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
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430 comments Add your comment
Dr. Morpheus
October 25th, 2011
9:47 pm
Like Jeff, the entire Bulldog Nation is skeptical about beating the Gators. That includes this writer. As a professional psychologist, I’m aware that our emotions are programmed by past experience. How can we believe again until we start winning again (because I remember a time when we dominated)?
@Truth- that’s harsh but honest! LOL
Dr. Morpheus
October 25th, 2011
10:00 pm
BTW, if I were a relative of Jan Kemp, I would be highly offended by the way her memory is being abused by “ALL SAINTS.” Ironic how people reveal themselves in their attempts to stick it to others.
wins-by-a-link
October 25th, 2011
10:35 pm
No way to know how this game will turn out, Georgia has not beaten a good team, Almost lost to a poor Vandy team, And has not put together to good halves, Murray has been inconsistant on long passes, Running game at times has looked good, But with the injury to Crowell has been inconsistant, Fla has lost to two of the best teams in the country, Ala and LSU and to a rebuilding Auburn team, I think we will at last know what kind of team Georgia has, A loss to Gators will be devastating to Coach Richt and his team, It will eliminate them from SEC contention and add more questions to Coach Richt’s future in Athens
joe
October 25th, 2011
10:42 pm
We have to establish the run and keep their offense off the field by time management and good defense. I am certain they have prepared things we are not preparing for. So the key is being able to adjust to the unknown punches they throw.
Man Enough Dawg
October 25th, 2011
11:10 pm
I agree with Dawg TT, Florida sucks, bring out the gimpy QB or not, Dawgs Defense puts on the hurt in the end. Willie Muschump will be making some faces better than Spurrier.
Albany Al
October 25th, 2011
11:31 pm
UGA 99 FLORIDA 3…………………..DIS OUR YEAR
Mick Hubert
October 26th, 2011
12:40 am
Ohh Myyyyyy! Georgia just scored again!
DAWGS WIN IN A CLOSE ONE
October 26th, 2011
2:58 am
DawgDad, FLA is the one doing all that you said right and if their qb play he will be rusty and the dawgs have a good D so just sit down and hang saturday the dawgs have the better team and if they bring the team the played SC mines the turnover they will win. so just shut and the dawgs play one hit ti FLA’s qb and he will be out again
red&black
October 26th, 2011
3:31 am
Think I’ll wait till midnight Saturday to comment………Providing I’m still sober enough to work the keyboard……..Will either be drowning my sorrow’s or celebrating a win…….
gomdawg
October 26th, 2011
6:23 am
Brantley is back ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. he had 942 yards passing in 4 games (235 yards a game ) Against Fl. Atlantic, UAB , Tenn and Kentucky ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm. where is he so good 5 TD’s in 4 games ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.COME ON GEORGIA WILL EAT HIM UP. GO JUNKYARD DAWGS.
savannadawg
October 26th, 2011
7:25 am
Not if they keep worrying about it. And not if we can’t run the ball, like in the past. CMR doesn’t respect the run. Look whats happening with the teams that RUN THE DAMN BALL.
savannadawg
October 26th, 2011
7:28 am
Why did we move figgins to FB and not Charles. Does not make sense. Figgins and Lynch in a two TE seat with Charles at FB makes much more sense and alot more powerful Offensive Line IMO.
Cardinal Sin
October 26th, 2011
8:25 am
Doesn’t matter who wins this game as FL has had a better program the last 30+ years anyway.
SC wins the East!
GA sucks and loses to FL!
Enough Said!!!
T.
October 26th, 2011
8:25 am
Yea I love the turncoat slang from some of these people
Say what you will,But Will is a turn coat.
I told my own son I wouldn’t pull for Florida if he was their starting QB.
trouble is a brewin
October 26th, 2011
8:28 am
GET THIS IN FRONT OF MARK RICHT ASAP!
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
Could it be Pat Dye
October 26th, 2011
8:31 am
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
GEORGIA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FLORIDA
Gatormeat
October 26th, 2011
8:36 am
You dogs are dreaming again. Like usual you are talking a bunch of bold smack before the game but also like usual you will be crying and making excuses after the game. The Mighty Gators win easy, richt is gone and you will be starting over. It must be a long, long ride up 195 after getting smacked around in Jacksonville, knowing the following year will be no different.
Backward Bulldogs
October 26th, 2011
9:05 am
Not surprised to see the Leg Humper faithful ripping Muschamp for taking the Florida job with the awful things I’ve seen UGAly fans write on here about Georgia high school kids who dare to go anywhere other than Athens. Classy, as always.
gomdawg
October 26th, 2011
9:08 am
Gatormeat, lets see you beat Fl. Atlantic, UAB, Tenn, and Kentucky ummmmmmmmmmmmmm Mighty Gators Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Brantley averages 235 yds passing a game ummmmmmmm THE JUNKYARD DAWGS ARE COMING BEWARE
Newnandawg
October 26th, 2011
9:23 am
Gonna be a great GA/FL game this year. We’ll either beat the Gators, or we’ll have ourselves a new coach. It’s a can’t lose Saturday for UGA.
Baddawg
October 26th, 2011
9:38 am
Gaytors go down again this Saturday! Superman and Urban Myth are gone so get used to being a mediocre program again!
Reminder - You Lost to UCF
October 26th, 2011
9:46 am
Baddawg – golly, I sure hope that doesn’t happen to us. But if it does, I hope you’ll give us some advice on how to deal with it. Y’all have been a mediocre program for a long time.
rphdawg85
October 26th, 2011
9:56 am
I’m a big dawg fan, but I feel BoBo will be out coached by CWM on defence and CharlieW will out coach TG. Georgia will not win this game or any future games against the Gators until they make some coaching changes. Bobo has not beat the Gators yet as the play caller. This should be enough to make a change.
Don
October 26th, 2011
1:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Gatormeat
October 26th, 2011
2:12 pm
Florida 27 georgia 6
Have fun at the Independence bowl dogs, that is just the type of program you are
Red
October 26th, 2011
6:02 pm
If it’s not between the hedges then it’s between the ears. I’ll predict win/loss only when there’s second left in the 4th quarter.
Red
October 26th, 2011
6:07 pm
Let’s hire Christ Peterson from Boise State for 2015 onwards. His contract ends 2014. He can win with 2-3 star recruits. Imagine if he had 4-5 start recruits and no Bobo as OC.
Red
October 26th, 2011
6:07 pm
Chris
LawDawg
October 27th, 2011
12:22 pm
“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”
I really cannot believe that this myth still persists. New England improved dramatically after Weis left. His offense was awful at ND and KC and UF’s offense has not been good this year. Yet lazy sportswriters still spout the conventional wisdom that he is an offensive genius.
j.t.keene
October 28th, 2011
11:37 am
You guys kill me. Probably any school in the conference would like to have Murray. He throws 3 t.d.’s and an interception(which half the time isn’t even a interception,rather a “bounce off someone’ and you constantly complain about the interception. Your kicker makes field goals coming and going and then misses a 50 yarder and you complain because he missed a “chip shot” Maybe the great Cro-wellll will make one of those long touchdown runs he is famous for and you can get a new hero…Like hamp,hamp,hamp or champ,champ,champ or zier, zier, zier,etc. Georgia is almost always a good team, some of you complain for no reason. The coaching is a different story. Like the old ball coach said”winners admire other winners, losers resent winners.”