Weekend Predictions: No sacrifices, but Falcons, LSU win
Welcome back to Weekend Predictions, where we may fool you into taking one of our Just Kidding Picks once a while — Georgia over South Carolina? Just kidding — but we would never pimp out our abused young pawns to the highest bidder for the sake of a case of footballs, new carpeting and a dozen legal pads. Because then, we would be no better than a financially desperate athletic director.
And speaking of Georgia State. What next? Maybe lease out 20 or 30 players to the Atlanta Police Department for Taser practice? That would clear $100,000.
In another attempt to provide a thoroughly enriching college football experience — go with it — Georgia State athletic director Cheryl Levick has brokered deals to throw her fledgling program’s abused slabs of meat into the center of the Roman Coliseum against Alabama and West Virginia next season and Oregon in 2015.
Wait, I thought Cheryl Levick had blonde hair?
For these three sacrifices, GSU will make $2.15 million, less medical expenses that the HMO won’t cover. Players will receive a free second trip to the soft-food bar in the cafeteria.
The Panthers are 0-6 this season. They’ve been outscored 236-71. Two more routs, and they qualify for FEMA funding. And yet, the school jumped from the Colonial to the Sun Belt for financial reasons, ensuring more dismemberings in 2013. Now there’s the non-conference schedule, direct from The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (circa 1967).
I don’t know. Maybe Levick is bucking for the Savannah State job (first two games this season: losses to Oklahoma State and Florida State by a combined 139-0). I’d be fine with these deals if the school president agreed to play left tackle and the athletic director played quarterback. But that would be too, oh, I don’t know, courageous?
Feh.
Meanwhile, back to real football:
South Carolina didn’t have to pay Georgia anything for last week’s body slam. Now it tries to keep it going against LSU. Bad timing. The Roosters are coming off an emotional high. The Tigers are coming off a loss to Florida. The game is in Baton Rouge (where LSU has won 21 straight).
Not overly confident about this pick (obviously). Just a feeling: LSU over South Carolina (and the 2½ is covered).
SCHOOL DAZE
Uga needed a week to sleep off last week's game.
Georgia: Off. Coaches searched for the idiots who egged players houses, but followed their game plan and ended up in Spartanburg.
Georgia Tech: Off. No, really this time.
Auburn at Mississippi: The Tigers are 6-point underdogs to Ole Miss, triggering a clause in Gene Chizik’s contract that reads, “The locksmith will be arriving on Tuesday.” Take Auburn and 6 (but Rebels win).
Florida at Vanderbilt: Great story from Will Muschamp about how when he got the job at Florida, “There were only three things left in a very barren office, and that was three national championship trophies. I think our athletic director left them on purpose.” Nothing like sending a message. Gators cover 8.
Missouri players break from a team meeting.
Alabama at Missouri: Five Mizzou players were suspended for marijuana last week. Gary Pinkel must be making recruiting in-roads in Georgia. Alabama covers 21½.
Kentucky at Arkansas: Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson was in an accident. But he was in a car, not on a motorcycle, and his sociology professor wasn’t a passenger — so when you think about, the program is making tremendous progress. Piggies cover 17.
Tennessee at Ms. State: The others Dogs are 5-0, but their wins have come over Jackson State, Auburn, Troy, South Alabama, Kentucky and … wait, did I leave out the Connecticut School of Broadcasting? Grab the 3, but Tennessee wins straight up.
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Weekend Predictions salutes “Mongo” (in memory of Alex Karras)
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NFL SIX PACK
It looks like "Fatbeard"and the Raiders are setting up the run.
Raiders at Falcons: The Falcons are 5-0, but there are two things they haven’t done well: 1) Run the ball (21st in NFL); 2) Stop the run (27th). But given that the Raiders rank 32nd in rushing, just ahead of UTEP and comatose, I don’t see this being an issue. Birds cover 9.
Vikings at Redskins: Robert Griffin III was fine after getting hit by Sean Weatherspoon last week, except for the fact he thought he was Thurston Howell III. Seriously, the dude had no idea where he was, but suddenly the Redskins claim he has been medically “cleared” to practice? By who, Dr. Seuss? I call Bolshoi. Take the Vikings straight up and the gift 2.
Lions at Eagles: Ndamukong Suh is upset that two unnamed NFL executives in a Pro Football Weekly story said the Lions are overrated and “Suh belongs on the All-Hype team.” Question: When you’re 1-3, shouldn’t you just shut up? Eagles cover 4½.
Packers at Texans: I’m not a big stats guy, but Aaron Rodgers already has been sacked 21 times this season. That’s a season pace of 67, give or take a spleen. But there’s a hole in Houston’s defense where Brian Cushing used to be. Take the 3½ and the Pack on the road.
Broncos at Chargers: Wonder if Peyton Manning (2-3) expected to have a worse record than Andrew Luck (2-2) at this point? Take the 2, but Denver wins straight up.
Cowboys at Ravens: Jerry Jones’ birth certificate says he turns 70 on Saturday, but of course he has grandkids older than his face. (I know. Cheap and easy.) Ravens cover 3½.
When I hear Ndamukong Suh, I think of Lesley Gore
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TIME TO SETTLE UP
Or, as my Russian friend from “Rounders” would say…
Last week: 7-4 straight up, 6-5 against the spread.
So far, so good: 50-16 straight up, 38-26-2 against the spread.
Sack Schultz update: Went 10-5 last week, not great. Our overall leader is still “KarlaMoshe” of Kansas with 73 wins.
Lilly’s pick of the week: She’s 3-3 and in danger of being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. (See what I did there?) This week, she took the cheese: South Carolina over LSU.
Lilly is going against me this week. She is taking the Gamecocks over Tigers.
By Jeff Schultz
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146 comments Add your comment
Tech Engineer
October 12th, 2012
8:55 am
South Carolina wins.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 12th, 2012
9:44 am
I would not bet on that. Every team who is any good beats us like a drum for 5 years now.
teedub
October 12th, 2012
9:54 am
Go Hawks!!!!
ljm
October 12th, 2012
9:55 am
Bradley again you are off in predicting an LSU win. You saw what South Carolina defense did to UGA offensive line. LSU OL is beaten up and will have a redshirt freshman trying to stop Clowney. Why don’t you just get on the band wagon and realize South Carolina is for real this year and get with the program.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 12th, 2012
10:03 am
Every team who is for real for 5 years now has beat us. That’s no measure, especially with little Aaron Murray back there wetting his legs.
Rodster
October 12th, 2012
10:32 am
By the way they stomped a mudhole with UGA, I would think that SC is for real. But… then again, I’ve thought that before about them in the past then they turn around and look terrible. SC’s QB might turn back into a pumpkin against LSU.
Thornton Road Exit Dawg
October 12th, 2012
10:53 am
I heard during the bye Jarvis Jones is starring in a play at the 14th Street Playhouse in a production of “The Invisible Man”- a ha ha ha ha God i crack myself up… Invisible Man- get it? Invisible Man- back to the middle Dawg fans you had your chance- time for the big boys to play now.. Invisible Man……..oh wait Gurshall? 76 yards combined yards! a ha ha ha ha a ha ha ha ha a ha ha ha ha
Rodster
October 12th, 2012
10:56 am
Invisible man. Now that’s funny!
Sherrill
October 12th, 2012
11:08 am
McGarity came back “home” to retire; he doesn’t need or want any controversy. Mark Richt will win enough games to satisfy the AD and all his pantywaist fans. The team has his personality and will continue to mealy-mouth their way thru the season. Look for a blowout at Jacksonville.
Thornton Road Exit Dawg
October 12th, 2012
11:11 am
Thank you all be here all ze week-
Thornton Road Exit Dawg
October 12th, 2012
11:14 am
No! Don’t mention Panties on a Dawg blog! Especiallly Red Panties! No!! AAAHH!!!!!! Is this a dawg blog? God I’m bored on Friday- Fire Mark Richt!
PreyDawg
October 12th, 2012
11:35 am
Enjoy these Jeff. Very funny! I hope you are right about the Packers. Would love to be the only unbeaten team in the NFL. Maybe for ONE freekin week we would get some love from NFL Network or ESPN.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
October 12th, 2012
11:36 am
Actually LSWho may give USC a pretty good game. UGA should not over look UK either.
TexGT
October 12th, 2012
11:50 am
I would be surprised if LSU lost. Their offense is terrible, but they still have an incredibly stout D, and at LSU at night is a nightmare for any road team, no matter how good they may be.
Will F
October 12th, 2012
12:26 pm
LSUs offensive line is damaged . A negative.possibly.
LSU plays at home. A positive.
USC has a strong defense. A positive
USC’s offense is untested against a team of LSU’s caliber.
The Atlanta papers opinion counts for nada pasanada.
Home cooking Atlanta
OkieDawg
October 12th, 2012
12:53 pm
I’m not on-board with LSU. They squeak by Auburn and look weak against Florida. Their O-line is depleted by injuries. And I’m sure Baton Rouge at night is worth 10 points but even that won’t be enough. And Florida has plenty of weaknesses also.
Georgia Gamecock
October 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
Clem13,
You are such a homer! Clemson fans always makes comments about Spurrier leaving. Thank God the cocks don’t have a country bump like a Dabo!
lol
October 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
@ the few, misguided GSU fans who think it’s such a great thing to “earn” these guarantee games…
See what kind of publicity comes with it?
Doesn’t smell like roses.
OkieDawg
October 12th, 2012
1:17 pm
Given the choice of playing football for Georgia State or paying tuition, I’d opt for the latter. Its better to be in debt than to be sacrificed for a fistful of dollars.
Alphare
October 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
LSU cannot score. They will score even less with Clownley in the field. That’s how USC will win.
GetReal
October 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
Bulldogs just pawn in game of life. rest in peace Alex.
dagnabit
October 12th, 2012
2:01 pm
I’m thinking there may be something to this McGarity thing. Maybe Mark should be feeling uncomfortable.
Jake 7
October 12th, 2012
2:23 pm
As much as I hate to say …….Carolina’s year.
.
DawgNole
October 12th, 2012
7:23 pm
ljm
October 12th, 2012
9:55 am
Bradley again you are off in predicting an LSU win. You saw what South Carolina defense did to UGA offensive line. LSU OL is beaten up and will have a redshirt freshman trying to stop Clowney. Why don’t you just get on the band wagon and realize South Carolina is for real this year and get with the program.
_______________________
Maybe he won’t “just get on the bandwagon” because you called him Bradley. His name is Schultz.
evil genius
October 12th, 2012
11:53 pm
Truly study the game of football, the trends, and what’s goin’ on.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
1:11 am
Stephen A. Dawg: I keep saying it : ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ! October 7th, 2012 11:32 pm
“Richt proclaimed the SC debacle a “team loss” and he has forgiven the team for its failings. He never told the truth and admitted he and his entire staff did a poor job and were outcoached in all phases of the game. UGA will regroup and reel off meaningless wins against lesser opponents and yet get routed again in the”big game” against Florida. UGA goes 10-2 and ends back in Orlando yet again to lose if the Big 10 opponent is ranked. It’s an unacceptable pattern in Athens under Richt ! Another 10-3 season with wins over lesser opponent and losses to every ranked opponent. Spurrier and Saban will continue to raid the state of Georgia for top athletes while Richt runs to Florida and ACC country to stock UGA with his kind of players in his finesse, outdated, and soft FSU 90s heydey system. Only Richt defeatists like Brainiac, Dawg in Lex, Columbus Dawg, and Kingdaddy are dumb enough to keep drinking kryptonite kool-aid in denial that Richt won’t ever win another big game as long as he remains. He lacks the primary element to be a championship coach in the SEC and that is intensity. This element is fundamental in big games. Richt was content with the porous O-line & special teams play, Murray’s poor play & poor OC play calls and a defense that got repeatedly punched in the mouth. Thus the line it’s a team loss. Memo to Richt and his apologists there won’t be many more “team losses” in the big games in the future. Time is running out on mediocre Richt show at UGA.”
_________________________________________________________
2 Wins in 18 games Current 5-Year Period vs teams who made Top 25
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http://www.sicemdawgs.com/2012/10/mark-richt-georgia-6-15-record-vs-ranked-opponents-since-2008/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sicemdawgscom+%28Sicemdawgs.com%29
Eric C.
October 13th, 2012
3:32 am
Curious what the thoughts are on the Andre Carter vs Tyson Clabo match-up? Any chance Carter will pull a “Charles Johnson” on the Falcons?
Eric C.
October 13th, 2012
3:37 am
Said it before and I’ll say it again…it will take a herculean effort for SC to beat LSU and UF next two weeks. If they do it, believe they should be #1. However, if SC loses these next two games, then UGA has a golden opportunity to save their best game of the year for UF and move back into the drivers seat.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
5:59 am
I will say it differently Eric C. Florida is no good and loses because it cannot pass the football. 4 or 5 losses on the season 2012 for Will Mushcamp because not only can Florida not pass the football a lick, but they also cannot return punts or kick-offs, and cannot either prevent the sack nor make a sack. They can punt and they can run the football, along with having a very good defense. The best team they have played is LSU, and they the only team; and all that was evident in that game too – although LSU too just doesn’t pass the football.
I hope that South Carolina gets to play Alabama and not Georgia. I am fed-up with us losing 16 of 18 games the Current 5-Year Period against teams making the Top 25.
I am also fed-up with us losing 14 of 17 games the entire Mark Richt era against teams making the Top 10.
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Mark Richt cannot beat the top teams and should not be allowed to back-into SEC Championship Game, where we will be throttled again anyway.
____________________________________________
Eric C., why sit there and beg and pray for everything to work for us to get our butts beat by Alabama ?
Let South Carolina have that right. Look who they are playing while we run up our little Aaron Murray stats against cupcakes.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
6:26 am
_______________________________________________________
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2 wins out of 18 games vs teams making top 25 current 5-year Period
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3 wins out of 17 games vs teams making top 10 entire Mark Richt era.
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Far Rockaway Beach Dawg
October 13th, 2012
7:52 am
The dawgs’ season will be over after SC puts a slam dunk on LSU tonight.
Just to seal the deal, Florida will steamroll Georgia with a serious beating.
The only hope for UGA is to run Mark Richt out of town on a rail. McGarity, are you listening?
DawgNole
October 13th, 2012
10:42 am
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
1:11 am
UGA will regroup and reel off meaningless wins against lesser opponents and yet get routed again in the”big game” against Florida.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 13th, 2012
5:59 am
Florida is no good and loses because it cannot pass the football. 4 or 5 losses on the season 2012 for Will Mushcamp because not only can Florida not pass the football a lick, but they also cannot return punts or kick-offs, and cannot either prevent the sack nor make a sack.
_____________________
Well, which is it–a “big game” or “Florida is no good”?
“4 or 5 losses” for fla this year? Yeah, right. That’s a good example of why it’s so easy to dismiss your nonsensical rambligs.
Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
3:02 am
Thomas Brown…I’m just telling the SC fans like it is. I’m a huge Dawg fan for sure, but I try to be a realist. Anything can happen in one game and you are a fool not to pull your team to get there.
Perhaps the defense will have visions of egg white dripping off their helmets and take it out on UK, UF, UM, and Auburn. Whether or not UF or UT beats SC remains to be seen…but I’m going to pull for the Dawgs until the hopefully not so bitter end.
Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
3:06 am
In any case, every week proves a given team is never as good or as bad as they look…the exception being Alabama of course.
Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
3:08 am
The Falcons need to get back to scoring on that first drive…really need to make a statement and not let Oakland hang around.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 14th, 2012
3:19 am
A fool is someone, Eric C. sir, who looks at Mark Richt 2 wins 18 games vs teams who made the top 25 and who looks at Mark Richt all 12 years 3 wins 14 losses vs teams who made the top 10 and roots for us to get to play Alabama when Mark Richt NEVER beats the top teams.
NEVER.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 14th, 2012
3:21 am
A person who roots for Mark Richt to get to play Alabama when Mark Richt the current 5-year period has 2 wins in 18 games vs teams who made the top 25 and when Mark Richt all 12 years here has 3 wins in 17 games vs teams who made the top 10, is what exactly ?
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 14th, 2012
3:21 am
A person who roots for Mark Richt to get to play Alabama
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 14th, 2012
3:22 am
A person
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 14th, 2012
3:22 am
A person who wants Mark Richt to get to play Alabama when Mark Richt the current 5-year period has 2 wins in 18 games vs teams who made the top 25 and when Mark Richt all 12 years here has 3 wins in 17 games vs teams who made the top 10, is what exactly ?
Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
6:39 am
Thomas Brown, If you saw Penn St. beat Miami in the first ever Fiesta Bowl, then you know that anything can happen in a championship game…I would relish that opportunity.
bubba4dawgs
October 14th, 2012
8:52 am
Everybody keeps sucking eggs about hiring Petrino……the co-eds at UGA are much prettier than at Arkansas and he’d be after them to ride on his new motorcycle. He’s not good as his word!
I just saw LSU have their way with SC. They literally whipped their butts in the trenches. It was fun watching Darth Visor grimace coming close to explosion on the sideline. Now we gotta pull for Flori-duh which will be a tough one for the gators but I think they can do it. The DAWGS can come back but I still give it a long shot. Whoever wins the East will be no match for Bama.
Such high expectations with such low results!
JSS
October 14th, 2012
9:44 am
“Eric C.
October 14th, 2012
6:39 am
Thomas Brown, If you saw Penn St. beat Miami in the first ever Fiesta Bowl, then you know that anything can happen in a championship game…I would relish that opportunity.”
Point of accuracy…
They’d been playing the Fiesta Bowl since 1971…
oc steve
October 14th, 2012
10:28 am
Is Darren McFadden a bust or is it the Raiders system that has them last in rushing?
Barbara Jones
October 16th, 2012
3:09 am
Even out of this analysis and prediction they’ll still need to play the game to have the result that they wanted to have and there could be a lot of things that might happen during the game that many of us wasn’t expecting…
http://www.notepadsyourway.com/
MsBully
October 16th, 2012
5:40 pm
I guess Tennessee and MS. State are still playing. The last score I saw after the 4th quarter was Mississippi State 41 Tennessee 31!! Hail State!!!!!!!!!!!