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
rivercard
September 29th, 2012
7:48 pm
Now the excuse making for the D begins. Take your blinders off people.
Take comfort in the fact that you have an offense that will probably make up for defense shortcomings until your December dome humbling.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:48 pm
Dawgfan…..
Not every team can line up the type of receivers the Vols have…..and force Georgia to cover 5 on most plays. Bama can’t do that. Neither can LSU. And I know Florida can’t.
These teams seaux
September 29th, 2012
7:48 pm
I think Baylor, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia decided to play sarcastiball this weekend. The defenses were soooo good in these games. It was just awesome to watch almost 2600 yards of total offense like a couple of WAC games.
Rick James
September 29th, 2012
7:48 pm
I think when Georga went up 27-10 they started thinking about South Carolina.They will be fine.I think this is the best “offense” they will face all year South Carolina included. I didnt say best team.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
7:49 pm
Sometimes you got to survive one like that. Not many teams could survive a 3 turn over game like we did.
satxdawg
September 29th, 2012
7:49 pm
Dawgfan92 sound like a idiot ..I guess everybody can watch the lsu auburn tape a know how to beat lsu right ..I guess everybody can look at the usc vandy game and know how to beat usc right ??
JB
September 29th, 2012
7:49 pm
The UGA team i saw today won’t beat the Gaytors. Hell UGA struggled last year to beat a terrible Gaytor Team and they are a lot better this year.
Brownies for everyone
September 29th, 2012
7:50 pm
Katherine because we were outplayed. You take away 4 plays and we are looking at a different outcome. If they had a decent qb back there and not elmer fudge they would have lost. We gave them 3 opportunities at the end to come back. A championship team doesn’t let the foot off the throat. We could not put them away. If YOU want to wear blinders, hey it’s a free country, knock yourself out. I’m a realist not an optimist. It is what it is. We are OVERATED at this point. And I’m left feeling like UT should have won. And you mam need some damn brownies.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
7:50 pm
DawgNole
September 29th, 2012
7:47 pm
Given our disgraceful performance against Bray, you have to wonder how we’ll do against Shaw next weekend–assuming he squeaks by Ky Jelly tonight.
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Shaw can’t chunk the ball like Tyler Bray can. He’s more of a running QB.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:50 pm
Not so fast…..
Don’t think that is going to happen. If Florida’s D has any weakness….it is against the run….and LSU runs the ball very well. But I do think Florida has a better offense and just as good on D….but depth is my biggest concern. LSU is very, very deep….and they can wear you down.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
7:51 pm
this coming from a person who spells sucks seaux
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:51 pm
I’m sexy and I know it!!
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:52 pm
……but Florida’s D dominated A&M in the second half……domoinated the Vols in the second half…..and made Kentucky look like a high school team…..and they lead SC at the beginning of the 2nd quarter.
Rick James
September 29th, 2012
7:52 pm
@These teams seaux
September 29th, 2012
7:48 pm
I think Baylor, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia decided to play sarcastiball this weekend. The defenses were soooo good in these games. It was just awesome to watch almost 2600 yards of total offense like a couple of WAC games.
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You forgot to include your team’s defense which got blasted by a Sun Belt team at home..Do I need to mention the team? Georgia Tech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:52 pm
Oh….God…..the Tampa Gator copy kat is back….doing his thing.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:54 pm
But….fake Tampa Gator…..
I don’t know it……but my wife does.
Not So Fast
September 29th, 2012
7:55 pm
I just don’t see it with LSU this year. Auburn whose defense was atrocious shut them down. Plus, I mean if you take away the Honey badger from last years team there is no way they are undefeated. They just don’t have that game changer for points against a decent defense. Zack “porn stache” Mettenberger definitely isn’t.
Rick James
September 29th, 2012
7:55 pm
@JB
The UGA team i saw today won’t beat the Gaytors. Hell UGA struggled last year to beat a terrible Gaytor Team and they are a lot better this year.
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After the Missouri game I didnt think this team would beat Tenneesse..I’m not worried about Florida just South Carolina who is losing to Kentucky right now
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:55 pm
Congrats…..Dawg fans….on going 5-0…….now go beat SC next week. Have a nice evening.
I am now gone……fake Tampa Gator…..so do you thing.
But….I will come back later to monitor…..to make sure you remain civil in my name.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
7:56 pm
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
7:52 pm
……but Florida’s D dominated A&M in the second half……domoinated the Vols in the second half…..and made Kentucky look like a high school team…..and they lead SC at the beginning of the 2nd quarter.
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Yea, but their offense hasn’t scored at least 40 points in 5 straight games and they still don’t have a back that can pound it off tackle.
satxdawg
September 29th, 2012
7:57 pm
Kentucky 3 usc 0 2nd qrt damn the vaunted usc held scoreless the first qrt let our fans tell it they gone stomp a mudhole in us next week
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
Also, UF hasn’t faced two backs like Gurley and Marshall and 5 WR’s like UGA can put on the field.
Dawgs in 2012
September 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win. 2 best backs in the SEC in Gurley & Marshall. Take care of SC next week and then whip UF in Jax and its onto the ATL!!!
GO DAWGS!!
al
September 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
Ogletree had a terrible game at LB. He played scared and wasn’t physical. Too many failed arm tackles. He was good in coverage, but if that’s all we’re going to get, best to move him to safety. Really disappointed studying his play today
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 29th, 2012
8:00 pm
One thing we didn’t do was pressure Bray hard enough. This should serve as a wake up call to tighten our belt and play hard nose defense. We’ve got to put more pressure on the opponent’s backfied. Regardless the Dawgs are 5 — 0, but I don’t see us going undefeated this year. With as many freshmen as we have we’re doing great.
harold
September 29th, 2012
8:02 pm
Looked like PAC 12 football. UGA is not a top 20 team. The Vols are horrible. BAMA–LSU–CAROLINA & FLORIDA ARE TOP 4 IN SEC.
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 29th, 2012
8:02 pm
this team has no killer instinct.
Don’t waste your energy on an SEC championship, much less the MNC….Bama will kill us at this point
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:03 pm
al
September 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
Ogletree had a terrible game at LB. He played scared and wasn’t physical. Too many failed arm tackles. He was good in coverage, but if that’s all we’re going to get, best to move him to safety. Really disappointed studying his play to
____________________________________________________________________
Dude give it up. It’s his first game back. Ogletree will be fine when he gets back into the flow of playing a whole game.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:08 pm
The team has scored at least 40 points a game and is 5-0 and you still get a bunch of morons making stupid negative comments. In a 12 game season playing Freshmen at key positions you are going to have games like this. This will help those Freshmen grow up even more. WE just got 2 key players back on defense that had to knock the rust off some. This team will get even better as the season goes on so just chill out. You guys are pathetic.
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:09 pm
UGA hasn’t faced a team like UF so far they have given up alot of yards and points to sub par teams
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:10 pm
Also, this team is different than the teams the last few years. Does anyone think that over the last 3 seasons that we would have won a game like this making that many mistakes?
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:10 pm
Did UF’s offense put 51 on TN? No.
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
Last year UGA made UF look respectable
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
How much did Tn put on UF? wasnt the game over in the 3rd QT?
Rick James
September 29th, 2012
8:12 pm
@al
Ogletree had a terrible game at LB. He played scared and wasn’t physical. Too many failed arm tackles. He was good in coverage, but if that’s all we’re going to get, best to move him to safety. Really disappointed studying his play today
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The last time Ogeltree played a game was when Al? Did you think he would play like he just played last week? He didnt get to knock the rust off against the weaker teams,he came back against the best quaterback in the SEC..
Pitbull
September 29th, 2012
8:12 pm
Tree played bad today!
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:12 pm
I would take 37-20 over 51-44 any day
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:13 pm
Man, SC is not looking very good against UK. If they play against our offense like they are right now we will put 50 on them.
Pitbull
September 29th, 2012
8:13 pm
Rambo, Rambo who?
Billy
September 29th, 2012
8:14 pm
Georgia should easily be ranked #1 now . Bama and LSU haven;t played anyone like we have
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:15 pm
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:12 pm
I would take 37-20 over 51-44 any day
___________________________________________
AS long as its a W I don’t care what the score is.
bigdawg1
September 29th, 2012
8:15 pm
Nobody on here knows what’s going to happen in the next six weeks. UGA is 1-0 this week! That’s what matters – was it a W or an L? Look at tonight: did any of us truly believe there would be that many turnovers? Sport is a fickle lady!
Whatever. it’s always better to be 1-0 every week you play, and UGA is!
BD1
dumbazz's everywhere
September 29th, 2012
8:15 pm
@Brownies for everyone
Your opinion has as much value as what I just flushed. Only an idiot would claim a team that put up 51 points and almost 600 yards offense and won while giving away 14 points. I don’t could the tipped pick 6 as a give away.
Pitbull
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Bama would have badly beaten TN. IMHO
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Without those 3 turn overs the score would have been 51-23.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:17 pm
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Without those 3 turn overs the score would have been 51-23
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Or worse. That game reminded me of the SC game last year.
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 29th, 2012
8:18 pm
Kerryb, and if the TN receivers didn’t drop 2 TD passes thrown perfectly, it would have been 51-23….for TN!!!!
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
8:18 pm
Pitbull
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Bama would have badly beaten TN. IMHO
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That’s hard to say because Bama has not played a good passing team yet so no one knows how good their secondary is after losing those players from last year.
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:18 pm
Turnovers are part of the game
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
September 29th, 2012
8:19 pm
Billy…..take your meds