Weekend (Bowl) Predictions: Dogs, Jackets, Alabama win
Hello. I am back.
Weekend Predictions, which like college football has no playoff system and often makes no sense, one difference being our advisory board has the built-in excuse of the shiitake’s mutant and illegal cousin, traditionally returns for one bowl edition.
It has been another profitable season. W.P. Inc. is 26 games above .500 against the line. But of course all I get are no tips, no thank-you notes, just emails that read, “Ya moron! Ya picked the Gators to beat the Dawgs! Coach Richt is going to smite your liberal West Coast beehind! Hey Marge, I got him good. Pop-Tarts ready yet?”
OK, let’s make this quick. Too many games to get to.
Georgia has had a good week. There has been no news of academic suspensions — fill in name of oft-speculated freshman running back — and I think the Dogs already have clinched the 2012 SEC East title, given Alabama has been dropped from the Hostess-wrapped schedule.
Here’s a nice consolation prize for having their limbs ripped off by LSU: sunshine (Outback Bowl) and Michigan State (good defense but No. 60 offense). And to think, 12 months ago, Georgia was losing to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl.
A season completed in the alternate universe: Dogs cover 3½.
Get Your Hands Off My Wings
It seems Paul Johnson will do anything to break a bowl hex.
Sun: Tech-Utah: Paul Johnson’s offense has managed only 24 points in the past three bowls. Al Groh’s defense has allowed 99 points in the past three games. Also, the Jackets haven’t won a bowl game since I think 1937. But wait! Here comes the Sun! Tech covers 2½.
Chick-fil-A: Virginia-Auburn: All-SEC running back Michael Dyer has been suspended for unknown reasons. Funny. Last year Cam Newton wasn’t suspended and everybody thought the reasons for one were obvious. Auburn covers 3.
Capital Uno: Nebraska-South Carolina: So now everyone’s giving Steve Spurrier a warm embrace for his coaching this year. Never mind that he took enabling to new levels with Stephen Garcia. The guy would go to an AA meeting and suggest everybody just switch to light beer if he thought it would help him win a game. Take the 2½ and Nebraska in an upset.
Urban Gator Bowl: Ohio State-Florida: It’s the “Beatles at Shea,” with Urban Meyer in the roles of all four Beatles. He’ll arrive by helicopter, sing “Twist And Shout” and “Can’t Buy Me Love” (he’ll lie) and then bask in the afterglow of his former and future kingdoms. Gators cover 2.
The Fab 1 . . .
Fiesta: Stanford-Oklahoma State: Andrew Luck, Stanford kid, noted this week that Frank Lloyd Wright had a winter home named Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Ariz., near the Fiesta Bowl. Yeah. I think he probably can read a defense. Cardinal covers 3½.
BCS Zit Of The Year: Virginia Tech earned its way to the Sugar Bowl by losing its last game to Clemson 38-10. Your honor: The prosecution rests. Michigan covers 2½.
Rose: Empire vs. Wisconsin: Just saw Oregon’s latest uniforms to be unveiled. The Ducks will make it to the game, assuming they don’t miss their connecting flight on the Death Star. Ducks cover 6.
First, we defeat Wisconsin. Then, we blow up Alderaan, Princess Leia's home in Ivy League.
Orange: Clemson-West Virginia: Once again, the Tigers have enough talent to overcome Dabo Swinney. Clemson covers 3.
Cotton: Arkansas vs. K-State: Bobby Petrino lost his three coordinators in the past few weeks. He hates it when people just walk out like that. Piggies win, but take K-State and 7½.
And, drum roll …
BCS Sorta Championship: Alabama over LSU: Yeah, I hate rematches, too. But these are the two best teams, and the best of the two didn’t win the last time because of a crooked-footed kicker. Not going to happen twice. Bama wins and covers 1.
NFL Fridge Pack
Artist's rendition of Jerry's head if Cowboys whiff.
Bucs at Falcons: I have a question for anybody who’s upset that the Saints drove to that final touchdown Monday night to get Drew Brees the passing record: Would you really feel that much better if the final score were 38-16? Falcons cover 13.
Cowboys at Giants: There are no bad outcomes here, Dallas losing and Jerry Jones spontaneously combusting when the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs again gets the edge over miserable New York fans. Giants cover 3.
Lions at Packers: The Lions can clinch the No. 5 seed with a win, and Ndamukong Suh is psyched. He just eye-gouged a Salvation Army bell-ringer in front of Kroger. It’s a risk, but take Packers and 3½ as a home ‘dog.
Sofia's starting job is safe. (Photo: WWD)
Redskins at Dream Team: It will be fascinating to watch Michael Vick vs. DeAngelo Hall in the playoffs. Oh, wait a minute. Eagles cover 9.
Chiefs at Broncos: Some survey just named Tim Tebow the most desirable celebrity neighbor for 2012. John Elway voted for Sofia Vergara, who did not throw four interceptions last week in Buffalo. Broncos wins, but take the Chiefs and 3½.
Chargers at Raiders: There’s something wrong with Norv Turner’s plane ticket to Oakland. It says “coach.” Oakland covers 3.
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Damn, I’m Good
“A gambler with a system must be, to a greater or lesser extent, insane.” — George Augustus Sala
In our last episode: 7-3 straight up, 5-5 against the line.
Your 2011 financial report: 116-44 straight up; 92-66-2 against the line.
By Jeff Schultz
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397 comments Add your comment
Dawg48
December 29th, 2011
9:46 pm
Great run!
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
9:47 pm
hell 2 the Naw. Wow Wow Wow
Always a GT Fan
December 29th, 2011
9:58 pm
How much do I hate the Bullpups??? I would root for the Taliban if they were playing the Dawgs!
That being said, Dawg fans everywhere have gotta be smiling big with McGarity as your AD. He’s got the 2012 schedule, at worst, as easy as he set up UF’s. I’d say it’s easier b/c FSU is usually better than GT (FSU, UF’s common OOC opponent….GT UGA’s common OOC opponent).
UGA will start the season ranked high, and with a schedule that has only 4 teams capable of beating UGA (SC, UF, Mizzo, GT), MR should be fired if the Dawgs aren’t 12-0 headed to SEC CG. PLUS, notice how McGarity has GA Southern, SAME triple option as GT, the week before GT. If the Dawgs lose to GT in 2012 it’ll be the biggest L in MR’s career.
In today’s college football, it doesn’t “pay” to play 12 good/very good/great teams b/c more than likely there will be an L or 2 in there, and that means NO BCS Championship. See UF when McGarity was AD. The guys has hampster balls.
Parade of Knuckleheads
December 29th, 2011
10:02 pm
Mr. $aban, tear down this statue.
Thank Noles
December 29th, 2011
10:02 pm
Couldn’t be happier that Brian Kelly (and ND for that matter) lost!
That guys is a miserable s.o.b. He’s like a petulant child, screaming at his players every time they make a bad play.
He’s probably going to run over to Disney and fondle Mickey later.
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
December 29th, 2011
10:12 pm
@5 times National Champs:
When is the last time Nebraska did anything worth writing about???????????????
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
10:14 pm
brainiac there was a news story a fan passed a Whole corncob out his butt this past summer
SEC Fact Finder
December 29th, 2011
10:16 pm
As a resident of Tampa. I would like to welcome my SEC brothers from UGA. We all hope those of you who visit our area enjoy your time in South Florida. We hope all of our SEC teams win their games and make us proud. It would be grand to see more than half the teams in the top 10 from the SEC.
Here is a neat website that will aid some of you on your visit to the area.
http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/
As someone else previously mentioned, if you get a chance take a water taxi in downtown Tampa or rent a pontoon and ride along the Hillsborough river to the bay and you will see the homes and mansions of many of our local celebrities including multiple NY Yankees, Jeter, ARod, as well as several Generals including Schwarzkoph, and many many more. The route will also take you waterfront to some great places to eat, a view of The Forum, The Cruise Ships and some great islands to enjoy a relaxing day with a picnic. The Tampa Bay Downs is located on the Northwest side of town and offers some great Thoroughbred Horse Racing and offers some the highest payouts in the nation. Racing there will run Friday, and Saturday. The Clearwater Beach is always hopping and for family settings head toward St. Pete Beach where there is plenty of parking. For you Forest Gump Fans head down to the Treasure Island area and hit Bubba Gumps.
Enjoy your time in the area.
Good luck to all of your teams and Go SEC!
Troll Power Ratings
December 29th, 2011
10:17 pm
Trolls still hurting over an absolutely miserable year, but already getting started on next year’s disappointment. Gonna be a whopper, girls.
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
10:19 pm
Troll PR how do people Troll on a Jeff Schultz prediction blog?
UG's Stephen A.Dawg.
December 29th, 2011
10:22 pm
UGA has a weak schedule for 2012. At worst the Dawgs go 9-3 or 10-2 again with losses to Missouri and South Carolina on the road. Then the Gamecocks lose to Arkansas and LSU. Don’t be surprised to see UGA fall to improving Vandy in the future, but if they can survive the Commodores in 2012, the Dawgs again get a ticket to the SECCG only to be walloped again by LSU or Alabama.
The best that the Dawgs can do is to win the SEC East with the Richt/Bobo braintrust. There will be no national title runs with Aaron Murray at quarterback, just like Joe Cox before him. The Dawgs window for national title contention really closed when 3 years of D.J.Shockley’s eligibility was squandered by Richt. Stafford was just a passing breeze waiting on the chance to declare for the NFL draft. He was never commited to UGA. All UGA can do now is hope for and be content with 9 or 10 win seasons over mediocre opponents with 2 to 3 losses to any ranked teams per year. Richt won’t make the changes needed to take Georgia to the next level because he would have to renounce his current second tier structure at QB, OC, and the entire offensive philosophy. He can’t and won’t breakdown to improve what he doesn’t see needs to be fixed. Richt has to be what he is which is a bridesmaid, because he will never have what it takes to win it all and earn a ring. Even his mentor, Bobby Bowden questioned Richt’s heart/mindset and said he didn’t feel Richt had that killer instinct needed to win it all consistently in the SEC. Remember how hard he lobbied for UGA’s number two final ranking after the Dawgs beat over-rated Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl a few years ago. That’s classic Richt. It’s great to be number 2 because 118 programs would love finish number two. He’s a good guy but the hunger or drive is simply not there to ever finish at number one ( unless it’s a down year for the entire top ten and another team’s win clears a path for the Dawgs to back in to a top ranking). It may happen in the SEC East, but you won’t a national title like that.
Thus UGA will never win a national title under Richt, but the Dawgs can settle for mediocre 9 or 10 wins per year. The UGA brass would have to fire Richt after a 9-3 season to make a real run at the MNC and that’s simply not going to happen for at least another 5 to 7 years from now. So Georgia is stuck with bridesmaid Richt like it or not. So get used to Richt and wife kissing at the end of games celebrating second tier status. Do us a favor Richt, don’t kiss your wife after a game again unless it’s a UGA victory at the SECCG !!
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
December 29th, 2011
10:23 pm
Always a GT fan = Fullblown Bats_ _t crazy and holding down a fulltime job @MacDonalds. Do you really know who, how and why schedules are established in college football? Didn’t think so. Apparently many volumes could be written about things you don’t know. (Actually you are correct. McGarity has been making those schedules for years)
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
December 29th, 2011
10:26 pm
@5150 UOAD:
That would be a Jeff Schultz PREDITION blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FLA DAWG
December 29th, 2011
10:27 pm
WOW SCHULTZ!
You really went out on a limb by saying The Dawgs would cover VEGAS ODDS OF 3.5 POINTS.
I’m a ‘79 Dawg Alum and I say my Dawgs lose this one by 6.
My Dawgs have talent and a very good DC but we are stuck with Richt as HC and Bobo as OC.
That’s easily worth the 9.5 difference in our predictions.
Don’t believe me? Just look at the win / loss record of EVERY TEAM we’ve beaten this season and the scan your eyes over the record of the three teams we’ve lost to.
THE END
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
December 29th, 2011
10:31 pm
@5150 UOAD:
Dang bro. Can’t believe I missed that. LMAO
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
10:33 pm
He squealed like a pig and walked like Yosemite Sam for a week.
davidinloganville
December 29th, 2011
10:33 pm
Always a GT Fan
December 29th, 2011
9:58 pm
How much do I hate the Bullpups??? I would root for the Taliban if they were playing the Dawgs!
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so would the tech students that were arrested for terrorism. maybe you can get george stein to get them off.
BUZZ 2011
December 29th, 2011
10:34 pm
Georgia will lose to Michigan State.. I think George O’Leary with Central Florida even took them last year. The Dawgs just aren’t very good as you have seen.GT will win by 14 points or more. ..
SEC Fact Finder
December 29th, 2011
10:36 pm
Anyone else watching the Alamo Bowl? RGIII does not look like a Heisman Trophy winner in the 2nd quarter and both defenses look horrible.
FLA DAWG
December 29th, 2011
10:37 pm
TECH FANS are still blogging on this site!!??
What an absolute bunch of losers with no class.
Why would any decent athlete take a scholarship to GT is beyond me.
Oh yeah,………..are they the ones that couldn’t get one anywhere else?
GT Fans…..I don’t comment on your site so why do you visit ours?
SEC Fact Finder
December 29th, 2011
10:37 pm
28 unanswered points or is it 35 unanswered points…
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
10:41 pm
FLA DAWG
December 29th, 2011
10:37 pm
TECH FANS are still blogging on this site!!??
hey F..Head this is JEFF SCHULTZ’s site and it is bowl game Predictions. Are you that freaking STUPID that you can’t read?
UF in a mirror is FU
December 29th, 2011
10:46 pm
What is wrong with UGA,s schedule next year? Not one of you complained when Auburn was the best team in the west year in and year out and Ga had to play them. It looks like the same type of schedule USC, FSU Notre Dame and and OSU have used foreverto stay in the spotlight. That why you have to admire LSU there sched was a lot more difficult than Alabananas
Stupid Bama fan
December 29th, 2011
10:46 pm
My team lost to LSU at home. But if we beat them this time, we will claim to be national champions.
davidinloganville
December 29th, 2011
10:47 pm
BUZZ 2011
i would like to take time to congratulate Coach O’Leary on being head coach at the most corrupt football school in the state of Florida, and that takes some doing. The AD buying players I’m sure the NCAA is going to hammer them for that, but I’m sure George didn’t know anything about that seeing that he didn’t know what was on his own resume.
UF in a mirror is FU
December 29th, 2011
10:48 pm
5150 UOAD that is medical billing for urinary tract infection, right?
Buzz junk
December 29th, 2011
10:50 pm
@BUZZ 2011 “The Dawgs just aren’t very good as you have seen.”
If the Dawgs were any good, would they have beaten Tech by 30?
Buzz junk
December 29th, 2011
10:53 pm
@Always a GT Fan ‘MR should be fired if the Dawgs aren’t 12-0 headed to SEC CG.’ == Always a dumb a$$.
FLA DAWG
December 29th, 2011
10:54 pm
My 3rd attempt at trying to respond to TOAD 5150.
I am blocked…………..is Schultz protecting GT Fans from the truth?
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
10:55 pm
UF…FU yes or a false pregnancy/ miscarriage.
Stupid Bama fan like whe FSU and UF played 2 times splitting the games and UF getting the MNC?
FLA DAWG
December 29th, 2011
10:56 pm
HEY LOSER 5150 TOAD,
How does 1 out of 10 sound ?
Ha!
As bad as I often think my Dawgs are all I have to do is recall our last 10 games vs GT and I end up knowing there is always a cushion under my azz.
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
11:17 pm
FLA DAWG… I end up knowing there is always a cushion under my azz……….That is a Hemorrhoid Doughnut cushion because your Dawg Lover doesn’t use Boudreaux Butt Paste to make it a SMOOTH Slide.
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
11:41 pm
Is there ANY question NOW if most of the Big XII or Pac 12 play Defense? TEXAS and USC are the ONLY total football teams in those conferences. Here comes breaking 110 points and 900 total yards.
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
11:45 pm
This is NCAA PLAY STATION FOOTBALL.
Flo-Ri-Duh
December 29th, 2011
11:52 pm
LSU will crush Bama this time – by 17. Bama won’t have home field and home cooking from the refs this time.
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
11:58 pm
Fol-Ri-Duh how much do you want to put on that? Bama by 10 is my call!
Les does some STUPID calls that could but haven’t bit him yet. This game those STUPID calls will BITE him.
5150 UOAD
December 29th, 2011
11:59 pm
102 points and still 15 min. of GAME time left to play.
5150 UOAD
December 30th, 2011
12:00 am
Face mask no call, but it is an ACC ref crew.
iTiSi
December 30th, 2011
12:07 am
Damn, I was watching a football game and a basketball game broke out! This is what happens when ESPN starts mixing college football and basketball this time of year!
McGarity LOVES creampuffs
December 30th, 2011
12:29 am
McGarity’s got huge sweetooth with all those creampuffs he loads his schedules with (see his AD days at UF too)
It’s his guaruntee to sellout the Stadium EVERY home game, fooling many a fan into droping tons of $ on scrimmages that count in the record books.
UGA should never win fewer than 10 games as long as McGarity is “sheriff”
5150 UOAD
December 30th, 2011
12:36 am
McGarity doesn’t need to steal red panties off young girls because he has a Closet full of his own obviously.
Sargent Carter
December 30th, 2011
12:38 am
Presenting the biggest bowl…The Tebowl…God had other things to do the past two weeks..HE ordained KC to whoop Green Bay…then HE focused on the MERCEDES BOWL and situated a number of angels in Brees sights, aka the Falcons defense and coaching staff that we all respect so much…I have heard rumours GOD has focused once again on The Tebow, but being that George Burns and The Rocky Mtn. High guy could not be consulted, the only individual of well, something, we, the people, could ask would be that Cali guy, the Schultzy. Is HE going to be around the way of Tebow? Oh, oh, oh, I had one more question…Is LSU going to erect a statue of Les Miles outside or inside their stadium? Dude, it would be soo cooollll to have him with a blade of grass in his mouth, better than that Nick Saban thing at swing low alabama
5150 UOAD
December 30th, 2011
12:41 am
Sargent Carter is on the Welsh Rarebit again. maybe Miss Bunny can help him off it.
5150 UOAD
December 30th, 2011
12:43 am
123 points and Koby & LeBron were not even involved in the game!
5150 UOAD
December 30th, 2011
12:45 am
FAT STUPID and trying to return a Kickoff! Washington player lay the Fdown.
Intellibird
December 30th, 2011
12:46 am
The real Georgia shows up and plays for about 15 minutes and then the helmets start coming off and the dreadlocks flying around. Then they lose the small lead they had and Michigan State goes on to win in a sleeper.
Jarvis Jones does victory dance in 1st minute of game. Mark Richt does not french kiss his wife in the aftermath.
Gary Stokan proclaims invention of chicken sandwich. AJC writers project Hawks as 1st round playoff losers only 10 games into a new season, while not having even attended a game.
Falcons win 2 playoff games and Saints are at home for Superbowl.
ddd
December 30th, 2011
1:02 am
The D coaches for Baylor and Washington should both be fired ASAP.
That was possibly the worst exhibition of tackling that I’ve ever seen in college football.
Bama or LSU would have killed both teams.
drew
December 30th, 2011
1:11 am
Jeff…you be trippin’ dude! Love your predictions. I’ll probably watch the SEC rematch, but I have zero interest glorified “exhibition” games, so I’ll pass on all those other bowls. Don’t get me wrong…I enjoy a bowl now and then, but not unless I’m gonna something out of it.
And am I trippin’, or is that a boomer reference in your lead?
And I’m afraid the Falcons performance Monday night was not an aberration…I’ve been seeing stretches just like it all season long. We are who I thought we were…just a little better than average. Within a couple of years I expect to see the word “plateau” resurrected, and back to the drawing board we will go. I hope I’m wrong.
Sargent Carter
December 30th, 2011
1:21 am
I have been watching the Falcons since 1966…the follies have been entertaining..whether or not they beat the Bucs sunday, they are the Falcons since 1966…This year’s team could best be termed “Clueless”, as they have no idea whether they are coming or going or upside or downside…Matt Ryan is too edgy as opposed to relaxed but knowledgeable qb’s like brees, rodgers and brady…In hindsight, why did we trade our whole draft for slippy fingers Julio, who already had a dropsy rep at Bama? Green is all-pro, where the frick is Julio? There has been something rotten in the city of Atlanta for 45!!! plus plus years!!!!!!, methinks it is the Atlanta Falcons….an American tragedy
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 30th, 2011
1:25 am
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2011
3:14 pm
1. 2-6 against Payton, not 2-8.
2. Agreed.
3. I was calling JJ a bust, but that is not really fair. However, the “one play away” philosophy never works. As I said on draft day, name one “blockbuster” all for trade that has ever worked out.
4. As it stands now, I would agree, however, as I said last night, in the grand scheme of things, the game was somewhat meaningless. So, before we decide that coaches need to be fired, I believe they should be evaluated after the playoffs. It we make noise in the playoffs, this game is a footnote if not, this game is a catalyst for change.
5. Bad calls for sure, untimely penalties.
6. That is what they said about Leeman Bennett, and that exact philosophy led us directly to here.
7. Really the crux of our problems.
8. As I said, this win was more needed more for us than anything. But all pretty much gets forgivin and forgotten with a few playoff wins.
In summary, you are never as bad, or as good, as you think you are. However great teams show up for big games, and we have not to date. Fortunately, unlike last year, we do need to wait 9 months to take the field again, hopefully, we will get this taste out of our mouth much sooner. Time to move on, and like everything in life, is it now what happens, but how you respond.
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Had something else to do alright, HIDING like the COWARD he is………….
HA HA HA