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
Vincent
November 8th, 2010
2:12 pm
Saban had more talent, and won less against top ranked teams, so is Richt better than Saban aginst top ranked teams?
Probably so.
Flat Tire on I-95 Jacksonville
November 8th, 2010
2:15 pm
Hey I love
10 win seasons
Watching top NFL talent being Underutilized
2-8 vs FL
Watching FL play for SEC championships
Hoping FL loses out so we can hopefully play for an SEC east title if a lousy Tenn team doesnt beat us
30 arrests
11 arrests this yr alone
Refusing to fire inadequate coaches
Please lets give every coach a raise
Please increase the fee for parking an additional $1000
Please Make us have to pay more in donations to get season tickets to watch this specticle
Vincent
November 8th, 2010
2:19 pm
28-21 record against ranked teams better than Saban or SPurrier or Petrino or Mullen.
Sturggled???? How???
Vincent
November 8th, 2010
2:21 pm
Saban’s had more talent than Richt, but has only won 70% of his games, Richt’s won 75%.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:23 pm
Urban Meyer’s wins this year have come against powerhouses like:
Miami of Ohio
South Florida
tenn
Kent
Vandy
Combined record is worse than the teams Richt’s have come against.
Not sure Jeff meant for this to be noted.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
2:25 pm
WAR EAGLE
Totally agree with your UGA SEC statement, they always claim a national title before the first ball is teed up, while other schools are more conservative in their title predictions.
This is why UGA is the most laughed at program in the nation.
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:26 pm
Jeff- The same person has used the names Timmy, Vincent, Ellie, Dave, etc. just on this one blog I really wish the ajc would limit users to one screen name.
Ed
November 8th, 2010
2:27 pm
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where this Georgia team all of a sudden becomes good enough to beat this Auburn team, unless Georgia plays over its head and Auburn lays an egg on Saturday. Either then, it’s still hard to imagine.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
2:27 pm
Flat Tire….love you comments and keep’em coming!!! You hit the nail on the head and the truth really hurts, more often than normal in Athens. Congrats on those 2 titles with Meyer under the helm and I suspect you will have another for your trophy case within the next 2 to 3 years, or less.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 8th, 2010
2:29 pm
Meyer maybe having a off year, but Florida gets respect in an off year. Florida’s schedule has been, and will be as tough or tougher than UGA, and they still get respect and titles. What does Athens get? That’s right, neither.
Clean up your own house before attempting to point fingers at other programs, especially championship programs.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:31 pm
One has to wonder what Jeff’s point is about downplaying Georgia’s wins, after all, Jeff didn’t downplay Florida’s wins, and they didn’t win against fearsome high ranked teams, Florida beat teams like:
Miami of Ohio
South Florida
Tenn
Kent
Vandy
So, for Jeff’s point to be true, you’d have to believe that:
1) wins do not count
2) Florida and Georgia’s wins do not count
30 Florida & Georgia are both bad teams because they’re wins were against cupcake teams
Of course, no one can abandon common sense and agree to all 3 of those, so once again Jeff, your article has been proven to be erroneous on many levels.
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:33 pm
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:23 pm
Urban Meyer’s wins this year have come against powerhouses like:
Miami of Ohio
South Florida
tenn
Kent
Vandy
******************************************************
Richt’s wins have come against powerhouses
LaLaff
Idaho State
Kentucky
Tennessee
Vandy
South Florida + Miami (OH) >>>>>>LaLaff + Idaho State. That CAN NOT be debated. Not to mention CUM beat CMR head-to-head.
Steve
November 8th, 2010
2:34 pm
Until I read Jeff’s article, I thought Georgia had no chance.
But after realizing how good Richt’s record is against top ranked teams, I’ve decided to think Georgia might pull the upset, since richt plays as well as anyone in the nation against top ranked teams.
Thanks so much Jeff, your article really made me believ ein Mark Richt’s chances.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:35 pm
Sure it can be debated, you’re debating it.
All of Florida’s wins came against unranked teams, and all of Georgia’s did.
No difference.
Paul in RDU
November 8th, 2010
2:37 pm
Wow – I see we have a new record in most screen names used in one day by a single blogger
Nick = Kenneth = Hank = Joey = Richard = Rick = Ellie = Dave = Super Wave = Timmy = Vincent = Tony
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:38 pm
Paul–that’s your best argument, weak. You’re fired off the debate team, back to horseiding you go.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:42 pm
There is no qualitative differnce between Florida’s wins, and Georgia’s, since all are against unranked teams.
You’re either ranked, or unranked. Only 2 choices.
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:44 pm
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:23 pm
Urban Meyer’s wins this year have come against powerhouses like:
Miami of Ohio
South Florida
tenn
Kent
Vandy
Combined record is worse than the teams Richt’s have come against
*****************************************************************
South Florida 5-3
Miami (OH) 5-4
LaLaff 2-7
Idaho State 1-8
Tony, or whatever you are calling yourself this minute, which duo is better? Even you can get this right.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:44 pm
Richt’s record against Auburn is 4-0, don’t see how Jeff could have missed pointing that out.
After all, Jeff did point out in a previous article, Georgia’s record against Florida, yet did not point out Georgia’s record, 4-0, against Auburn.
One has to wonder why a person would flip flop?
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:45 pm
Both duos are equal, both sets are full of unranked teams, so both duos are of equal quality.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2010
2:46 pm
WAR EAGLE
How would I “know” this?
I didn’t say I knew this. I said, I suspect this.
Ayn Rand said “We can escape reality but, we can’t escape the consequences of escaping reality”
AU is riding high and undefeated, Cam maybe a sure bet on the Heisman. UGAs season is a failure and for all intnt and purposes is over except, for a shot at beating a probable NC team. Very easy to overlook if you are AU. Bama looms much larger and while you are in the NC hunt a Georgia team can be looked past. (unless)
Just throwing it out there dude. You slurp up that kool-aid if you want but, Auburn would be the first team to get beaten and fall in such a manner
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:47 pm
You asking why someone would flip-flop? YOU have used at least 11 screen names today. Jeff, I wish you would list all his screen names.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:47 pm
Jesse, you said it couldn’t be debated, yet you’re debating it, so you were wrong about that, so you must be wrong about this.
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:48 pm
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:45 pm
Both duos are equal, both sets are full of unranked teams, so both duos are of equal quality.
_________________________________________________________________
That’s not what you said, Tony. You said Richt’s victories have come against teams with better records than that of Florida’s. You are now flip-flopping. Which one is it?
Flat Tire on I-95 Jacksonville
November 8th, 2010
2:49 pm
Jessie Stone
You need to post more often on these blogs
We have way to many kool-aid drinking delusional UGA fans on here who just dont see the big picture
People dont care about 10 wins, people dont care what Meyer and Sabans record is against ranked teams,
People can tell you though that they are champions period
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:49 pm
Not debating Tony. Showing you FACTS. It’s like telling my 2nd grader that 7×8 is not 54.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2010
2:49 pm
Mike Bobo 17INT
Still reeling from VT breaking it off in your butts last week huh?
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:50 pm
If Jeff DID think florida’s PAST record against Georgia was worth mentioning in his article Florida-Georgia week, but did NOT mention Auburn’s past record, since florida’s was negative, and AUburn’s was positive for georgia, Jeff’s bias would appear to be in play.
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:51 pm
Still waiting for your answer, Tony. Time to change your name for the twelfth time today.
Flat Tire on I-95 Jacksonville
November 8th, 2010
2:53 pm
Tony
Havent heard of Auburn to much until this yr and 04
2-8 vs FL is all important to mention since it was because we lost to them in 02, that kept us from a national title
Lets face people you lose to FL= sit at home run your mouth about 10 win seasons while they compete for championships
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:54 pm
Jesse, if you said this cannot be debated, why do you wish for me to debate it?
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
2:56 pm
Tony, YOU LIED. You said The teams that UGA has beaten this year had a better record than those that Florida has beaten. I showed you records that prove YOU LIED. Just giving you and your 12 personalities a chance to defend yourself.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:56 pm
There are 2 kinds of teams, ranked, and unranked. Both Georgia & Florida have not had a win against a ranked team. So, to buy into Jeff’s article, one has to assume Georgia & Florida’s teams and coaches are not good this year, yet since Florida’s team was ranked in the top 10 earlier this season, Jeff is erroneous.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
2:57 pm
Jesse, it could be said you LIED by saying it cannot be debated, and then trying to debate, which is, are you a liar, or am I?
Tony
November 8th, 2010
3:00 pm
Jeff-
Florida is currently ranked in the top 25 in both the BCS & AP, yet they havn’t beat any ranked teams.
What does this do to your theory about whether Georgia is reeally ’struggled’ or not?
Jesse Stone
November 8th, 2010
3:00 pm
I’m not debating. I’m showing you facts. Is that the best you can do?
Tony
November 8th, 2010
3:01 pm
It’s also odd how teams that beat unranked Georgia, have moved up in the polls the next week, like South Carolina.
This is also troubling to Jeff’s theory.
Flat Tire on I-95 Jacksonville
November 8th, 2010
3:05 pm
Tony
Richt Era
FL 8-2 against UGA
3 SEC Championships
4 SEC Championship appearences
2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
PHIL
November 8th, 2010
3:06 pm
ALL coaches have problems with ranked teams in the SEC, that’s why they are ranked. Moron.
We could have a schedule like Oregon with a strength of schedule about 120 or Boise at 70 or maybe Ufreakintah at over a hundred including that juggernaut TCU squad. Gimme a break.
Tony
November 8th, 2010
3:13 pm
Jeff,
Are you saying Urban Meyer should ONLY be judged on his record against ranked teams, in 2010 alone? Because Meyer has 0 wins against ranked teams in 2010.
yet, Meyer has 2 National Championships, so he can’t be called a bad coach.
I don’t see your point.
Ron Smith
November 8th, 2010
3:16 pm
Auburn will be looking to make a big statement – Auburn 45 Georgia 7
5150 P.O.A.D
November 8th, 2010
3:29 pm
Flat Tire but Spurrier was at UF. I think the orginal question was Richt agains other SEC coaches in the SEC not just the Teams the coaches now Head Coach. I could be wrong, but I think it was Head coaches that included Nutt at Ole Miss and Arkansas so then you have to include Spurrier at UF and USC.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2010
3:34 pm
Ron Smith
Are you smoking crack or do you live in Hahira?
just a fan
November 8th, 2010
3:35 pm
Ron Smith I dont think the burners could hold the little sisters of the blind and poor to 7 points much less UGA just MHO
5150 P.O.A.D
November 8th, 2010
3:37 pm
How amny games has Richt won against ranked teams when the Dawgs were the UNDERDAWG? Tech caoches have done it a lost of times since Richt has been at UGA. VT, Clemson, Auburn, UGA, and FSU to name the teams just 1 time we beat them.
Who was favored in the USC game this year? I really don’t remember. I know UGA was not ranked but was USC? How Bout Akriesaw?
5150 P.O.A.D
November 8th, 2010
3:38 pm
ARdawg where is it that you Live? I think you have been huffing paint fumes because that is all you can afford.
jwilli120
November 8th, 2010
3:46 pm
i am a UGA fan and i’ll be the first to admit we ARE NOT THAT
GOOD THIS YEAR AND FOR THE LAST 4YRS, I demand better and want
better so until the product is better i will not be donating
again until this has happened CMR amy not need to go but the
product is watered down and weak, i’m tired of the we will get
it fixed every year and then the same crap the next year come
on fans of UGA demand a better product form these coaches that
are being paid a king ransome for what?
jwilli120
November 8th, 2010
3:46 pm
may
This sounds awfully similar to....
November 8th, 2010
3:59 pm
the uga boards before the florida game
overly optimistic dawg fans
ARdawg
November 8th, 2010
4:28 pm
5150
There is a method to my madness to which the likes of a Nerd fan may never comprehend. But for the sake of clarity. I live in Arkansas