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
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
That kid is truly special…..but your kicker is not.
45ACP
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
It’s a trap, Georgia has TWO of ‘EM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO DAWGS!
$5 Dawg
September 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
That defense is no Vanderbilt, but that was still impressive
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
another missed point after…thats unacceptable
Bobo is Not the Problem
September 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
Can’t make a freaking extra point. FIRE MARK RICHT.
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
Isaiah who??
When will Mark Richt win a National Title @ UGA
September 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
Braves always choke just like UGA.
Gurleyman
September 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
When will there be some chatter about Gurley as a Heisman candidate?
me
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
@Mike
“Gurley is the best running back in the country. There, I said it.”
Great effort. But don’t ignore the OLine. He is not getting touched until 4-5 yards down the field. Looks like the AL Oline.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
Dang, some game we may NEED that extra point!
Josh Smith for 3
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
The only thing about UGA that looks questionable is Marshall Morgan’s PAT kicking. The kid doesn’t really have trouble hitting field goals but he just can’t comfortably make an extra point.
Impressive run by Gurley, though. UGA’s offense is looking extremely formidable.
Niceville Dawg
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
Morgan has hit the upright 4 times……how is that even possible?
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
Maybe we will have some believers after this game. If Bama is #1 we should be #2 because this team is every bit as good as Bama.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
katherine….
Can what? Show your lack of sense?
Jimmy Crack
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
On every Georgia big play they are calling Merritt Hall’s name for a key block. Good job, freshman.
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
Georgia is now outgaining Tennessee 290-85 (11:48 left in 2nd Q).
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
im not a troll “me”….i was just making a comment about the braves. I am a dawgs fan….there are three good teams right now in atlanta…its natural to comment on it…if you dont like it..too bad
me
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
@THE Dixie Redcoat Band
“Dang, some game we may NEED that extra point!”
I repeat. Idiot. And Troll. Not a UGA fan. So go away punk.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
We know UT does not have the players yet but give the Dawgs a little credit… How do you stop us?? I think you have to whip our “lousy” O line… I haven’t seen anyone do that yet…
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
The extra points are starting to worry me a little. We gotta get those. But that just comes with better practice. We’ll get it. How about Gurley though! That O-line is blowing people up too.
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
It’s early but I don’t think that missed PAT will hurt us too bad.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
Gurley probably is the best RB in the country……and Georgia can beat anyone in the country. Period. The last two weeks prove it…..no doubt….this is an outstanding football team.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
tampa why do you say I have a “lack of sense”? please explain your ridiculous statement
Dawgs1965
September 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
Yeah, the kicker is a prob. Even the ones that go through make me nervous.
me
September 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
@katherine
Take your comments on week old issues to another blog. This is UGA time.
Big Crimson 75
September 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
kerry — Polls mean nothing —- yet.
The only Poll that matters is the BCS Poll.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
Come on defense. Let’s do this. Stop being so passive. Get aggressive.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
Defense! Come on!!! Stop somebody!
When will Mark Richt win a National Title @ UGA
September 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
There plenty band wagon fans in the Atlanta metro area.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
me…this is a public forum…again…if you dont like my comments you are free to ignore them…otherwise stop being a jerk..thanks
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
Brandon Smith can’t get beat like that.
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
Gurley for Heisman……..Heck! Gurley for President.
Big Crimson 75
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
Lex enjoyed that drop!!
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
If the Vols could stop turning the ball over….and stop dropping passes…..this could turn into a shootout….something like 65 to 45.
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
That was a terrible drop.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
I remember when Vasser and Cummings came back we did not look real good that week on D…. Maybe same thing going on here… May take another week to meld everyone in again…
me
September 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
Smith torched….Why would he let a guy get behind him when his team is up by 17? Don’t get that gamble.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
lucky lucky drop
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
We escaped one there when Patterson dropped it. Defense isn’t looking good so far. And get Mitchell outta there at punt returner!!!!! Got damn it! Get the damn ball!
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Georgia defense has held Tennessee to FG in four possessions (only TD was scored by Tennessee defense).
When will Mark Richt win a National Title @ UGA
September 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Tampa Gator- Will the dawgs make it two in a row?
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
I would rather see Swan back there on punts. Mitchell makes too many mental mistakes letting the ball bounce on the 10 yard line. He did it last week.
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Mitchell has proven he should not be returning punts. Several bad decisions. He made the same mistake in the MO game.
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
Now here is the point in the game that will show us if the Dawgs are real . Do they get over confident and back off or do they keep the focus and keep rolling…
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
Tennessee is certainly its own enemy in this game. The receiver did the same thing against Florida. Does not matter how big and fast you are…..if you can’t catch the ball.
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
Mitchell appears to need to practice with the special teams more than with both the D and the O.
Josh Smith for 3
September 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
It’s official: Malcolm Mitchell has absolutely no business returning punts. He is truly horrendous at it.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
I was thinking that too bobdawg
afan
September 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
lol..me
rivercard
September 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
Offense even better than I thought, but still not impressed buy this D. Soft underbelly and looks like they can be passed on. They are 43rd in the country after playing 4 bad teams for a reason.