Potential first: Georgia and Tech both playing for titles
Mark Richt and Paul Johnson have their teams in position for title shots. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
This didn’t seem possible when Georgia opened the season with losses to Boise State and South Carolina and Georgia Tech followed a 6-0 start with losses to Virginia and Miami: But both schools can all but assure themselves of a ticket to their respective conference championship game this week.
The Bulldogs and Jackets never have played for conference championships in the same season since the SEC (1992) and ACC (2005) split off into divisions, nor have they ever won conference titles in the same season.
Here’s the backdrop:
• Georgia (5-1 in SEC plays) holds a half-game lead over South Carolina (5-2) in the SEC East and is a whopping 12½-point favorite over Auburn Saturday in Athens. If the Dogs win, they need to only beat Kentucky at home the following week to clinch the East. The Gamecocks’ final conference game is against Florida, which was Georgia’s last SEC victim. They hold a tiebreaker edge should the Dogs lose one of their two conference games.
• Georgia Tech’s route is a little more difficult. The Yellow Jackets (4-2) trail Virginia Tech (4-1) by a half-game. But they play host to the No. 10 Hokies Thursday night. Most lines have Virginia Tech as a one-point favorite. Georgia Tech’s only other remaining ACC game is at Duke.
(UPDATE: Just to cover all bases: Virginia technically holds a tiebreaker over Georgia Tech. But the Cavaliers would need to sweep their remaining three games against Duke, Florida State on the road and Virginia Tech to win the Coastal.)
The Jackets are coming off an upset of then-No. 5 Clemson. Can they do it again?
Tech has been to the ACC championship game twice since the conference split into divisions in 2005: It lost the title game to Wake Forest in 2006 and defeated Clemson in 2009 (official records now show that championship as vacated by the NCAA, pending appeal).
Georgia has played in three SEC championship games: The Dogs defeated Arkansas in 20o2 and LSU in 2005, and lost to LSU in 2003.
In no year have the two schools won a football conference championship in the same season (both were in the SEC until Tech became an Independent in 1963 and later joined the ACC).
So what are the chances both pull it off this week?
And then what would the chances be that both win championships? The likely opponents in the conference title games would be LSU for Georgia and Clemson for Georgia Tech.
Or should we just go one step at a time?
By Jeff Schultz
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320 comments Add your comment
Gorilla Biscuit
November 7th, 2011
4:06 pm
CPJ will “outsmart” himself again this year.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:08 pm
gt4ever
November 7th, 2011
3:59 pm
Something to be proud of… Really… This says it all about the UGA nation! I mean, I’m not really surprised at the win at all cost attitude… Grantham is a JOKE, and any person with a shred of integrity realizes this…. What a complete JOKE your program has become…
Im sorry I forgot that you nerds dont know what its like to have a winning team. My bad.
I think that its tech that has become the JOKE program in the state.
Gratham is a beast and will be around at UGA kickin techs @$$ for a long time! You will learn to love him (well except that he always beats u)
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:08 pm
JAMES…………..I said Championships………….most TECH fans want Uga(RUSS the temporary mascot)’s butt hanging on the wall. I do as well but Rings and trophies are real nice to have. Getting some Jackazz Governor from UGA to give a trophy don’t mean crap to me.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:09 pm
DC
November 7th, 2011
4:00 pm
True dawg fan..so what makes you think UGA’s defense can do that? UGA is definitely not LSU…thats only team that held AU or Dyer and McCaleb under 100 respectively…
2 different schemes. Our D is not their D. Our defense is hot right now and I dont see anything slowing them down, not even your running game.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:12 pm
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:00 pm
TDAWG FAN………………..you really have been getting DRUNK on the Richt Koolaide.
Wow where have I heard that same lame line before…….. Prob form one of the same guys predicting tech in the NC this year and another the next hahahhahaha. Looks like its you that is DRUNK on yech KOOLAIDE
A very very strange tale
November 7th, 2011
4:12 pm
And it came to pass that Mark Richt brought billions of people from a distant planet to Earth in spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes, and detonated fusion bombs in the volcanoes. The Dawgs then aggregated together, stuck to the bodies of the living, and continue to do this today. Society’s biggest problem is to isolate and neutralize the Dawgs and their constant companions, the fleas.
Gamecocks and Gators have had great success in this.
Most people didn’t know this.
GATA
November 7th, 2011
4:12 pm
Tech fan, it is going to be a long, cold ride home on your tricycles after Grantham and Co. ruin your day.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:14 pm
TDAWG FAN you do care WHO you get back for UGA though. If your Coach had the Integrity & Character he Preaches about your RB’s would have been out a game that matters. If it didn’t matter, then all the UGA players that rushed the Field from the sidelines in the Auburn game would have been suspended for the TECH game. Well, I guess RICHT is more of a CHARACTER(like is players) than a MAN of CHARACTER.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:15 pm
Whats more likely going to the UGA /Tech game and:
1. Getting Mugged after the game?
2. Tech somehow pulling a W deep from CPJ @$$?
Im going with 1
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:21 pm
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:14 pm
TDAWG FAN you do care WHO you get back for UGA though. If your Coach had the Integrity & Character he Preaches about your RB’s would have been out a game that matters. If it didn’t matter, then all the UGA players that rushed the Field from the sidelines in the Auburn game would have been suspended for the TECH game. Well, I guess RICHT is more of a CHARACTER(like is players) than a MAN of CHARACTER
Wow where to start on this bunch of retardedness. First off I dont care who comes through as recruits to UGA as long as they go to class and pass and produce on the field and stay out of trouble.
Second: Since when is it Richts job to stalk his 100 players 24/7- I guess Tech cloans CPJ so he do it.
Third: If you could read you would have seen the copy of UGAs teams conduct policy, where it clearly states that tanyone failing a drug test must sit out the NEXT game on the schedule, not the NEXT BIG game. Thats just dumb.
Fourth: The sidelines spilled bc Scam was throwing punches at players like a little pansy. And if you want ot talk suspensions for that… Why wasnt Scam suspended for AU/AL game for clearly throwing punches? Why was Fairley not suspended for his blatant late and dirty hits??
Fifth: Stop being jealous that Richt is 10X the coach that CPJ is period.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:21 pm
True Dawg Fan i guess you missed the AJC picked up article for the Athens Banner Herald about the UGA students assaulted.
http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2011-11-02/robber-who-preyed-uga-students-sentenced-prison
Robber who preyed on UGA students sentenced to prison
A Clarke County judge has sentenced a homeless man to 14 years in prison for robbing University of Georgia students earlier this year.
Germil Deun Johnson, 21, was sentenced Monday in Clarke County Superior Court after he pleaded guilty to robbing three students and attempting to rob a fourth on consecutive days in February.
Johnson intimidated three of the students into giving him money, but he assaulted the fourth as he tried to steal her phone, according to the indictment.
He pleaded guilty to four counts each of robbery and aggravated assault, and Judge H. Patrick Haggard ordered Johnson to serve 14 years in prison and another seven on probation.
At the time of the robberies, Johnson was a registered sex offender on probation for a 2009 statutory rape conviction.
Johnson was homeless and living at shelter Feb. 14, when he followed a UGA student who was heading to her home on Berlin Street, Athens-Clarke police said. While she was walking on North Avenue, Johnson threatened to hurt the 21-year-old if she didn’t give him money, according to police, who said the student gave Johnson $11.
ARdawg
November 7th, 2011
4:21 pm
5150 Uoad
Geeze guy, give it a break already. The RBs were sitting out the very next game as per policy. You just do not admit to the fact that it was Richt who ordered the test. Of course if it was done according to GT policy, they wouldn’t have missed a single game likely, not even tested
Maryland Jacket
November 7th, 2011
4:23 pm
Tech 14, Georgia 10
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:25 pm
5150 UOAD
U are talking about one person. I guess you missed the 5-7 articles since football season started about all the muggings and rapes at yech.
Youre a clown and you lose yet again. Come more prepared next time nerd.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:25 pm
Maryland Jacket
November 7th, 2011
4:23 pm
Tech 14, Georgia 10
hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhhhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha
ARdawg
November 7th, 2011
4:25 pm
Maryland Jacket
What would lead you to such a prognostication?
Mike
November 7th, 2011
4:26 pm
@ dawgjohn…
What team would be the “Best that money can buy”? Don’t you dawg fans read over here? Surely you read where the NCAA investigated the Auburn program and no violations were found as far as Auburn’s recruitment of Cam Newton went…why don’t you let it go man, life’s too short to remain that ignorant…
Sec 114
November 7th, 2011
4:28 pm
TDFan (Aka Troll), Clemson has as good of athletes if not better defensively than Georgia. One of their tackles is projected to be a first round pick. So I’m pretty sure if we can do what we did against them, we should be just fine against y’all. Also, Clemson has pretty good weapons on the offensive side of the ball as well, and while they weren’t shut down, they were contained. And to be completely honest, y’all don’t have nearly the players they do.
Really Haters???
November 7th, 2011
4:28 pm
I find all haters humorous…idiots know nothing, right 5150 and DC…Morons, period, period, period!!! GO DAWGS!!! BEAT AUBURN!!!!
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:29 pm
TRUE……………3 Rapes were REPORTED in the 6 weeks before the UGA fall semester started. ATLANTA is a REAL CITY. Uga is a small town that has the same problems.
Mike
November 7th, 2011
4:31 pm
@truedawg fan…
Cam Newton NEVER threw a punch at anyone…the two players who did were ejected, unlike the chicken bullpuppies that attacked a player on the ground and started hitting him…Fairly had 1, count them, 1 late hit and was flagged for it as he should have been…quit your crying and let it go, that happened a year ago…different day, different players…but same ignorant dawg fans…
Mike Bobo
November 7th, 2011
4:33 pm
5150 UOAD is a rampant tech blogger…..had some civil comments with others on their website but he is nothing more than a blowhard…..any commnent on the tech blog is instantly compared by stating “But yeah UGA does this…..”. He/She really does have an inferiority complex.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:33 pm
Sec 114
November 7th, 2011
4:28 pm
TDFan (Aka Troll), Clemson has as good of athletes if not better defensively than Georgia. One of their tackles is projected to be a first round pick. So I’m pretty sure if we can do what we did against them, we should be just fine against y’all. Also, Clemson has pretty good weapons on the offensive side of the ball as well, and while they weren’t shut down, they were contained. And to be completely honest, y’all don’t have nearly the players they do.
ahahhahahahaha Troll??? Im a UGA Fan on a UGA Blog moron, you are the troll. Im just policing you trolls.
You really think we dont have the players Clemson has ahahahhahahahahahhahahhahaha, I just had to shut my office door bc im laughing so hard at that retarded statement.
In the SEC clemson would have been stomped. They can own…… the ACC which besides the Big East is the worst conference in the country.
You wont shut down/ contain/ whatever you want to call it UGAs offense. We will score at will on yech. MM will have 2 TDs and over 125 yards receiving. Crowell with rush for 125 as well and a TD. Murray should enjoy a 300+ yard passing game with 3-4 TDs.
You dont have a prayer, just face it.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:34 pm
TRUE DAWG FAN……& Others………………………BEN JONES went down the field 15-20 yards and attempted to Injure a Miss St player with an Illegal Hit to the Knee from behind. The SEC gave him a suspension.
You guys like to FORGET the UGA indiscretions so easily.
Maryland Jacket
November 7th, 2011
4:34 pm
Reasoning: Both defenses have been showing up. Sometimes the offenses will too.
Besides, it’s fun to toss a piece of bait out on a comment and see what responses are
Mike Bobo
November 7th, 2011
4:35 pm
What’s wrong UOAD….no interest on the tech blog? Over on the UGA blog “setting the record straight”?
stingembuzz
November 7th, 2011
4:35 pm
I think we are in for one heck of a game on the 26th with two division winners.
gt4ever
November 7th, 2011
4:37 pm
No stingem, according to all the dawg blow hards we have NO chance…. I think we will just show up and play the game….
Delbert D.
November 7th, 2011
4:37 pm
Auburn allowed only 13 points by South Carolina.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:38 pm
Mike
November 7th, 2011
4:31 pm
@truedawg fan…
Cam Newton NEVER threw a punch at anyone…the two players who did were ejected, unlike the chicken bullpuppies that attacked a player on the ground and started hitting him…Fairly had 1, count them, 1 late hit and was flagged for it as he should have been…quit your crying and let it go, that happened a year ago…different day, different players…but same ignorant dawg fans
Clearly you didnt watch the game. Scam was videotaped on the sideline throwing multiple punches at UGA players, Cant hide that kind of evidence (But you can hide 180K I guess).
Fairley got flagged for one but should have been flagged for 3-4 and ejected. He hit Murray in the spine, the back of the knee, the head. He was out to hurt Murray hence why jumped on top of your player.
AU fans just cant get it straight ( Likely nerds on this blog though)
And if I am so wrong about the game thne why do all the people i know that cheer for AU agree with me on this?? Why do all those people wonder why Scam and Fairley were not suspended and instead two mediocre players were? We all know why….. Silve and NC
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:39 pm
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:34 pm
TRUE DAWG FAN……& Others………………………BEN JONES went down the field 15-20 yards and attempted to Injure a Miss St player with an Illegal Hit to the Knee from behind. The SEC gave him a suspension.
You guys like to FORGET the UGA indiscretions so easily.
Did anyone say that he wasnt wrong??? Nope thats what I thought. He got what he deserved he was suspended and dealt with.
Delbert D.
November 7th, 2011
4:39 pm
This is the Jeff Schultz blog. Subject, Georgia and Tech today.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
4:39 pm
THIS IS NOT A UGA BLOG………………….God F…ing DAMN you people are STUPID.
JEFF SCHULTZ…………….the writer ALL you MUTTS HATE is the author of this BLOG.
Title: Potential first: Georgia and Tech both playing for titles
How is this a MUTT BLOG?
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:41 pm
What I do love though was that before the clemson game for tech, every tech fan was calling for Al Groh to get canned and blah blah blah, but now he’s the man and can stop any offense in the country bc he was able to do it for 1 game. hahahahhahaha you guys are clowns. Get used to being the other team in Georgia
Nerd Herd
November 7th, 2011
4:42 pm
Looks like the Geritol Gang has been located….with the exception of Dear Leader. Looked for you guys lately (Delbert, 5150, Super, carolinajacket) but they must have been serving mashed bananas at the retirement home (only reason you are not on Tech blog). Perused the UGA blog and voila! Will have to talk with head nurse about your medication intake………
gt4ever
November 7th, 2011
4:42 pm
UOAD,,
Give it up…. UGA has what is known as the WORST fans in college football… Don’t try and introduce any truth into the conversation… They truly don’t like the facts….
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:43 pm
wow hit a nerve with UOAD….. the little baby going to cry?? come on let it out.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:44 pm
gt4ever
November 7th, 2011
4:42 pm
UOAD,,
Give it up…. UGA has what is known as the WORST fans in college football… Don’t try and introduce any truth into the conversation… They truly don’t like the facts….
Actually iI have been schooling you and your retard friend all afternoon with facts. Just bc you dont like them doesnt make them non facts.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:44 pm
9-1 vs GT last decade. Hows that for a fact?
ARdawg
November 7th, 2011
4:45 pm
Maryland Jacket
I’m with you there but, AU hasn’t had a defensive display to hang their hat on really. I was half expecting you to say strong running game for AU/weak one for UGA. Would make more sense given your projected winner and score.
My personal opinion is that UGA will put some points on the board. Maybe 30. The bigger question to me is, how many can AU put up? Air attack is near non-existant, QB is weak however, can UGA or not shut down the running game. I believe that is where the AU steangth lies. Their D won’t stop UGA but can they hold it to a minimum?
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:45 pm
You and your little buddy predicted a GT NC this year followed up by a repeat performance next year FACT
gt4ever
November 7th, 2011
4:47 pm
Wow TDF,
You are truly a mental GIANT…. I stand amazed….. Thanks for the schooling…. Good grief… You are truly my superior…..
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:47 pm
ARdawg. They are too one dimentional. We will load the box and let boykin and smith man up on someone and dare them to throw it.
With Tree standing tall in the middle I just dont see AU doing much offensively.
flatsdawg1
November 7th, 2011
4:48 pm
History shows that spread won’t hold up, this game will probably go to overtime, so I’m gonna leave this one to Bodog and pray for the Bulldogs!I just hope Blair Walsh has excorcized his kicking demons by saturday evening.
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:50 pm
gt4ever
November 7th, 2011
4:47 pm
Wow TDF,
You are truly a mental GIANT…. I stand amazed….. Thanks for the schooling…. Good grief… You are truly my superior…..
thanks for the compliments but we already know that we are superior to yech on the gridiron as well as graduating our players that play on the grid iron.
ARdawg
November 7th, 2011
4:54 pm
True Dawg
I’m in agreement with you. I believe the lion share of offense will be the RBs running and taking the short dumps. There currently isn’t a passing threat per ’se and hopefully they don’t find one. Dawg D should have a banner day. They size up to handle them with ease. True, stacking the box and leaving the corners rome, AU should have a bad day. They’re defense will struggle with the UGA balance unless they can shut down the running game. They’re secondary is young and weak
True Dawg Fan
November 7th, 2011
4:57 pm
Those short dumps can sometimes trip us up, but I doubt they have anyone as fast as rainey that can turn that dump pass into 70 yards.
Maryland Jacket
November 7th, 2011
5:01 pm
ARdawg,
To be honest, I was thinking about the GT-Georgia game, but I guess I can look at the Auburn game. You’re right, Auburn has a pretty good ground game, and they’ll have to live on it. Crowell should (and I say should) be able to establish a ground game for Georgia as well. I’m still worried about him come Thanksgiving weekend, and how well our defense will be able to hold him.
For your Auburn game though, I do think that you guys can win. While there’s the argument regarding that wins have come against weak-to-average offenses, I don’t see this as being the game that Georgia drops. Will Auburn keep it close? Yes. Will Georgia make one or two special teams problems? Probably. But they should be able to overcome it. I’ll say 28-27 Georgia
GT and VT…I’m glad that we’re not going against Tyrod Taylor again, and I think Logan Thomas still needs some time before he can reach TT levels. A lot of the game depends on which GT offense shows up, but I think it’s the offense that gave Clemson fits more than a week ago. GT 34-28
ARdawg
November 7th, 2011
5:01 pm
True Dawg
Dyer is underrated. I’d take him over Rainey any day
ARdawg
November 7th, 2011
5:12 pm
Maryland Jacket
Crowell while he has had some “moments” is for the most part unreliable. When one considers UGA running game well, just don’t consider it and whatever positive comes of it is gravy. Against the weaker teams yes you can count on a balanced game from Georgia. Against stiffer competition we tend to get one dimensional if not, at the wrong time.
Too much responsibility on the freshmen Crowell and no one backing it up. We’ll have the threat of a running game but little else. I say that until Crowell has a breakout game. May be this game but, I’ll believe it when I see it. If I bet any money on this game I believe I would take AU and the points. I think out offense might spudder enough to let them stay in the game. Georgia should win by a TD.
I’ve seen Tech play 3 times already and I can’t figure you guys out. Jekyll and Hyde. There is no amount of money I’d bet on Tech, just too unpredictable. I though Clemson was way overrated and conversely I don’t think Miami is any good. Tough to get a good read on where Tech is at the moment