Poll time: Is this the year Dogs finally thump Gators?
Orson Charles and Dogs came close last year but lost in overtime. (Brant Sanderlin)
Here we go again. Does I-95 morph into Georgia’s “Trail of Tears” again?
Heading to Athens this morning for Mark Richt’s weekly news conference. I think you can make a case that this is the most important Georgia-Florida game during Richt’s administration, given the ramifications for both this season (the SEC East is still up for grabs) and the big picture (no elaboration necessary).
Loading ...The Gators have lost three straight, but they had lost three straight last season when they defeated the Bulldogs in overtime 34-31. The Dogs have won five straight, but the fact the wins have comes over Coastal Carolina, Mississippi,Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt justifiably tempers the celebration (the four SEC opponents have a combined conference record of 1-15.)
I’m not ready to make a prediction yet. You’ll have to wait a couple of days. But here are a few reasons why either team can win, just in case you need something to ponder before voting in the who’s-going-to-win poll.
Why Georgia will win:
• 1) Better quarterback: Aaron Murray has not had a great season but he should be given the edge over John Brantley, who is expected to return from an injury after missing two and a half games and figures to be rusty.
• 2) Better defense: It might be difficult to tell because of the level of opponents, but the Dogs’ defense has improved this season (third in the SEC, sixth in the nation at 272.9 yards per game), and to a lesser degree in scoring (20.4 ranks sixth in the SEC, 27th in the nation).
• 3) Law of averages: Florida has won 18 of the last 21 meetings. Richt has lost three straight and eight of 10. But the Dogs came close last year. It has to turn at some point … doesn’t it?
Why Florida will win:
• 1) Weis vs. defense: The Florida offense has been a mess the last few weeks. But Charlie Weis is one of the best offensive coaches in the game and now he gets back his starting quarterback. Even if Brantley’s timing is off, Weis will put him in the right situations to succeed.
• 2) This could be a three-point game. So it seems appropriate to point out that the Florida kicker (Caleb Sturgis) is 15 for 16 and the Georgia kicker (Blair Walsh) is 12 for 20.
• 3) The Gators are not nearly as bad as they’ve been made out to be. They were waxed in consecutive games by Alabama and LSU, but those two are leveling everybody. In the last game, a 17-6 loss to Auburn, Florida was still missing Brantley. Can we really say they’re worse than Georgia? To date, the schools have had only one common opponent: Tennessee. The Dogs won 20-12; the Gators won 33-23. That’s a push. Florida has beaten Kentucky and lost to Auburn, which Georgia hasn’t played yet. Georgia has lost to South Carolina and beaten Vanderbilt, which Florida hasn’t played yet.
By Jeff Schultz
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
430 comments Add your comment
dawgfacedboy
October 25th, 2011
10:02 am
UGA will win because: They are better at every position on the field and SHOULD win.
UF will win because: They are Florida, kryptonite for UGA.
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:03 am
JB
UGA played the much tougher schedule last year and it didn’t help us any. I think that “experience” this year is important.
Gator Bob there is fooling himself. His Gators are splintered and scattered and for the last 3 games unable to be a cohesive unit/team. Will they this week? Remains to be seen. Georgia has to have the edge. Yeah we’ve played lesser competition but, Florida can’t hold up to good teams. And AU isn’t a good team, mediocre at best
SEC Commissioner
October 25th, 2011
10:04 am
We have not seen the real Florida Gators since the first quarter against Alabama. The UF version prior to that was pretty darn good. Gonna be a good game.
Dr. Phil
October 25th, 2011
10:06 am
It should be a close game. Hopefully, Richt and Adams will muzzle “Mad Dog” Grantham and cool the unsportsmanlike conduct. That behavior loses games and hurts Georgia’s image on national TV.
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:06 am
Commissioner
They looked decent against the cupcakes but they were more than demoralized the last 3 games.
Summit Dawg
October 25th, 2011
10:07 am
If Crowell will run and not whine…..BooBoo can come out his shell and call some decent offense…..Richt will just stay out of it and keep adjusting his headset and mic, and let Grantham have his way!!!…..We’ll win!!!! Go Dawgs!!
chem
October 25th, 2011
10:07 am
Who takes I-95 Atlanta/Athens to Jacksonville?
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:09 am
Chem
Heh heh, Probably all of those Carolina Dawg fans
Boobie Bowden
October 25th, 2011
10:09 am
dawgs to lose – because ofthe law of gravity….
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2011
10:11 am
No 1. Everyone takes 75 to 10 across
Contractor
October 25th, 2011
10:12 am
Thomas Brown,
You make a hell of a point. Thanks for the stats there. I think it’s going to be a battle for Georgia, just like every year, and I would not be surprised if we lost, yet again.
DJDAWG
October 25th, 2011
10:13 am
Who cares how you get there? Just win baby!! Go Dawgs!! GATA!!!!!
7576DAWG
October 25th, 2011
10:14 am
I know the tradition of the Georgia Florida game in Jacksonville but these teams are too close every year to continue to spot Florida any point’s at all because it is as close to a home game as it can be for them. If this game isn’t going to be in Gainesville and Athens then at least have it in Atlanta every other year.
Mark
October 25th, 2011
10:16 am
We’ll win but lose to Auburn. I’ve seen this movie before. Enjoy your last year, CMR.
Easy Win
October 25th, 2011
10:16 am
No way Ga loses this game. Florida’s team is bad this year and Ga’s on a roll. This is finally the year that Ga should win the game by 13-17 points. It could get worse than that.
OLDDAWGFAN
October 25th, 2011
10:16 am
you got that right 7576dawg
Ron Swanson
October 25th, 2011
10:18 am
Georgia coulda, shoulda, woulda won at least 8 or 9 games over the 3-18 stretch but somehow always manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Granted, UF has been on a heck of a run (3 NC’s and probabaly double-digit SEC titles in that time period); but there are a number of years in there where we went down there with a better team and choked big time (see all games during Zook era, 2010, etc.).
GTBob
October 25th, 2011
10:18 am
Georgia beat Vanderbilt because a guy stumbled while picking up a blocked punt. That is a pretty narrow victory. Would anybody say that Florida with Brantley is worse then Vanderbilt? I think the Gators win in a fairly close game.
Pete
October 25th, 2011
10:19 am
To Vegas Vinnieanna and Gatard Bob:
Georgia fans talking their way into believing they will win. They do this every year.
1. Florida has better athletes.( In what Universe)
2. Weiss vs Bobo( Boith Suck)
3. Special teams ( UGA Kills in this-did you watch the Auburn game moron!!!)
4. Look at UGA consistently failing to put away poor teams.( Richt had better play to win and not to lose-Only Valid point)
UGA wins!!!
Hotseat
October 25th, 2011
10:19 am
If GA blows out florida, will muschamp be on the early hot seat? His team is worse than last year’s team and he better start winning soon.
Lakedawg
October 25th, 2011
10:21 am
Coach Richt allows Schultz to attend his news conference? He is a nicer guy than he should be.
Game will be close and with Walsh trying to win one is a big. big, worry, hope it does not come down to that because they definetly have the more confident kicker.
The game is no way a 50/50 split on fans, the Gayturds get all of club seating immediately behind the lower level seating. Schools split tickets, but 8 out of 10 thousand stadium distributed tickets end up in Fla hands. Plus one hour bus ride vs road trip. No way a neutral game. But if we are good enough then you should overcome those odds.
Need this one bad. Go Dawgs!
npgator
October 25th, 2011
10:21 am
Georgia should win this year but that doesn’t mean that they will. Go Gators!
Atlanta Gator
October 25th, 2011
10:22 am
The two keys for the Gators to win the game: (1) getting QB Brantley, RB Demps, PK Sturgis and others back in the lineup from the injured and unable to play list; (2) the offensive line adequately protects Brantley for four quarters.
Alabama and LSU are a class ahead of the Gators this season, and they proved it. Auburn was beatable, but the Gators were battered. With two weeks of coaching, practice and rehabilitation, hopefully the Gators will field an offense that can score at least three touchdowns, and a defense that can hold the Dawgs to three or fewer. The Gators are not contenders this year, but the future of the program starts Saturday in Jacksonville.
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:24 am
GT Bob
Oh the hatred. You WANT Florida to win
Gary
October 25th, 2011
10:25 am
Unless the score shows otherwise at the end of the game, Florida will win. Anyone who bets against Florida with Georgia’s history in the so called “rivalry” is betting for on upset. No matter how good Georgia is or how bad Florida is, Georgia winning is an upset. Guess what upsets are pretty rare in college football on any weekend. 90% of the time the team that is supposed to win does. I love my dogs, but they have not won an upset since 2009 against tech. We only win if we are supposed too. This team even has a problem with trying to give those away and not closing out the game. Will Georgia win this weekend? The team we have had the last 7 games will loose.
Contractor
October 25th, 2011
10:25 am
Atlanta Gator,
Anyone that holds the LSU and Alabama losses against you are idiots. One of those teams will be in the National Championship, and if they didn’t play each other, they would both be in the National Championship, so there is no need for anyone to keep running off at the mouth about losing three straight, cause I have no doubt those two teams would have drilled Georgia. I still think this is going to be a classic Georgia-Florida game and that it will come down to defense, and I hope the Dawgs are on top of that, but we’ll see.
Ron Swanson
October 25th, 2011
10:26 am
Atlanta Gator- As long as UF does not turn the ball over, they will be fine. Georgia has turned over the ball 12 times in the last 3 meetings and until I see otherwise, I would expect more of the same.
augustadawg
October 25th, 2011
10:26 am
This shoud be the year,but look for the dogs to find a way to blow it………………..Goes back to sub-par coaching again………………
frank
October 25th, 2011
10:29 am
hope not.. probably Lose this one and one more and thats the end of the high diver. I am willing to sacrfice a loss here and maybe a second one to tech if it gives a chance at a BCS title in 2-3 years with the next guy.
Albany Al
October 25th, 2011
10:30 am
I bets we beats those dm Gators 75-0 this Saturday. Dis our year
Fat Dog Brindise
October 25th, 2011
10:30 am
ATL Gator, I would add in a third critical element for UF – penalties. The Gators have killed themselves with penalties this season, and they’re simply not a good enough team to win when they give away all of those penalty yards.
Fat Dog Brindise
October 25th, 2011
10:30 am
ATL Gator, I would add in a third critical element for UF – penalties. The Gators have killed themselves with penalties this season, and they’re simply not a good enough team to win when they give away all of those penalty yards.
GTBob
October 25th, 2011
10:32 am
Oh the hatred. You WANT Florida to win
Of course I do. I also think they will win though. This is the best team that UGA has played since the USCe game. That’s a long time without any real competition. Although Florida is beat up, they have played the two best teams in college football recently. I think that will benefit Florida greatly.
AFAN
October 25th, 2011
10:35 am
If John Brantley plays for Florida he still wont be where he was before the injury. He will be more cautious and his lateral movements are going to be slow. He will be rusty.
We may be better with him playing this week than the freshman.
Now has anyone heard anything on Malcolm Mitchell?
frank
October 25th, 2011
10:36 am
UGA 4 game winning streak teams record 1-15
The high diver might as well have scheduled high schools. Florida routs us and our pain and suffering will be over soon (December)
MountainDawg
October 25th, 2011
10:36 am
Charlie Leiss is way overrated. He stunk up the joint at ND. UGA has a chance to stomp out “Flowerida”, BUT they must execute the offense successfully (no turnovers, run & pass block & score in the red zone). The defense just needs to play as they have been & pressure Brantley. IF UGA’s offense doesn’t execute, it could be them getting beaten. We’ll see come Saturday. GO DAWGS!
DJDAWG
October 25th, 2011
10:36 am
@frank
Who out there,would be the next guy?
Charlie Brown
October 25th, 2011
10:36 am
The Gators aren’t very good this year but still good enough to whip the Dawgs’ arse!
Atlanta Gator
October 25th, 2011
10:37 am
Ron Swanson—-
At this point, I’m less concerned about the last three times the Dawgs have played the Gators than the last three games the Dawgs and Gators have played this season. Those were very different teams that played in Jacksonville the last three times compare to the Dawgs and Gators squads that will play this year. This may be the year that the Dawg finally bites some Gator tail.
If the Gators field a nearly complete team of healthy starters, I think the Gators win a close one. If Brantley, Demps and Sturgis are less than 100%, the odds increase for the Dawgs to win a close one. If the Gators win, it will not be a blowout.
Gary
October 25th, 2011
10:37 am
Anyone who thinks Jacksonville is home field advantage for Florida has not been to this game. The only advantage Florida has is they are used to beating UGA their. That has nothing to do with travel. That has a lot to do with coaching, talent, and heart. Stop making excuses. Florida would have smoked us in the Dome just as often as Jacksonville. The only difference is I would not have as long a drive to come home after a loss. Believe me, you do not want to play in the swamp, been there, never going back. We are lucky to not have to play in the swamp. Georgia has no home field advantage. They just need to play better ball. Stop making excuses, stop bitching about jacksonville, and realize that football is about encouraging large crowds to show up. Ga/Fl does just that every year. How many games do you have 25k to 50k show up at a stadium with no chance of getting in just to tailgate. It is the best game of the year except we keep loosing.
Say It Aint So
October 25th, 2011
10:39 am
I’ll tell you this, the Dawgs can’t settle for FGs in the red zone. We gotta scor TDs to win this game.
SEC Commissioner
October 25th, 2011
10:39 am
Yes, this should be the best game CBS has shown this year based on final score. Just wondering:
For the UGA fans..rank the teams from best to worst that UGA has Beaten this year. UF folks please name the best to worst teams UF has beaten. Just would like your opinions.
From the looks of it, the Gators have lost to two very good teams and lost to a mediocre Auburn team while playing without 3 key starters. But losing to Auburn was just a bad loss. UGA lost to a USC team that even with a healthy Lattimore is proving not to be very good on either side of the ball.
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:40 am
GT Bob
Comparing the two teams, here is nothing to indicate that FL will win this game. You choose them out of your hatred. Florida hasn’t proved to be any better than the Missy Sts and Vandys. Getting trounced by 2 of the best teams this year means FL is a good team? What about getting beaten by the sub mediocre Auburn? I’m not convinced Georgia is a “good” team myself but, I’m not convinced FL isn’t as bad as advertised. either
Atlanta Gator
October 25th, 2011
10:42 am
“ATL Gator, I would add in a third critical element for UF – penalties.”
Yup, you’re right, FDB. When the Gators were really good, the penalties were a sign of a very aggressive defense and were acceptable in that context. Unfortunately, the Gators’ penalties in 2011 are mostly indicative of injured first-teamers and the lack of big game experience by their replacements.
frank
October 25th, 2011
10:42 am
How about this – anyone with some fire, desire to win above all else,wont make excuses after losses instead gets mad, put fear in these kids so they arent getting penalities, felonies, etc.
Someone who will play his best 11 regardless of seniority (Cox, Tereshinski, redshirting moreno)
Someone that doesnt make stupid promises and run his roster like its a pop warner team
(10 different receivers getting game action, Richard samuel getting meaningless carries to placate him for changing positions)
Someone who doesnt waste a day of practice on high diving.
the list goes on
jbdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:42 am
Everyone likes to point out that the opponents UGA has beat is 1-15 in the SEC. So What! If UGA beats Florida, then the dawgs have beat SEC teams with a collective 3-19 SEC record. I don’t see much of a difference.
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:44 am
Atlanta Gator
Muschamp’s press release yesterday is reeks of smoke and mirrors. No surprise there but, I have doubts as to Brantley even playing, much less starting
ARdawg
October 25th, 2011
10:46 am
jbdawg
That is probably the most useless stat any of the writer’s and talking heads can muster. Do you noticed it is generally always prefaced with Georgia loses this game because?
Atlanta Gator
October 25th, 2011
10:47 am
“Charlie Leiss?” “Flowerida?” Seriously?
Man, oh, man. Even the insults to the Gators are kind of lame this year. Given the current state of the Gators, I suppose that seems sort of appropriate.
*sigh*
Send'em Uhauls!
October 25th, 2011
10:47 am
All these clueless kool aid drinkers here voting for the dawgs to win is so comical. Richt will choke as usual. Book it!