there’s another reason: Mark Richt’s teams have struggled against any team in the top 25, let alone a BCS title contender.
Richt’s Dogs have lost seven of their last nine against ranked teams and are 4-8 since 2008. That includes losses this season to the only two ranked teams they’ve played — No. 24 South Carolina (17-6) and No. 12 Arkansas (31-24).
Contrast that with Georgia going 5-0 against ranked teams in 2007 and 10-1 in a stretch that started in November 2006.
In the recent 2-7 stretch vs. ranked teams, the lone victories came over No. 7 Georgia Tech in 2009 and No. 18 Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl the year before. The losses came to Florida (twice), Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, LSU, South Carolina and Arkansas.
The breakdowns:
♦ Here’s Mark Richt vs ranked teams year by year: 2001: 2-3 2002: 5-0 2003: 3-3 2004: 2-2 2005: 4-3 2006: 3-22007: 5-0 2008: 3-3
2009: 1-3 2010: 0-2 Total: 28-21 Here’s the breakdown since 2008: 2008 #8 Alabama: Lost 41-30 #22 Vanderbilt: Won 24-14 #13 LSU: Won 52-38 #5 Florida: Lost 49-10 #22 Georgia Tech: Lost 45-42 #18 Michigan State: Won 24-12 2009 #9 Oklahoma State: Lost 24-10 #4 LSU: Lost 20-13 #1 Florida: Lost 41-17 #7 Georgia Tech: Won 30-24 2010 #24 South Carolina: Lost 17-6 #12 Arkansas: Lost 31-24
♦
So there are the numbers. How confident are you that Georgia will buck this trend in Auburn?
♦
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445 comments Add your comment
Todd
November 8th, 2010
9:49 am
Here’s one UGA grad and letterman that is damn sure not confident about this weekend.
Go back on the MR record from the beginning and take out all the unrank patsies, incl the Vandy’s Kent, Miss St. under the Croom Dawg on and on, just focus on the ranked opponents, throw in a Joe T. Joe Cox, back to back 13pts. against Ron Zuke, first half against Fl a few weeks back, all of Bobo’s horrible play calling in games he’s so uptight, incl. Richt.
Mark Richt is a great man, not a great coach by any means.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
9:50 am
“The question will be if we can keep up. ”
UGA doesn’t have the offense to keep up. Just ask Arkansas who had the best offense in the SEC.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
November 8th, 2010
9:53 am
WAR EAGLE: As regards the CAM: would you stay if you could earn
$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$
5 MILLION $$$$$$$ by leaving the bright lights of Auburn, Alabama.
He might stay, but I would be willing to make you a wager on it.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
OkefenokeeDawg
November 8th, 2010
9:53 am
UK beat UGA?
News to me . . .
JaxDawg
November 8th, 2010
9:54 am
Candela Ross – you are an idiot!
OkefenokeeDawg
November 8th, 2010
9:59 am
Still pondering Kenneth. So, UGA fans should like Richt better than Saban, because he is more consistant – fewer highs and lows?
SOB, give me two National Titles (like Saban has), and I don’t give a damn if you are consistant or not the other years! I just want the Crystal Ball!
Spokesman for the SEC East
November 8th, 2010
10:00 am
Okeefenokeedawg kenneth is the same sick dude as Patrick, dont let him get to you. He is out on rehab again.
Tommy Tuberville
November 8th, 2010
10:01 am
AU- Fear the Thumb!
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:02 am
Joe Bob Thibodaux
Where’s the proof, home slice? It’s now being reported that EVERYONE from Miss State, agent, Florida etc is denying this is true.
Try again, jealous woman.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:02 am
UGA – Fear the freight train!
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:04 am
OkefenokeeDawg
My bad, I got Colorado and Kentucky mixed up.
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
10:04 am
Miracles do happen,but I dont think the Dawgs will have one at Auburn.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
10:05 am
Jeff, thanks again for bringing this to light. The statistics are amazing and only confirm the fact that this program is tanked. UGA comes off a huge win against Idaho State, then starts smack talking about Auburn. This is the crux of the problem with this program and everyone in Athens just keeps burying their heads in the sand.
UGA is the most cocky overrated program in D-1 football, and mostly the reason they get no respect from the polls or media.
Alabama Jack
November 8th, 2010
10:05 am
The dawgs will be competitive right up to the opening kickoff.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:05 am
“The dawgs will be competitive right up to the opening kickoff.”
HAHAHAAH
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
10:06 am
Jeff, thinks for bringing the statistics to light, thus confirming this program is tanked.
joe
November 8th, 2010
10:07 am
UGA will be lucky to make the Birmingham bowl. Auburn takes the fleabags behind the woodshed Saturday.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
10:07 am
I think UGA opens with Key West Junior College in 2021, they are D-III.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
10:08 am
UGA could be competitive against Auburn, but my money runs on Auburn. However, Auburn will not get past Alabama in the final, because Saban has had enough of this whole Cam Newton ordeal.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
November 8th, 2010
10:08 am
WAR EAGLE
This is about his earnings potential in the NFL, not a family pay-off.
To me, Cam is the best player in the SEC this year, and a broken knee will not put more money in the bank.
I congratulate AU for this season. You haven’t had as much real fun in a season since Bo Jacxkon.
You don’t really believe the Cam will stick around another year do you?
JBT
Joey
November 8th, 2010
10:08 am
Richt’s record against ranked teams is 28-21.
That’s “struggled”?
Nope.
Better than almost any other SEC Coach.
Tommy Tuberville
November 8th, 2010
10:09 am
WAR EAGLE- Freight train??? Is that what you call him now? How original. Fear the other thumb then!
Vain Jangling
November 8th, 2010
10:10 am
Hey, Saturday Evening Post. Get over the Wally Butts thing. You lost! Live with it.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:14 am
“You haven’t had as much real fun in a season since Bo Jacxkon. ”
2004
“You don’t really believe the Cam will stick around another year do you?”
Sure.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:15 am
“because Saban has had enough of this whole Cam Newton ordeal.”
Who cares what Saban has had enough of.
PMC
November 8th, 2010
10:15 am
Anyone catch that Kansas came back and beat Colorado overcoming a 28pt 4th quarter deficit last weekend?
That should help serve as an example of just how bad that loss was at Colorado WITH AJ Green.
Hairy Dawg
November 8th, 2010
10:15 am
We goning to smash up Cam Newton like he some broken cam shaffs in a crash up derby cars. Without Newton Aubie fold like a house a cards with there identity crises of Tiger-Eagles.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:16 am
“Is that what you call him now? How original. Fear the other thumb then!”
Ask the LSU defense.
The only time I would ever fear a thumb is if it was attached to a hand holding a .45 at my head.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
10:16 am
SEC has nothing to do with the Dogs failure as a program. All these Dog fans keep bragging about the SEC, which I agree is tough, but if the Dogs cannot excel in the SEC, then maybe they should find another conference.
It is like having the ugliest house in a beautiful neighborhood, you are proud to be in the neighborhood, but it does not remove the fact that your house is the ugliest.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:16 am
Hairy Dawg
You can’t even spell let alone predict the outcome a football game. Get back to cleaning toilets.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:18 am
Mike Bobo 17 INT
The difference between UGA fans and other SEC fans is other SEC fans don’t chant “we’z gone win da national title dis year” before a game is even played.
Auburn is 10-0 and I don’t think we’ll win.
Elvis the Peacock
November 8th, 2010
10:18 am
This will be my line for the week: Cam Newton’s going to feel like a laptop after it’s been thrown out of a dormitory window.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:19 am
What makes me angry about Auburn is the fact that Robert Gibbs and Cynthia Tucker are both Auburn grads.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
November 8th, 2010
10:19 am
I am a SEC fan thru and thru.
you war eagles was counter rotated to the nth degree in 2004.
Still, you are dilusional if you think Cam won’t turn pro. What else can he do in college ball past this season.
harold
November 8th, 2010
10:21 am
RICHT IS NOW 13-11 SINCE 11/29/08 IN THE SEC. IT IS TIME FOR RICHT TO GO
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:21 am
Joe Bob Thibodaux
Right now all I care about is this year. What happens next year is out of anyone’s control.
Tommy Tuberville
November 8th, 2010
10:21 am
War Eagle- better fear the trigger finger not the thumb. Also, I would be worried about Cam’s Daddy if I were you. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:22 am
Joe Bob Thibodaux
We did recruit another 5 star QB out of Arkansas and he looks like he’ll be pretty darn good. Our running backs are all freshmen as well.
JB
November 8th, 2010
10:22 am
Auburn-Cam Newton=7-5……………Yes, really
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:23 am
“Also, I would be worried about Cam’s Daddy if I were you. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
Not worried at all since there isn’t any evidence of wrongdoing. Besides, everyone is denying anything ever happened. Miss State people are now saying they have no idea how this story broke.
JB
November 8th, 2010
10:24 am
I’m getting to the game game early to see if Cam will sign my lap tap……..yes, I have the receipt, i paid for it……whoops……….sorry………….
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
10:25 am
Right now, Newton’s game doesn’t translate to the next level. I think he stays another year.
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:26 am
“I’m getting to the game game early to see if Cam will sign my lap ”
Then, maybe you could get the UGA front office to download some child porn.
JB
November 8th, 2010
10:26 am
That’s “lap top’………………………No lap dances please…..LOL
Kendawg
November 8th, 2010
10:26 am
It’s doubtful that we can compete with Auburn, but the Tech game should be a win for UGA, making us bowl eligible. It won’t be a very good bowl, however. What will be interesting will be the post-season. Will Mark Richt replace any of his offensive coaches? It only takes a cursory look at the record since 2005 to see that the offensive coaches are not doing a very good job. If Richt doesn’t make any changes, then he’d better have a very good season in 2011, or he should also go,
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:26 am
“Right now, Newton’s game doesn’t translate to the next level. I think he stays another year.”
Yep, he should come back and put up even bigger numbers. He could break Tebow’s SEC rushing touchdown record.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2010
10:27 am
All the more reason why if you are an Auburn fan, this game should scare you. The rankings and overall team success normally, rarely comes into play in this game. I have been confounded for years as to why with this series/game nothing matters much but who brings the best game on that day. Georgia has nothing to lose and nothing to gain. AU has everything to lose. A loss to UGA will loom large to their next game with Bama. AU will get exposed or come out a champion. I do wish AU good luck. I have no idea if Richt has got it in him to prepare and win this game. We’ll see
GO DAWGS
Sanford Landfill
November 8th, 2010
10:27 am
The mutts wish illness, injury and ineligibility on everyone else because they can’t beat them on the field. That’s why everyone hates those punk thugs.
JB
November 8th, 2010
10:28 am
Come on War Eagle………………..ribbing goes with being 10-0 and having a little controversy hanging around……
WAR EAGLE
November 8th, 2010
10:29 am
ARdawg
True, but Chizek has this team focused on playing each week without doing what most teams do……overlook. We could have easily lost to LSU or Arkansas but didn’t. Cam Newton has this team energized and shows great leadership.