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
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
@Mike
“Defense isn’t looking good so far. ”
Did you say the same thing last year in the SEC championship game when GA dropped multiple TD’s in the first half.
3 points so far. I guess that is more than 0. Clown.
Patrick
September 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
Hey Mike–this is a family blog!
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
its pretty obvious who “me” is….he loves to attack me
afan
September 29th, 2012
4:52 pm
agree katherine..
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:52 pm
4:49PM…..
The Tennessee D is nothing like the Florida D. If the Florida O continues to develop….it is going to be a great game in JAX. And if Florida beats LSU next week….watch out.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
Damn boys and girls…we win in Columbia next week and look out. When this team knows without a doubt that it can win the big game there may be no stopping em barring injury
chuck
September 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
Dawgs look great BUT we need to go find a kicker just in case. Also Mitchell should have just made his last mistake on a punt return. He HAS to catch that ball on the 15.
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
@rivercard
“but still not impressed buy this D.”
4 horrible teams? Funny stuff. 3 points so far. Funny stuff. D is gambling a bit.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
@Dawgoneit, I’m a Georgia fan you idiot.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
Gurley makes that first down.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
Should tried for the first down there. That was huge.
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
I know Gurley and Marshall is not Gurley. Looks more like a freshman. A very good freshman.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
i miss blair walsh
Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
First Georgia punt. Sixth possession.
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
Gurley makes that first down.
This ^
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
Good punt !
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
Tennesee needs to score a TD here if they want to stay in this game. I doubt they will do it.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
In situations like that, gotta give the ball to Gurley. He’s more physical and would have gotten that first down.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:56 pm
@ Tampa Gator, they just might with the way our defense is playing.
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:56 pm
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
@Dawgoneit, I’m a Georgia fan you idiot.
Only an idiot would see his defense has allowed 3 points to one of the best offenses and not be happy. Doesn’t matter what has or has not happened. The score is all that matters.
short memories
September 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
Bobo blinked. No passes just 4 running plays counting the penalty play when Tennessee was stacked up. Needs to go for the jugular not be conservative
dawgoneit
September 29th, 2012
4:58 pm
We are only rushing 4 and playing a really deep safety. That makes the middle open for running. But so far 3 points.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:58 pm
well to be fair…the score obviously matters but even if you win you can move down in the polls…like lsu
ARdawg
September 29th, 2012
4:58 pm
There isn’t any staying in this game for the Vols. They are grossly out matched
katherine
September 29th, 2012
4:58 pm
and our defense against the run looks pretty bad
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
September 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
Somebody wake up our “D”….
Mike
September 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
Swann is playing good football.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
Boy……Georgia is having issues stopping the run vs. Tennessee. And the Vols do not run the ball well. So why are they throwing it so much????
Josh Smith for 3
September 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
I’m not liking the lanes the Tennessee RBs are getting. They’re making it look too easy.
Bill
September 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
No matter how big a lead, Bobo never ceases to amaze with his play calling. Will some program offer him a job?
short memories
September 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
Loose zone
Mike
September 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
Defense hasn’t played well in the 1st half all season.
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
Hurley is a great Freshman back. But he is not a he is man candidate. Murray keeps it up and he may get invited. But when qbs like Geno smith throw for 650 and 8tds it will be hard for a run/pass 50/50 player to win. Plus Murray actually plays real defenses
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
Bray scares you when he throws the ball…..can either be a TD or an INT
Mike
September 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
I’d love to see us go for the jugular. Put the game away. Stop being sweet.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
tampa chill out geez….
SCDOG
September 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
How about keeping us up on the game and quityerbtchin’
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
Gurley
Josh Smith for 3
September 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
@dawgoneit
I guess that makes sense, but some of those runs are 10 plus yards. That’s a little too much for my taste.
oldfart
September 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
Quit dancing after a single stop 5. You’ve been burned twice for first downs on this drive alone.
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
I’m glad we are not playing a perfect game… We need the coaches getting after them this week…
Mike
September 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
Our defense is playing passive to not give up the big play and point wise it’s working. I just love aggressive defense. That’s just me. I love proactive defense that gets after the ball. Looking like Willie Martinez D out there. Smh
Fast eddie
September 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
Georgia never has their timeouts for the last two minutes. Unorganized, poor coaching
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
Well….you can’t say this game is boring to watch.
Also….I know Georgia wants to play Marshall….but I play Gurley 95 percent of the time if he was on my team.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
see
Mike
September 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Horrible F’kin defense.
katherine
September 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
agreed mike
Can't just put em away
September 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
Enter your comments here
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
You seriously are bitching about coaching right know…timeouts really
watching...
September 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
Brandon Smith getting beat regularly….