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
RedandBlackDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:00 pm
By Saturday, it will be more like the final score with UGA being a 10.5 or 11 point favorite. Kiddies, the game is over now, you have to play a real football team (UGA), and once again, your present for Christmas from UGA, will be another bitter pill to swallow.
UGA is not like Tech. They do not play down to the level of their opponent.
GO DAWGS and GATA
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
12:01 pm
Tech inst that much better than Kentucky. Maybe a little.
Kentucky got beat by 38 at Florida and 30 at Vanderbilt. They are terrible. Florida struggled with Furman but had no problem with Kentucky.
shankit
November 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
Dawgs have a longer win streak than Bama, Oklahoma, OK State,
Boise, Stanford, South Carolina, uh, and all other teams cept’n Houston.
yeller bug
November 21st, 2011
12:03 pm
No 3-pt home field advantage to Tech in this game. Stands will be one-fourth red. Odds: UGA wins by two scores (1 in 4), UGA wins squeaker (1 in 2), Tech wins a squeaker (1 in 4) so a 5.5 spread is about right, Tech should want it more as UGA has “bigger fish to fry.” Should be a good game and I hope the refs don’t overly influence the outcome.
Say What?
November 21st, 2011
12:03 pm
Look, a win is a win, if you win 9-6 you win, if you lose 6-9 you lose! but this year that means you get to go to the national championship without even winning your conference.
we get to fixated on blowing teams out. i’ll take a one point win over a one point loss any day of the season.
Go Dawgs, and yes, it is time for the State championship? where is Saint Simons……
GT Dad
November 21st, 2011
12:03 pm
I’d say the spread is about right. It will actually depend on which of both teams shows up. On paper, UGA will most likely pound us. However, if we can get our act together defensively, we may have a chance. Lot of “ifs” but that’s why you play the game.
In all honesty, I think the UGA defense has improved more than ours and that will probably be the difference in the game.
gtne80
November 21st, 2011
12:04 pm
Very surprised. Based on the Sagarin ratings, it figured at 7 1/2 or 8. I think it’s undervalued at 10. Wish I were in Vegas. I’d take the Dawgs and lay 6 or 7 in a heartbeat. If we play the same D we played against Duke, Murray will carve us up with short passes and we’re bound to blow a tackle or two and turn a 10 yarder into a 60 yarder. UGA 38 Tech 14 (I’d say Tech 17, but Paul will pass up a short FG attempt somewhere and try to go for the first down and fail).
Spanky
November 21st, 2011
12:04 pm
GTBob,… Better team?! Who?!….Tech???…than Georgia????…and all of this realm of thought to Kentucky’s defense playing their hardest, and keeping it within 9?….So, Tech’s performance against DUKE was spec(freakin)tacular?!…you won by 7???? Also, when IS the last time you nerds beat us in your backyard?!…somewhere in the 90’s?!…..CHILD PLEASE!!!!
c3033
November 21st, 2011
12:05 pm
Jeff you sure have been drinking the UGA koolaide of late…I am wondering why? Sure they have won 9 straight which is commendable but I dont think anyone would say that they have been dominant or that they have beaten anyone of note. Wasnt Florida (their “signature” win) trailing FURMAN in the 2nd qtr this past weekend? Kentucky had 4 wins, 3 of which were against directional type schools, UGA scored 19 points. They have beaten 2 teams (not counting Coastal Carolina) with winning records.
Granted Tech hasnt beaten anyone of note, other than Clemson, but given the fact that they are 8-3 and playing at home, I would say that the spread sounds about right.
Jacketscover
November 21st, 2011
12:07 pm
Kentucky Sucks! There r only 3 good teams in SEC Bama, Ark, ans LSU. The best team in Sec UGA played is South Carolina and they would be avg in ACC. My prediction is ACC goes 3-0 against SEC this weekend. You heard it here first.
Luke
November 21st, 2011
12:08 pm
@RedandBlackDawg,
27-13 Ole Miss
20-12 Tennessee
33-28 Vandy
24-20 Florida
19-10 Kentucky
Sounds like playing down to me.
Dap01
November 21st, 2011
12:08 pm
The spread is merely a spread. I am a UGA fan and a 1 point win is a win. Go Dawgs, win one for Larry.
UGA’s defense if great and the offense has more play makers than Techs. UGA players will have to adjust, they aren’t use to playing in front of such a small crowd. Tech players will have to adjust to playing in front of more than 35,000.
Seriously, it will be a good game.
KB
November 21st, 2011
12:10 pm
Tech has a better offense than Kentucky, but defensively Kentucky only gives up 20 yards per game more than the tech defense , and play a much tougher schedule. If tech played kentuckys schedule the results would be similar.
Handy Manny
November 21st, 2011
12:10 pm
Tech WINS !!!!! 34-24
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
12:11 pm
GTBob,… Better team?! Who?!….Tech???…than Georgia????
I meant that they were better then Kentucky, but misinterpret what I said as much as you want.
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
12:13 pm
but defensively Kentucky only gives up 20 yards per game more than the tech defense , and play a much tougher schedule.
There is no offense in the SEC east and they were lucky enough to have Ole Miss and Miss St on their schedule. Their defensive numbers are inflated as much as UGA’s are.
McDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:14 pm
i think the 3-4 is the ideal D against the option -i expect we shut them down hopefully Murray will shake off last week where he missed many many many opportunities
Kentucky game really wasn’t that close
liked how Malcome ran the ball despite fumble and Harton simply has to tuck the ball in
and hopefully Walsh has it figured out b/c we will need him in the Dome
Bamajacket
November 21st, 2011
12:15 pm
IF, and I say IF, we bring the Clemson game, we win. If not, it will be another mistake filled 31-24 loss or something. UGA is not all that. Very average, really. We, on the other hand, are very inconsistant. And we do indeed seem to play down to our opponents. On paper, sadly, UGA wins by 8-10. We have to make more big plays than they do. We never seem to be able to. Tech has, for the last 10 years or so, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory several times against the dogs. They had us dead at halftime, and then began frying fish at halftime. We can hope for that again. Possible, but not likely.
PJ needs a bra
November 21st, 2011
12:16 pm
@Mike D. …and the Dawgs haven’t improved all that much.
Well skid marks must have opinions too.
PJ needs a bra
November 21st, 2011
12:17 pm
@GTBob: See Duke. Shutup.
Frank Lane
November 21st, 2011
12:19 pm
Spread should be about 8 without any running backs. Murray has 9 receivers. Tech cannot be good at stopping the pass because they do not practice against it.
With Crowell and Thomas, spread should be about 15,
KB
November 21st, 2011
12:20 pm
GtBob, The ACC is nations 6th best conference behind the mountain west and ahead of the BIg East.
tech is the 7th best team in that conference. Upsets happen, Iowa state beat OK. state anything can happen. If Georgia brings its “A” game , will not matter how well tech plays.
harold
November 21st, 2011
12:20 pm
UGA’S TORRID 8 GAME WINNING STREAK ( ALL OVER UNRANKED TEAMS) STILL SPELL DISASTER FOR GT.
GEORGIA 42 GEORGIA TECH 10!
NOW MY PREDICTIONS IF UGA PLAYED THE FOLLOWING “REAL TEAMS”
LSU 45
UGA 7
ALABAMA 28
UGA 3
ARKANSAS 38
UGA 17
UGA IS AN AVERAGE TEAM TAHT PLAYED A VERY WEAK SCHEDULE!
Paul in NH
November 21st, 2011
12:20 pm
5.5 seems a little low to me – I would have though 7 – 8 points.
Of course, if you believe some of the postings on this blog there will be so much money going on UGA to cover that the line will go to 11 or 12.
CHDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:20 pm
Some of the factors I’m looking at follow: last year Tech was #1 in running and we were #56 against the run; going into this year’s game Tech is #2 in running, and we are #2 against the run–Adv. UGA. Conversely, Tech got 411 yds on the ground last year–way over their average. That tells me that either CTG doesn’t know how to work against the option with a 3-4, Tech plays over their heads on big rivalries, Adv–Tech. Should be interesting. The other side of the ball is tough, but I think KY was an off week. Losing the number one TB after losing the number two TB, after losing Samuel probably got in the Dawgs heads a bit. Worst of all, I think it got in Bobo’s head. I suspect Murray was trying to win it without the TB and was probably trying too hard. Over the last few seasons, you can throw the stats out on this game because of the rivalry aspect. The key match ups are noted above. I think that if UGA has a weakness, it might be at TB. If Tech can shut down the O, the stand a great chance of pulling off the upset they so desperately want.
Paul in NH
November 21st, 2011
12:21 pm
shankit
November 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
Dawgs have a longer win streak than Bama, Oklahoma, OK State,
Boise, Stanford, South Carolina, uh, and all other teams cept’n Houston
—-
Don’t forget that little team down in Baton Rouge.
GT38
November 21st, 2011
12:21 pm
And what has UGA really accomplished. Let’s see. since your your 2 losses to Boise St and USC, your opponents have a combined record of 45-54.(Coastal Carolina 7-4, Ole Miss 2-9, MSU 5-6, UT 5-6, Vandy 5-6, UF 6-5, Mew Mexico St 4-7, Auburn 7-4, UK 4-7) UGA has not played Bama, LSU or Arkansas and you guys think you’ve accomplished somthing special. You are as weak as your schedule and you will be exposed on Saturday, SEC Championship game and bowl game. Go gnaw on a bone so we don’t have hear the stupidity that comes out of your mouths.
N.GA.DAWG
November 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
Clemson really made the acc look great this past weekend!
CHDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
Or, and they stand….
3 game UGA Boo
November 21st, 2011
12:23 pm
UGA is about to go on a 3 game losing streak….. FIRE RICHT!
Spike
November 21st, 2011
12:23 pm
Richt owns Tech.
RCB
November 21st, 2011
12:23 pm
Florida beat Kentucky and who beat Florida? Isn’t Geathers back? When this defense is healthy it is good.
Paul in NH
November 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
Jacketscover
November 21st, 2011
12:07 pm
My prediction is ACC goes 3-0 against SEC this weekend. You heard it here first.
—
I 100% guarantee that the ACC WILL NOT go 3-0 against the SEC this weekend. A little tough to go 3-0 when you are playing 4 games
2HellwithGA
November 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
Let the smack talking begin http://www.campusmack.com/colleges/georgia/smacks/130
StingerSplash
November 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
Line is about 2 to 3 points lower than I anticipated. But it’ll move during the week. It might move up once the money starts getting put on Georgia.
How many straight years have there been of a one-possession decision at the end? With that in mind, I don’t see the line going higher than 8.
1eyedJack
November 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
Remeber how Virginia and Virginia Tech pushed your defensive line around? Well, Georgia’s big boys will open holes big enough for Mark Richt to drive an F-150 through.
KB
November 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
GT38*, You have the misconception that tech is better than Vandy, Tennessee, Florida, and Miss. State.All but 4 of their losses came against top 15 teams.Again 5 of tech wins came against opponents with a total of 10 wins.
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.
McDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:28 pm
i have watched Tech play three times this year and their O-Line got whipped, their D was unimpressive and the QB doesn’t have the skills to really run the option-
sure they might bust one here and there but i think our Offense will shred them
and half the fans will be wearing red
DesignerJacket
November 21st, 2011
12:29 pm
Special teams is going to be REALLY vital in this game. Also, if Tech gets the first score and then it’s blow-for-blow the whole game…that favors the Jackets due to the clock controlling nature of the option-based-spread game. Turnovers will kill either team in this one.
In the past Tech has looked like the better team in this game, but the first break that doesn’t go their way seems to get them all crestfallen and dejected. My diagnosis is they too easily let the Dawgs get into their heads an under their skin. If Tech can play more disciplined than the Aggers early on we can get that monkey off our back and not be as intimidated.
Scooter Boyz
November 21st, 2011
12:29 pm
Nuff said, UGA blows! lmfao! Can you say weak?
(Coastal Carolina 7-4, Ole Miss 2-9, MSU 5-6, UT 5-6, Vandy 5-6,
UF 6-5, Mew Mexico St 4-7, Auburn 7-4, UK 4-7)
Greg
November 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
GTBob, your school finished 5-3 in a terrible football conference and managed to outscore those 8 powder puff teams by a grand total of 12 points. Keep convincing yourself that Paul Johnson is a great coach because he got one fluke win over UGA a few years back when the Dawgs fell asleep leading by 16 at halftime. Come Saturday afternoon, you’ll be lamenting Tech’s 10th loss in the last 11 games versus UGA.
db
November 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
Sounds about right. I said last night the line would be 6 points.
Lattimore
November 21st, 2011
12:32 pm
Heck, I have a torn ACL and I am still running over UGA players…..
TampaGator
November 21st, 2011
12:32 pm
Georgia should be favored…..they are the SEC East champs. Tech struggled with Duke…didn’t they?
And….Clemson just completely perplexes me. Such outstanding talent on that team and every year they lay 2, 3, or 4 bad tasting eggs during a season. How can a team with that much offensive talent bomb so badly against NC State?…..and they have a lot of talent on defense as well. Just perplexing…..almost every single year….no matter the head coach or the teams involved.
Laid that egg…..against NC State????…….how can that be????? Look at there roster. Loaded top to bottom. They should be undefeated in the ACC and now ranked #2……….?????
TampaGator
November 21st, 2011
12:33 pm
“their roster”
McDawg
November 21st, 2011
12:33 pm
Clemson’s D blows–i think they loose to USC
aarh
November 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
Mike D- Just bc UGA has been inconsistent in some areas…doesn’t mean they haven’t improved. If you’re talking about defense, which I think you are, then they’re definitely leaps & bounds better than last yr. I know UGA struggled to stop Tech last yr., but last yr. UGA couldn’t stop anybody, bc it was the 1st yr. in the 3-4. I know a lot of UGAs wins have been unimpressive, but at least they’re winning th
aarh
November 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
those games that they were losing last yr.
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
12:36 pm
Greg, at least GT lost to teams with winning records. Two of which are ranked. UGA very rarely even plays a team with a winning record.