LIVE BLOG: Georgia tries to avoid ‘trap’ against Tennessee
Bulldogs safety Bacarri Rambo goes through warmups at Sanford Stadium. (Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – So is this affirmation week or trap week?
Georgia plays Tennessee today. Honestly, I was a little surprised when the Glantz-Culver line (adopted by the AJC and Weekend Predictions, Inc. as the official point spread ) opened with the Bulldogs as a 15-point favorite and it immediately dropped to 13½ (though it has inched back up to 14).
The Dogs are ranked No. 5, and look like legitimate
Alec Olgetree, along with Bacarri Rambo, returns from a four-game suspension. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
title contenders. Other than some first-half hiccups in the SEC opener at Missouri, they have looked strong defensively and leveled Vanderbilt 48-3 last week. Tennessee isn’t as bad as some people think – Derek Dooley inherited a mess and really isn’t doing a bad job – but for the Volunteers’ defense to give up 555 yards at home in a 37-20 loss to Florida speaks to where the program is.
The “trap” concerns come from the fact Georgia plays at No. 6 South Carolina next week, in a game that conceivably could decide the SEC East. And, fact is, Georgia has laid some eggs against Tennessee in the past: a 45-19 loss at Knoxville in 2009, 35-14 loss at Knoxville in 2007, 51-33 loss in Athens in 2006, 19-14 loss in Athens in 2004.
But I think it’s more about this: People are waiting for something to go wrong. Georgia is 4-0, including 2-0 in the conference. It hasn’t started this strong since 2008, when it was 4-0 going into the infamous “blackout” game against Alabama, only to be body-slammed 41-30 at home.
In fact, the Dogs have not won their first three conference games in a season since 2005, when they started 5-0 (7-0 overall). Quarterback D.J. Shockley was injured and they lost the next game to Florida 14-10, as well as Auburn the following week. But they still won the SEC title that season.
The biggest news going into today’s game is the expected return of both safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree. Coach Mark Richt has played coy on the subject all week but it has been widely reported that both players had been suspended for four games.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Time to open the cyber-venting lines. I’ll be back to chat shortly.
What are you thoughts about today’s game?
By Jeff Schultz
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1,545 comments Add your comment
Here we go again...
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
Before Bobo goes conservative again. Someone needs to slip him some Makers to loosen him up a little…
Brownies for everyone
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
This I believe where all the suspension hurt. It doesn’t seem like defense is working together..
Go Vols
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
We shoulda stopped at the half….oh wait…we did
Hairy Dawg
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
We have 283 yards rushing on 31 carries. Running it doesn’t seem to be a bad idea.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
Defense has given up 16 pts in reality. No d can defend a 15 yd field. But the number of big plays is very troubling
jerry
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
Grantham vs Willie. It’s a draw.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
This game really gets more entertaining with the amount of MAKERS MARK you absorb; er drink…
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
If we have to throw the ball to open the lanes!
Truth teller
September 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
@DAWGFAN
Why is Richt so happy? You defense BLOWS!
That is why you are blogging and he is coaching.
evil empire
September 29th, 2012
6:41 pm
put down the bottle observer…
Truth teller
September 29th, 2012
6:41 pm
Ut has score 17 points on offensive drives of more than 25 yards.
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:42 pm
I really think we need to go with someone else on XPs, but use Morgan for FGs where he looks good… I’m at a loss on defense… We can’t stop the run and our DBs are no match for the WRs of others teams…we’ve been burnt badly… Man I would love to see Jenkins & Geathers on field at same time more to shore up the run.
ARdawg
September 29th, 2012
6:42 pm
I expected a wild game. I hoped for a quietly tucked away win but expected a wild one. I didn’t expect this
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
6:42 pm
I wonder what the total points spread in Vegas was on this???
Here we go again...
September 29th, 2012
6:42 pm
Brownies, you may have a point there…
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:43 pm
Gary and Verne are sooo old now… CBS needs some younger guys.
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 29th, 2012
6:43 pm
If you take away the turnovers we gave up this is a blowout.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:43 pm
I agree the suspensions might be affecting the d. Doesn’t look like we are playing together
Hairy Dawg
September 29th, 2012
6:43 pm
Poor route by Bennett.
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:43 pm
Chuck and duck and then have to kick? WTH
JB
September 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
crap. bad play calling
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
Your crazy…no better announcers go in today than Verne and Gary.
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
Nice attempt, but I would have liked more aggressive play calling the first 3 downs
Silly Bloggers
September 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
You may never see a game like this again. I hope…hope…this game is just an aberration.
Hairy Dawg
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
What a poor punt.
deadrecknecks
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
too many turnovers…FIRE RICHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
Tennesse scored 20 on Florida….and only 6 after mid way through the second quarter. Still think Florida’s defense can’t hold water next to the Georgia D???
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
Here comes the JUNKYARD DAWGS,
SOS Dawgs
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
WHy do we have such crappy kickers.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
6-18 and smile guy who are your teams? you didnt answer me
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
Blackledge and Nessler are good too. I miss k.jackson
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
Dawglova you’re crazy man… Gary is staring off into space and struggling to say things…he’s like Lee Corso today.
jerry
September 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
Good coaching, play conservative, turn it over to Grantham’s defense.
JB
September 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
typical richt. go in a shell on offense. play not to lose
Truth teller
September 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
TN punt returner saved his team 15 yards by falling on the ball and not trying to pick it up and not letting the roll. Mitchell should take notice. His misplay on the punt started the terrible field position that let TN back in the game.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
September 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
Waaaay tooo much time for the Vols..
evil empire
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
vols need some points out of this possession or its over…about time for a shawn williams personal foul, isn’t it??
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
This game blows.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
How many points do you think West VIrginia would score on Tennessee? 200???
sicemdawg
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
Offense gave away 21 points
Brownies for everyone
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
Katherine maybe you should try my brownies to loosen up. They do wonders for uptightness. It Is a message board.
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
Verne’s tongue tied…AGAIN
JB
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
carolina gotta like their chances. hate it
deadrednecks
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
horrybal deefence. FIRE RICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
evil empire
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
why does it matter who 6-18 team is? it doesn’t…
Ward
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
We’ have gotten no consistent pressure on the QB today…or really any pressure.
Keith
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
How much time did he have to throw that ball?
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
Danielson is on his game every week man. He can call the offense for both teams ever week. I will give you Verne. He called Jakie whites drop from staubach in the super owl. But he’s still fun to listen to
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
Boy….Ogeltree is one quick dude.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
6:49 pm
Verne’s drunk dude