Georgia opens as 5.5-point favorites over Tech (surprised?)
Mark Richt got the obligatory Gatorade shower after clinching the SEC East. (AP photo)
Paul Johnson's team is 8-3 but had some hiccups at Duke. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Welcome to Georgia-Georgia Tech week. Is it just me or does the point spread seem a little thin?
Most sports books have installed Georgia as a 5½-point favorite. Granted, the game will be played at Tech — home field is worth three points in wagering circles — and this is a rivalry game, which generally screams, “Beware!”
There’s also the uncertain status of Georgia running backs (either because of injury or immaturity).
But the Bulldogs (9-2) have won nine straight and secured a spot in the SEC championship game. The Jackets (8-3 after a 6-0 start) have had a better season than expected, but they just allowed 31 points to Duke in a 38-31 win (the Blue Devils entered the game ranked 99th nationally in scoring offense at 21.8 points per game).
Georgia is ranked 13th in the BCS and the Associated Press. Tech is 23rd and 25th, respectively. I would’ve thought given the way perceptions tilt, the line would open at 10 points or higher.
I’ll have more looking ahead to the game in the next few days, but I figured this would be a good place to start the banter.
By Jeff Schultz
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819 comments Add your comment
WDE
November 21st, 2011
4:01 pm
@Saban good news is when Auburn again trips you up this year you can’t end any lower that 3rd in the east.
Old Blind Dawg
November 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
Keep this in your mind Techies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KDrPUcUsFY
Smarter & Always Will Be
November 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
MattDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:27 pm
Who is Georgia Tech again? Oh yeah, that little trade school in downtown Atlanta… wait, do they still play football? Funny, I never think about them. Apparently, their fans think about UGA a lot. You might even call it an obsession.
*That’s funny you call Tech “a little trade school” UGA’s bread and butter is their business school….last time I checked GT has a higher ranked business school. As for always thinking about UGA…it’s hard to ignore the typical UGA fan (obese, missing teeth, uneducated, their haircut is short in the front and long in the back, howling and barking obsessively )
JoeJackets
November 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
Georgia just had a pretty unimpressive win over UK, did not play any of the tough SEC West teams, and needed a punter’s tackle to beat Vandy. GT has had weak opponets as well. Virginia has turned out to be better than we thought. Line seems about right to me considering it is in Atlanta. UGA is in a better place right now after putting together a decent season against average opponets.
Columbus
November 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
The line is about right. It might go to 6.5 by the end of the week. UGA will be focused for sure so it could be ugly for GT. It could be ugly too because UGA defense eats running backs for lunch….what is Tech going to do? They better not let UGA score thats what. Good luck with that…..
LSU gonna score 48 on UGA? LOL. Thats the funniest thing I have heard this season!
More like 18…
LSU might not even play in the game. It might be ARK or Bama. Id rather play LSU though.
Either way it will not be ugly because UGA defense will keep them in ANY game. Idiot.
Saban
November 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
NO. Richt must stay.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
@BG I don’t know but about as many Chop Blocks as UGA has I figure.
@5150’s Dad a lot fewer than Ben “Dirty Fat Pig” Jones will throw by himself.
Columbus
November 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
Dont worry Saban. Richt will be at UGA for a LOOOOOOONG time…..
Duke vs KY and this ain't bb
November 21st, 2011
4:07 pm
Kentucky for years has always recruited top quality kids from Georgia and that makes the UGA/KY game ALWAYS a tense one. Saturday was no different than what UGA fans expected.
Duke, does not recruit QUALITY GEORGIA HS football players like KY can. KY has 24 kids from Georgia and likely, they could play for most any other SEC team …………..certainly second teamers. Duk’s starters on the other hand would not start at ANY SEC school and in fact, not start at 60% of the ACC schools. Vandy would beat them 35-16 ………… 8 out of 9 times.
UGA has a D line and a scheme that is UNLIKE any UGA D in many years. UGA is BIG on the D line and they CAN RUN and they ARE DEEP. UGA has two LBs that will be top, top NFL draft choices within another year and one could win the Butkus Award and be AA this year ………..Jarvis Jones. His sack total in one year is 2 behind 4 year player David Pollack. He will get that on the first GT series.
LB Ogltree is a beast and so are Chris Robinson and M. Gillard at LBs, along with Garrison Smith, Hererra and Vasser. Our D backs have speed and ball presence of mind. Our safeties bring it.
I have viewed 5 or 6 or 7 UGA games this year where the opposing QBs (1st and second teamers) are KNOCKED OUT of the game, if only a play or three. AU’s QBs and KY’s TWO QBs were dazed beyond belief. Washington will be pummeled on his pitch plays.
UGA 34-GT 20 and GT will have tons of USELESS yards.
Larry Munson
November 21st, 2011
4:07 pm
I hope the Dawgs get the picture and don’t look past the trade school. We can wait to focus on Loser State next week.
Rick
November 21st, 2011
4:08 pm
JoeJackets-
Well said.
Deano
November 21st, 2011
4:08 pm
“Ga Tech all the way, Tech has way to much talent for UGA to keep up.”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Instant Dawgma
November 21st, 2011
4:08 pm
Jeff, if your feeling 10 or better, go ahead and pick the Dawgs!
UGA wins and covers for Larry the rest of season!
BG
November 21st, 2011
4:08 pm
http://www.gamingtoday.com/race_sports/ncaa/article/33523-Georgia_football_coach_Mark_Richt_will_leave_at_end_of_season
Can we get CPJ to replace him?
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
4:08 pm
Who is taking bets that Richt will show Nick Marshall the Missing Running Back formation like he did to get Crowell. Funny Crowell really is the Missing Running Back.
T3
November 21st, 2011
4:13 pm
No turnovers by GT Offense = GT win.
Al Ciraldo was way better the Munson
November 21st, 2011
4:14 pm
More THUGGA players could pass the drug tests if it were multiple choice. Hope for the sake of Mrs. Coach Mark Richt that Tech wins. If she gets kissed like that again it could do serious lip damage.
Al Ciraldo could not carry Munson's jock
November 21st, 2011
4:15 pm
That about sums it up
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
4:17 pm
Al Ciraldo could not carry Munson’s jock…………….that would be because they are both dead.
Snoop Dawg
November 21st, 2011
4:17 pm
UGA is inconsistent. I hope the good team shows up against GT.
GT is tough. They run the ball and play hard. UGA is a finesse team, but will need to be sturdy enough to hang with the game.
GT coaches almost pulled an upset last year in Athens. When they let UGA score with just a minute left, we were happy to score without realizing that a TD would have beat us. We should have taken a knee and run the clock out.
This is the problem. UGA coaches. Specifically, Richt and Bobo. Grantham is smart, but Richt and Bobo are still incompetent regardless of the record.
So Snoop thinks that 5 points is rather liberal, particularly in Atlanta.
How to really gauge a football program
November 21st, 2011
4:17 pm
GT has a possible Bowl opportunity in the Belk Bowl IF ………..IF they defeat UGA.
UGA on the other hand has a COTTON BOWL berth possible if we defeat GT but lose to The SEC West team.
If UGA wins vs GT and in THE DOME ……………..then the Suagr Bowl is on pop up mode for Georgia. Nice! 4th time in 11 years ………….some sort of record, I would guess.
See? Belk Bowl vs. West Virginia with free polyester ties to the winners or $$$ millions and $millions and $ millions ( like $8,000,000.00? ) to the particpants in either the Cotton Bowl orthe Sugar Bowl.
Medium rare on that 2″ THICK STOCK YARD PORTERHOUSE or BEANS AND RICE BABY !!! Delta is way ready when I am. I fly free as retired DL person. Hooray !!!
This tells the story.
What?
November 21st, 2011
4:17 pm
T3, keep telling yourself that all this week. You can say it 1,000, but that won’t make it true.
Judge Smales
November 21st, 2011
4:18 pm
@UOAD — “Ben Fat Pig Jones”
Seriously dude….are you 12yrs old or what? You continually act like a child.
Al Ciraldo took a hobnailed boot to the nose from Munson
November 21st, 2011
4:20 pm
5150: you’re so clever
browndog
November 21st, 2011
4:20 pm
Should be a good game with lots of points scored by both and to me the spread looks about right. GT can’t stop the passing game of UGA (assuming AM has a normal game) but GT should get a lot of yards on the ground. I believe UGA wins a close game.
Palmetto State Dawg
November 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
5150: I would love to see you call Ben Jones a “dirty fat pig” to his face.
ARdawg
November 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
Saban….damn, you’re not a GT grad? Did you get your undergrad degree on the basketball court at Syracuse?
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
Judge no 13 next week.
Ben Jones is a dirty pig. He tries to end peoples careers and throw punches at players on the ground.
Ron Swanson
November 21st, 2011
4:26 pm
Ben Jones will be throwing the Tech D-line down like the fairy boys they are. Should have seem him manhandle the Auburn D- was like shooting fish in a barrel.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
4:26 pm
Palmetto State Why would I? I know he will punch me in the gut when i am laying on the ground. he might wait until I have my back turned then he will try to break my legs. Ben is a Classy guy that way.
Hey 5150
November 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
I
ll bet that you are Atlanta public school person from around Moreland Avenue, Ponce de Leon Ave. and you have never, ever been in even in a junior college anywhere and you hate UGA and try to ID with a fine school like GT but my GT family ( grandfather, uncles and one current cousin GT student, plus a nephew GT MBA grad) and GT ALUMNI pals would NOT CLAIM you. I know too many GT men and they would think that you are trash and NOT ONE OF THEM ……………when you gigle about anyone’s passing ……….you filth.
Do not revel in anyone’s passing BOY.
Tony
November 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
Tech has the ability to beat Ga. It has run for over 400 yards a game the last three seasons. The problem with Tech is that it self-destructs with too many turnovers against a good defense; three last year that all led to touchdowns. Tech has a big problem against good throwing teams, like Georgia. That’s our main achilles heel and the Dawgs know that. Until Tech beats Georgia again, it will be tough believing that they belong with the big boys. Go Jackets!
GT
November 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
Georgia is back, I think the spread should be 21 points Georgia.
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
UGA on the other hand has a COTTON BOWL berth possible
Do you think anybody really cares about the Cotton Bowl?
Dawg Tired
November 21st, 2011
4:29 pm
Duh, could it possibly be because we played very, very poorly against a team not nearly as good as Tech. That performance would result in Tech winning by at least 20 points, BTW, I would not be surprised by that result. On the other hand, play like we did against Auburn and we win big. Could go either way.
Big Dawg
November 21st, 2011
4:30 pm
@How to really gauge a football program – The only possibility you missed was if Tech beats Georgia, and Georgia loses in SEC Championship game. Where do Dawgs go under this scenario?
Ron Swanson
November 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Does anybody care that Tech has not won a bowl since 2004?
Keep your eyes on the prize!
November 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Hey dogs, you guys got a chance in the sec champ bowl if you are really rested and injury free…otherwise, lookout!
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
4:33 pm
Does anybody care that Tech has not won a bowl since 2004?
DRad maybe. I can’t think of anyone else.
Dawgs Roll
November 21st, 2011
4:33 pm
Ga beats Tech easy—the DAwg D will shut down their mickey mouse offense like last year. Dawgs 30 Tech 10
GT81
November 21st, 2011
4:35 pm
The spread doesn’t matter. Play the game. The winner will brag. It works that way every year in case you haven’t noticed.
Ron Swanson
November 21st, 2011
4:35 pm
Who cares about the Cotton Bowl. Check out this resume of top-tier bowl appearances. That Emerald Nut Bowl in 2005 was a real barnburner!!!!!
L 01-01-2000 Gator Bowl Miami 13 28
L 12-29-2000 Peach Bowl Louisiana State 14 28
W 12-27-2001 Seattle Bowl Stanford 24 14
L 12-31-2002 Silicon Valley Classic Fresno State 21 30
W 01-03-2004 Humanitarian Bowl Tulsa 52 10
W 12-21-2004 Champs Sports Bowl Syracuse 51 14
L 12-29-2005 Emerald Bowl Utah 10 38
L 01-1-2007 Gator Bowl West Virginia 35 38
L 12-31-2007 Humanitarian Bowl Fresno State 28 40
L 12-31-2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl Louisiana State 3 38
L 01-05-2010 Orange Bowl Iowa 14 24
L 12-27-2010 Independence Bowl Air Force 7 14
GT
November 21st, 2011
4:36 pm
Talking about Atlanta Public Schools I imagine both Georgia ,who is totally back among the elite, and unbeatable, and lowly Tech have a few players from the APS cheating scandal. I wonder if the NCAA examined those player’s real grades to see if they are really college eligible. My guess is the players who went to Tech are clean or why would they want to tempt fate and go to a real college, when you knew you would have to study. I don’t even want to watch Saturday it is going to be such a blood bath with Georgia. I bet Georgia could beat us like they did New Mexico State with the fourth and fifth string. I hear they are having Munson’s funeral next Saturday, I may go to that instead.
Does anyone care about The Cotton?
November 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
Ask you GT Fund guys. THEY DO. Why? Money fool. Money.
Cotton is back with THE PACE THAT JERRY JONES BUILT for the COWBOYS and it pays mega money. Belk Bowl for GT. You get two free burgers at Shoney’s on I-85 and Tyrone Rd. and the humiliation of a new bowl ………………..lesser status than the Independence. Heck, it use to be claled the Mienke Muffler Bowl and they pulled out as it embarrased them. AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAH
Why? Money fool and the prestige …………….call the Edge Building to see if I am wrong, fool.
db
November 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
Good Old Fashion Hate!
Can’t wait!
Palmetto State Dawg
November 21st, 2011
4:39 pm
GTBob: you think Clemson will beat SC this Saturday. Did you see Clemson’s impressive performance against NC State this past Saturday?
Top or MAJOR BOWLS
November 21st, 2011
4:39 pm
Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and Cotton.
Closely followed in MONEY by the Outback and Capitol One in both skins$$ and prestige.
Chic Fil A, Gator are low level. End of story. LOOK at the rankings from each conference to reject or confirm this moron.
db
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
SEC West:
Best ‘conference’ in football!
Old Blind Dawg
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
UOAD I was going to take you to school but you are not worthy……………………
BG
November 21st, 2011
4:41 pm
Mark Richt leaving, according to sources.
http://www.gamingtoday.com/race_sports/ncaa/article/33523-Georgia_football_coach_Mark_Richt_will_leave_at_end_of_season