Weekend Predictions: LSU over Georgia, and BCS ducks
So let me see if I’ve got this straight.
If LSU beats Georgia, LSU and Alabama will play for the BCS title. Simple. Unless some anti-SEC sentiment leads voters to match LSU against Oklahoma State (and everyone suddenly gets amnesia about the Iowa State game).
But this doesn’t preclude the possibility that LSU may play Oklahoma State in the BCS game even if Georgia upsets LSU. Why? Because at least one SEC school will go, and Nick Saban getting snubbed is funnier, and if you dare put both LSU and Alabama in the BCS final when neither even won its conference, you’ll have red noses and exploding clown feet falling from the sky (thank you, Larry), and even the BCS has its limit when it comes to humiliation. I think.
So really, what Saturday’s SEC championship comes down to is this: Barring some complete, multi-touchdown, oh jeez, Curly-just-dropped-the-TNT-powder-in-the-pancake-batter-again-collapse by LSU against the Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome, the Tigers are really only playing for Alabama’s lifeline in the BCS.
What could possibly go wrong with the BCS in the kitchen.
Dude. Has anybody seen Isaiah Crowell’s bong?
OK. Flush. Simplify. It’s just a football game.
Cleansing breath. And, go . . .
Georgia has one advantage in this game: Aaron Murray. Expectations for the running game are low, unless Crowell suddenly emerges from bubble wrap this week and breaks from the field with Forrest Gump’s miracle legs.
LSU is equal to or better than Georgia everywhere else. The Tigers have won over ranked teams, won on the road, won in Tuscaloosa, won nine of their games by 46, 26, 28, 30, 31, 35, 33, 49 and 24. Also, they conquered Belarus and are moving into Poland.
Yes, I really believe the Dogs have a chance to win this game. They are playing that well and that confident. The problem is too many things need to happen. Something-to-zero in turnovers. Something big on special teams. Something bionic on the defensive front.
It’s too much. The 10-game winning streak ends here. LSU wins, but Georgia keeps it close. I’ll dance with 13½.
It’s OK for Georgia fans to be Daydream Believers. Yeah. I’m going there …
School Daze
Oklahoma at Okie State: The Cowboys’ plan: 1) Win; 2) Scream, light their hair on fire, hold their breath, pass out and repeat (until somebody puts them in the BCS title game). All of which ignores the fact that they never should have lost a conference game to 2-4 Iowa State. Shut up and enjoy the Fiesta Bowl. OSU cover 3.
VaTech vs. Clemson (ACC title): The ACC keeps hoping for Miami-Florida State title game. It keeps getting Virginia Tech vs. somebody else. Clemson is 1-3 since starting 8-0 and turning back into Clemson. Hokies cover 7.
Wisconsin vs. Mich. State (Big Ten title): Fans have been warned: DON’T look Urban Meyer in eye when he emerges for his pontiff wave from a luxury suite before kickoff. Nice year for the Big Ten’s first title game. Scandal at Ohio State. Slime at Penn State. Where’s next year’s game, Chernobyl? Badgers win, but take Sparty and 9½.
UCLA vs. Oregon (Pac-12 title): One of the teams in the inaugural Pac-12 championship (UCLA) already has fired its coach (Rick Neuheisel). Even Auburn never did that. If UCLA wins, everybody might want to duck when Neuheisel gets his hands on the trophy. Actually, no worries there: Ducks win, but take UCLA and 32.
Rick Neuheisel, at the trophy presentation
NFL Six Pack
(I drank one)
Falcons at Texans: A stat from pal Len Pasquarelli: Falcons coach Mike Smith is 8-0 against rookie quarterbacks. Next on the list: T.J. Yates. It’s a nice story for Pope High School, but it wasn’t the Texans’ first choice. In consecutive weeks, the Falcons miss Adrian Peterson and Matt Schaub. Did Smith sacrifice a chicken? Falcons cover 3.
Broncos at Vikings: Tim Tebow (5-1) has won more games than Philip Rivers, Michael Vick or Josh Freeman. But he’s completing 45 percent of his passes and ranks 37th in yardage. Ever read one of those stores when the guy living out of a shopping cart wins the lottery? Slight market correction: Vikings cover 1.
Here's the felonious Lion, Ndamukong Suh, stomping a player, which is frowned upon in most cultures, and even the NFL.
Packers at Giants: A few days after his defense allowed seven touchdowns to New Orleans, Giants coach Tom Coughlin proclaimed: “It’s time for us to be bold, not to listen to what you all are saying.” Want to be bold? How ’bout you get in somebody’s way? Pack covers 7.
Lions at Saints: Ndamukong Suh has been sentenced to two games to life. Roger Goodell’s plan to make Suh the face of the league worked out as well as the fed’s plan for the Al Capone plush toy. Saints cover 9.
Colts at Patriots: The Colts are 0-11 and have been outscored by 177 points, give or take a major organ. But the line is 20 points. Sorry. That’s like sliding chips and onion dip across the table and telling me, “Don’t touch.” Pats win, but give me Indy and 20.
•
Toteboard
“Depend on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but remember it didn’t work for the rabbit.” — R.E. Shay
Last week (kiss the ring …): 10-2 straight up, 9-3 against the line.
Overall (… and bow): 109-41 straight up; 87-61-2 against the line.
Important “Sack Schultz” update: This is the week the Hawaii trip will be decided. There’s a 10-way tie for first. I remain in contention for a high draft pick.
By Jeff Schultz
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738 comments Add your comment
roughrider
December 1st, 2011
6:08 pm
I just hope Tech’s psyche heals enough from the loss to UGA so that they don’t lose ANOTHER bowl game. How many have they lost in a row?
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:08 pm
We win this weekend and end up ranked #7….let them say all they want. I hope the haters get back here after the game….wonder what happens to “they did not play anybody” argument. We beat the best team in the land case close. I wld like for coach Richt to get on ESPN and do some campaigning…successful or not he needs to make his point. ESPN cannot continue to determine who plays who based on dynamic criteria ( We dont want to see Ohio state Michigan again…they had their shot and they did not even win a conference championship….no one who does not even play for the conference championship should not even be in the BCS championship game…no one who does not win their conference championship should not be in the BCS championship game).
So let us sit back and watch these guys recreate their rules and put LSU BAMA in the championship game…BCS should grow a pair, this is pathetic
daddo
December 1st, 2011
6:08 pm
And Georgia, remember that UGA quarterback yall cussed in the first two games? Guess what? He returns Saturday when he faces the LSU defense. U will have no running game and your offensive line will not be able to protect him. Watch the number of bad plays, interceptions and fumbles the kid makes. And the irony of all this: yall get to keep your crappy head coach for a bunch of more years. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA……
Finebalm
December 1st, 2011
6:08 pm
Did you know that UGA lost the two games they played against ranked teams? I did not know that. Thanks for the info.
LakeDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:08 pm
Word is that IC refused to practice Wednesday. Got lit up by a scout team LB on Tuesday and came out in a green jersey Wednesday. Alledgedly the seniors got in his face and challenged him. Anybody heard anything? BTW this is from Chuck and Chernoff on 680 the fan.
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:10 pm
“To me there is this the wild card of whether the SEC has told the officials to cheat our Dawgs by calling everything against us while ignoring LSU. And don’t say it doesn’t happen”
Okay… I’ll just say that this game ain’t even gonna be close. LSU ain’t gonna have to cheat to stomp these lil’ puppies into a mud-hole. I just hope the Georgia apothecaries are stocked up on their Valium and Xanax in anticipation of the Corn Dawg Bowl©. They’ll make a killing on the morning after.
Finebalm
December 1st, 2011
6:12 pm
Kang here: is tubberville around here?
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:12 pm
Mike,
I agree with most of what you said. It would be a shame if Bama were to win a close one over LSU and be crowned the champs. Not hating on Bama at all. Just feel like we’ve already seen that game and LSU shouldn’t have to beat them twice to win it all. That said, they are the best 2 teams in the country and that’s what the BCS was designed to do…..put the best 2 teams in the BCS title game. Man, we need a play-off.
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:12 pm
@daddo
December 1st, 2011
6:08 pm
“And Georgia, remember that UGA quarterback yall cussed in the first two games? Guess what? He returns Saturday when he faces the LSU defense.”
No worries. Murray won’t last till halftime. UGA fans will finally get to see their backup QB play.
Scott
December 1st, 2011
6:13 pm
@ Kevin:
“UGA’s conference schedule was not as difficult this year. No one disputes that. However, playing in the SEC is playing in the SEC–regardless of the teams you play, you can pretty well gauge how good a team is.”
that is weak logic. There are 5 teams that are in the top 25: 2 great teams (duh), 1 we think is very good (Ark), one that’s flailing about (SC) and UGA. and UGA lost to one and didnt play the other 3. the only reason you can say “SEC is the SEC” this year is due to three teams you didnt have to play. so beating the terrible teams that Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, etc put out this year does not prove “how good a team is”, it only proves that you were a step better than them.
Under a playoff
December 1st, 2011
6:17 pm
you could have exactly the same scenario in which LSU beats ALA during regular season and loses to them in the NC game. Happens all the time in Basket Ball.
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:21 pm
Sorry Beast supper was calling, Based on the schedule, I think the Dawgs still run the table. I don’t pretend to apologize for the schedule. The SEC portion rotates the same for everybody. You get what you get. Teams have caught us in down years and never apologized.
This weekend would be another story without Murray/Crowell. But that’s what makes it fun.
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:22 pm
BCS is designed to put 2 best teams together????????? Really???????????
What happened in 2007????? UGA and USC were the best teams at the end of the season even by ESPN’s own admission…Nobody would want to play Georgia or USC right now…
So let me ask you…do u still believe this nonsense????
Satltide
December 1st, 2011
6:22 pm
I will give Georgia Fans credit, If the BCS was based on optimism you would be ranked #1 every season.
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:22 pm
@Under a playoff
Happens all the time in the SECCG.
What does Georgia care whether Alabama plays for the NC? They’re just jealous because they never do. It’s really just that simple.
Satltide
December 1st, 2011
6:23 pm
Enter your comments here
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:24 pm
GTBob,
Just when was Tech beating Georgia a lot. We’ve won 36 of the past 48.
How old are you?
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:24 pm
Dawgs will play better than the trolls on here think…..and not as good as We Dawgs think. We can’t block, and THAT will be the difference…….And we can’t. LSU I’m sure has seen it on film and picked out the 2 or 3 weakest points of entry, and will blitz like crazy every down at those weak spots. I hope our coach’s realize it. Dropping back and whistling like we did against Tech will not happen.
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:24 pm
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:22 pm
“BCS is designed to put 2 best teams together????????? Really???????????
What happened in 2007????? UGA and USC were the best teams at the end of the season”
No. Actually they were not. Until you understand that, you’re doomed to be a whining doofus.
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:26 pm
Corn Dawg………………..who died and made you the picker of the two best teams in 2007 at bowl time. Get back to the kitchen and make some more batter.
Under a playoff
December 1st, 2011
6:26 pm
@Corn Dog:
You can bet if UGA was in ALA’s position they would be singing a different tune.
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:26 pm
Georgia has some serious problems with their running game,
and their passing game,
and their blocking game,
and their tackling game,
and their kicking game,
and their overall team discipline.
Aside from that, they’re a championship caliber football team.
smart dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:27 pm
Satitide, uga is the perennial preseason national champ. Just ask any of them. This starts in the early spring and builds up until the first game. After that, it’s back to the same old “Wait till next year”
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:27 pm
@ Corn Dawg
get your head out of the sand you have had it….
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:29 pm
Good news,
Mark May just gave the Dawgs a 20% chance of winning Saturday. His picks are so notoriously bad, I’ve won a ton of money on bowl pools by ignoring his predictions.
Satltide
December 1st, 2011
6:29 pm
Smart dawg:
Then they lose a few, blow out New Mexico, pull off a huge win at Vandy, then punch their ticket with a 19-10 domination of Kentucky and there they are back in the title hunt.
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:30 pm
@JB
I’m not the decider. Nor are whiny, delusional UGA fans.
The BCS polls and computers decide who plays in the BCSCG and the winner of the game is the NC. I know it’s hard for you guys to understand, because you haven’t sniffed a National Championship in over thirty years.
Guess what? You won’t this year either.
Enjoy your Corn Dawg Bowl©.
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:30 pm
AJC reporting that Richt will likely get extension. Here’s a bet. In 2013, he won’t face Saban ( if scheduled) Muschamp,Mullen or Dooley. Fired or just moved on.
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:31 pm
Add Spurrier to that list
Big Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:31 pm
All of you haters have your little fun now but come Saturday night or early Sunday morning when the Dawgs have shown to be a better team then you are giving them credit for. I wonder if any of you will be man or woman enough to come on these blogs and take your just due. I doubt it.
Go Dawgs
smart dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:32 pm
Satitude, you got it.
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:33 pm
Richt likely won’t face those guys because only Dooley is likely to be there in 2013. And that’s because he inherited such a mess.
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:34 pm
pdawg,
In 2007, UGA lost by 21 to UT and lost to a 6-6 SC team. The same reason that Okie State will not play for it all this year. They did not take care of business when they needed to.
doggoneit
December 1st, 2011
6:36 pm
This is a Great Game to judge just how far along Georgia has come since the beginning of the season. It also show with how we compare to the top tier teams…. A true test indeed!!!
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:36 pm
Corny Dawg…….who’s your team? Best line this week on here. If in front of a judge and found guilty of a crime, and the judge offers prison or time at LSU, pick prison. The food is better and the woman are better looking……Go Dawgs
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:37 pm
“I wonder if any of you will be man or woman enough to come on these blogs and take your just due. I doubt it.”
I will. Will you be here if UGA gets blown out?
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:38 pm
Corny Dawg…………Any of those Swamp people coming?
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:38 pm
Who’s your team Beast?
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:40 pm
hahahahahah @ Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg….
did BAMA take care of business??????
and as I am predicting UGA will beat LSU…..does that sound like taking care of business to you???
Also ESPN often makes this argument….late losses cost more than early losses…..
since you posted the loses of Georgia whiles you are at it can you also post the loses of LSU for 2007? Thankyou
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:40 pm
Beast, not a lot of positive vibes about Muschamp down there. It’s early, but whats the scoop
JB
December 1st, 2011
6:42 pm
What I like about college ball. On any given day? Ask APP State.
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:42 pm
ESPN has been campaigning all week…even if UGA beats LSU , LSU would still play in the championship game.
So now all of a sudden the SEC championship game does not even matter…wow
talk about animal farm
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:44 pm
SkyDawg,
I’m all Gator…..even when we suck like this year.
pdawg,
LSU lost in triple OT to UK and triple OT to Arky (both 8-5 teams). What got them in the BCS title game was another win over a quality opponent in the SECG.
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:45 pm
I don’t get it pdawg. I don’t buy the anti-UGA argument but I DO wonder how the sands have shifted so far so fast.
SSIgator
December 1st, 2011
6:46 pm
doggoneit -
This game should have an “X” rating. Only adults should be allowed to watch LSU beat up a UGA team this badly. It could forever damage children mentally.
SkyDawg
December 1st, 2011
6:46 pm
Beast,
At least you’re all in. I can respect that.
Me too.
pdawg
December 1st, 2011
6:48 pm
In 2007 Georgia had two losses was arguably the best team in the land at the end of the season….LSU had two losses….Ga was ranked ahead of LSU leading to the championship game….LSU was leapfroged from 7 to 2 to play for the BCS championship.
It is funny how they dont even talk about VT, Oklahoma, Oklahoma state winning their championship games and still not playing for the BCS championship game…
So we could have a one loss BAMA, one loss LSU ( who lost in their championship game) playing for the BCS championship with A conference champion like VT or Okiestate or oklahoma left out…this is just pathetic
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:49 pm
JB,
Some are grumbling…..I’d say about 10-15% of the fans. Most aren’t happy with the performance this year but we understand he’s just playing with the hand he was dealt. I’m still totally optimistic about the future, even after a disappointing year. Recruiting is what his future in Gainesville will be determined by. If he gets the right playes then he’ll do just fine, as we have a solid coaching stafff. If he struggles to get the recruits he needs, then he’ll not be in Gainesville more than 3-4 years. Just the way it is these days.
waanay
December 1st, 2011
6:50 pm
Who was it Lsu lost to in 07 anyway
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 1st, 2011
6:54 pm
Wisconsin is 2 hail marys away from being in the title game. How bad would that suck?