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
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:27 pm
Twenty one point 1st quarter–not too shabby Dawgs!
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
4:27 pm
Georgia has scoring drives of 84, 75, 75 yards (and interception).
Big Crimson 75
September 29th, 2012
4:28 pm
A little more upper-body muscle and Gurley is a T-Rich clone.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:29 pm
Georgia has put up 21 first quarter points. We’re on pace to score 84 points.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:30 pm
It’s going to be interesting to see how “wide open” we play it next week… Much tougher D. I still think we win going away in 2nd half, even up in Columbia….
45ACP
September 29th, 2012
4:30 pm
Dawgs looking good!
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:31 pm
speaking of the braves…their chance to win the division pretty much slipped away with that loss last night
Mike Franklin
September 29th, 2012
4:31 pm
My TV lied again. I saw the Tenn offense move
rivercard
September 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
Bobdawg – SC defensive backfield very suspect. Give Murray adequate time and I think you outscore them.
afan
September 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
Must agree with you. They have played well last 2 weeks.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
BIGCR75… You are right about Gurley… Marshall has put some pounds on already…. Came in during the spring and really helped him, I believe…
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
Boy…..Tennessee really came to play on defense today….didn’t they….anyone say….oooooo—-lay…….I guess if Florida’s offense can score 37…..Georgia might get 60 on the Vols.
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
4:33 pm
@VP – He’s the UT ball boy. Appears to keep drifting near the coaches and Grantham was telling him to remove himself nearer to the line of scrimmage.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:33 pm
Next week is going to be a very stiff test for the Dawgs. Our defense better bring the hat because Marcus Lattimore has killed us the past two seasons. Gotta put a hat on him. Our O-line has to step it up big time next week because Devin Taylor is 6′8, Clowney is like 6′6 and both are fast, quick, and can get to Murray in no time. John Theus vs. Devin Taylor is going to be the matchup of the game. Hope Theus is ready.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:33 pm
BobDawg….
I don’t think Gurley came in the spring…….
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:35 pm
RIVERCARD…. Interesting heard a College Football Weekly scribe up on a Chatt. Radio show say that SCarolina has a grew D line but after that now much…. Even the QB who had 20 straight completions only completed 3 to Wideouts during that string..
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
@ Tampa, he’s talking about Marshall. Marshall was here in the spring.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
Two really good games to watch next weekend….LSU and Florida and Georgia and South Carolina. We should know more about things next weekend…..as it concerns the East. Is Florida ready to step up? Can Georgia’s OL stop SC up front? Going to be fun to watch.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
right, Marshall came in the spring and put the lbs on…
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
im not to impressed with the defense right now
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
Come on defense! Stop the run!!!!
Here we go again...
September 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
If there is anything wrong so far, it is the defense appears to be a little soft. Giving up yards and first downs, but no scoring to speak of…
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
September 29th, 2012
4:37 pm
Right up the middle,going down the field.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:37 pm
Defense has been playing this way all year in the 1st half. Soft as tissue so far against the run. Gotta toughen up.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:37 pm
wow what a catch
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:37 pm
Great pick though lol
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
4:38 pm
Agreed Katherine, but I don’t even like a 5 game series. The one game “play in” game is much an abomination to the game as is the DH. Baseball needs a real Commissioner.
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:38 pm
Defense looking strong–LAME DUCK interception!!!
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:38 pm
Bray tries to force way too many balls……..but a great defensive play there.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:39 pm
Alright, time to put this game out of reach. 28-10 would be hard for Tennessee to overcome. It’ll make them abandon the running game and have to pass. Jarvis and co. pin their ears back and have fun!
VP
September 29th, 2012
4:39 pm
Thanks Old fart. He looks more like a spy. Just gravitating to wherever the coaches are.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:39 pm
If Georgia scores………the Tennessee plays will pack it in. Do or die for the Vols here.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:39 pm
i agree….playing a one game wildcard game is not fair to the braves at all who are so far ahead in the wildcard race…anything could happen in one game…if they lose it im going to be sick
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
“the Tennessee players”
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
Alec Ogletree: welcome back. Tipped pass to lead to that interception.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
Swann looked like a BBall player snatching the ball out of the air like that!!!
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
Why are people talking about the Braves right now? Strange.
Big Crimson 75
September 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
The Braves are not exactly being rewarded for winning the Wild Card, by having to play a 1-Game Playoff – Play in Game.
me
September 29th, 2012
4:41 pm
@THE Dixie Redcoat Band
“Right up the middle,going down the field.”
For a total of 3 points. Dunce.
When will Mark Richt win a National Title @ UGA
September 29th, 2012
4:41 pm
???/
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:41 pm
cause we can tampa
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
This is just too easy.
rivercard
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Tampa – Looks to me as if Tenn D has already packed it up.Really never showed up. This team looks deflated and poorly coached. Hope Dooley has a back up plan.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
wow….gurley is for real
Mike Franklin
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Wow
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
WOW WOW WOW !!!
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Gurley is the best running back in the country. There, I said it.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
WOW….. 3-4 IS BACK AGAIN FOR US!
Dawgs1965
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
That was a thing of BEAUTY!
me
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
@Tampa Gator
“Why are people talking about the Braves right now? Strange.”
Trolls. That is what happens when your team loses to MTSU by 21+.