Pessimism reigns by Georgia fans about Florida game (video added)
Mark Richt and Dogs beat Florida last season but they're underdogs this year. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Remember how high optimism was about Georgia football before this season? Well, that seems to have eroded.
The recent loss to South Carolina, several unimpressive victories – including the latest win at Kentucky — and a perceived talent-loaded defense that hasn’t nearly lived up to expectations has led to many Georgia fans expecting the worst when the Bulldogs face Florida in Jacksonville next Saturday.
Loading ...How do I know this? Because when I relayed via Twitter that Florida was anywhere from a 3½ to 4½ point favorite at most sportsbooks, the responses could all be reduced down to these three words: “Is that all?”
In fact, as I type this, I have yet to find a reader who would take that bet (Georgia plus the points).
Georgia is 3-8 against Florida under Mark Richt, including last year’s win. But Florida is 7-0, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and destroyed South Carolina 44-11.
On Betonline.com, the Gators opened as 3½ point favorites, the line dropped to 3, then went up to 4½. Vegasinsider.com lists the consensus line at 3.5. The Las Vegas Wynn opened with Florida at 4½ and it went up to 5.
Here is the early feedback on the point spread. Feel feel to weigh in below with your thoughts and I’ve put up a simple poll question: Does Georgia win or lose?
Your responses on Twitter
• “That ain’t enough Jeff. It should be at least 7.5.” — @pierceoutlaw
• “If I was going to bet, I’d bet on Fla.” — @wrigmuff
• “Should be 21.” — @johnarwinhart
• “Should be 7 or 8 or 21.” — @therealclutch
• “I’ll take Florida up to 10. Amazing how far we have fallen from preseason hopes.” — @wwatl34
• “Smart money on UF” — @CharlesMcCollum
• “I’d say it should be 10 points.” — @rwsportscards
• “They know something we don’t I reckon.” — @J_T_Hoffman
• “I’ll take Florida up to -6.5.” — @Tony Mission
• “Way too low for me. We had trouble run-blocking Kentucky last night and stopping their backs. Florida far superior to UK.” — @RedDevilDawg
• “Depends on if the determined to prove themselves Dawgs show up or the i’m down with whatever the hype says Dawgs show up!” — @GeorgiaGunOwner
• “I agree. I’d say gators by 10. I’m a Dawg fan. Hoping for the best but expecting the worst like most Cocktail Party endings.” — @NikkiFree
• “How often are the guys in and around Vegas are wrong? Personally, I do think it is low.” — @vsu96sdd
• “Surprised it’s not 14.” — @jltdawg
• “If we only lose by 4.5 I’ll be very happy. Another SC performance and its time for a change.” — @bulletstheman
• “Could be that Vegas still doesn’t know what to make of the Florida offense and their inconsistent play.” — @DavidMaldridge
• “If UGA can avoid costly turnovers, they should be able to keep it close.” — @MattBankston
• “UGA grad here and I’d have the line at least 7.5.” — @VinylmationKing
• “Umm have you been watching this year?” — @ChandlerRDB
• “When we beat Kentucky by just 5 points, we know we are going to get blown out in Jacksonville.” — @TylerBurgess
• “Really surprised it’s not at least a touchdown. I thought 10 or so.” — @jbcincy512
• “Dogs will be crushed like a bug by the gators.” — @rbray1
• “Good for the Dawgs. Vegas is dangling that small spread so people will jump on FL.” — @TheJoeyBrowning
• “Sadly, with how unfocused/underperforming Dawgs are this year, 2012 game has 2008 potential. Grantham sold us a Monorail.” — @SideshowRhett
• “Should be gators by 14.5 the way the dawgs defense has been playing. #fromadawgfantoo” — @Zack_H_Martin
• “The spread is way too low. There is no indication the game will be that close. And that is coming from Dawg fan.” — @MarlerMedia
• “Jeff I’m a dog fan and I just put 1500 on Florida, what is Vegas thinking, did they see Kentucky and Carolina game, d is bad” — @ParrishV
• “About 10 pts to low…uga fan here” — @MattAnthem
• “I think Florida should be -7 but Vegas wants people to bet both sides of that -4.5. #godawgs” — @KoodenAaron
• “UGA fan here. I would’ve guessed Fla -6.5. Wouldn’t take the dawgs at +7.” — @Hookey12
• ” What’s the over/under? I think it needs to be 7.5, but I could see them winning 42-35. They will hang 35+ on our D.” — @Litigatingdawg
• “It’ll be bet up closer to -4.5 or 5 by Saturday.” — @ParrishWalton
• “Casinos are smart & in the business of making money. They made the line low so people will bet on #UGA, the sure loser.” — @UGABugKiller
• “I had it around -9 for florida. UGA’s d can’t stop anyone. Only solid Defensive effort was vs Vandy.” — @JDB426
• “Uneven stats/score from SC game have obscured public projections for UF. I think -5 is the max line.” — @RittyRich
• “Florida should be a 13.5 point fav” — @BostonDawgsfan
• “I was thinking AT LEAST 14″ — @GillmanD
• “Mentality of GA fans is perplexing. Most pessimistic I can ever remember, even under Goff.” — @TrevinB
OK, we have our first Tweeter who takes Georgia:
• “I hope you didn’t have me confused. I’ll take that line.” — @Mitchelldavenpo
By Jeff Schultz
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624 comments Add your comment
Seriously
October 22nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Barring a special teams fiasco and/or several turnovers by Murray (I know those are tall orders), Georgia will win. After SC, Grantham has learned (hopefully) to put a spy on the running QB. Driskell can’t throw.
DawgNole
October 22nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
9:58 am
Mark Richt hasn’t beat Florida ?
Mark Richt still hasn’t beat Alabama either.
We beat Alabama when they won 4 games all season. That doesn’t count.
_______________________
More lies by TB. Richt HAS beat Bama–including in ‘07, when the Tide won 7 games. And yes, it counted–just as the win you cited counted. Both still do, as a matter of fact.
See what I mean about all your posts containing lies? No? Didn’t think so. Liar.
DawgNole
October 22nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
1:07 pm
DawgNole October 22nd, 2012 12:49 pm
“Complacency and overconfidence are formidable enemies because they destroy from within. Thanks to nonstop pregame publicity singing their praises, the gators will be unable to ignore these enemies, which means their success Saturday will depend on their ability to overcome them.”
_____________________________________
Every post you’ve ever posted up until this one, said that we should do NOTHING BUT THAT for our Bulldogs. Now, suddenly, you sign out the other side of your same mouth.
___________________
So now I “sign” out the other side of my mouth. LOL. And you’re “top 5 percent” in your class? Yeah, right. Tell us yet another lie, Thomasina.
trueblueeagle
October 22nd, 2012
3:47 pm
With the way Fla. is playing they could beat Bama I don’t think you say the same about UGA. If Fla. plays up to par then its going to be a long day for UGA.
St Johns River
October 22nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Driskel absolutely can throw. He’s young and learning on the job, so they’re bringing him along slowly, but he’s made some nice throws for them this season. There’s a difference between being an inexperienced QB and a QB who lacks talent. Driskel does not lack talent.
_Pitbull
October 22nd, 2012
3:50 pm
If ignorance is bliss then Jeff Schultz and Mark Bradley are in Heaven.
Oh to have an Atlanta newspaper that supports our team.
Other SEC schools do. Why can’t we?
Silver Fox
October 22nd, 2012
3:51 pm
Your poll demonstrates that 71% of your readers are whinners or interlopers, certainly not dawg fans. I feel sorry for them, a little anyway. I really wish they would just go away.
SKB
October 22nd, 2012
4:00 pm
@Silver Fox
Can it be that 71% don’t live in Disneyland?
I support Richt and even I know he will lose to Florida. That is a given.
DawgNole
October 22nd, 2012
4:01 pm
TampaGator
October 22nd, 2012
2:31 pm
Someone said Florida has a “middle of the road pass defense” in the SEC. You are right. They are just behind Bama, LSU, SC, and Mississippi State…..in pass defense…..at #20 in the nation. Hardly middle of the road. Ranked number 10 in the nation in rushing defense. Overall….number 7 in the nation in total defense.
__________________
Are you on here braggin’ again?
(Just giving you a little free grief, TG.)
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 22nd, 2012
4:04 pm
I don’t see ANY UGa fans “Taking It To The BANK” or “Betting the House(trailer)” on a 35:55minute PMS Murray & the dWags winning.
What is up with that?
icedawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:06 pm
No contest. Gators by a mile.
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
October 22nd, 2012
4:09 pm
FLORIDA 36 GEORGIA 3…..OVERRATED SCHOOL,OVERRATED COACH,OVERRATED STATE,LAST BUT NOT LEAST OVERRATTED CITY(ATLANTA)
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:12 pm
Wonder why UF is only favored by 3 if it’s supposed to be a blowout?
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:13 pm
iS IT TRUE fLORIDA’S OFFENSE IS RANKED #112 IN THE NATION INTOTAL OFFENSE?
no dawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:13 pm
Uga what a joke
faithfuldawg86
October 22nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Faithless, bandwagon fans. No wonder we have such a bad rep (fans, not team). If you don’t like what we’re doing, don’t let the door hit you in the @ss on your way to supporting another team. I bet half of you were Auburn fans 2 years ago but had to jump off that bandwagon quick…
no dawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:20 pm
CMR loading up his ford with all that money going to the bank
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:12 pm
Wonder why UF is only favored by 3 if it’s supposed to be a blowout?
———————————————————————-
You really don’t understand how Vegas or betting lines work do you?
If Vegas can get the money EVEN at 3 points then so be it. If Vegas needs to go to 6.5 points then it will move. If you are going to talk Points and betting please EDUCATE yourself on how they work and what the object of the point-spread is designed to do.
short memories
October 22nd, 2012
4:36 pm
Faithfuldawg86 I am a l980 grad and am dedicated to the school but not delusional as you are to a coach who continually fails against top 20 teams. I am dedicated enough to be tired of my school being outcoached. You confuse dedication to your school with dedication to a sham of a coach.
DW
October 22nd, 2012
4:44 pm
Mark Richt is a ACC Coach . Not SEC!!!!!
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Never seen fans more optimistic than this year.
We are 2 wins away from the national championship!!!!!!!!
2 more wins!!!!!
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Florida is favored by 2 to win the game.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:58 pm
Will Muschamp is 2-6 vs. ranked teams.
0-1 vs. Mark Richt.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 22nd, 2012
5:04 pm
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:58 pm
Will Muschamp is 2-6 vs. ranked teams.
0-1 vs. Mark Richt.
=============================================
where did you get those numbers? Richt has been a HC for 11 years and you think he is 0-1 aginst ranked teams? WTF are you smoking? Dwag butt?
DawgNole
October 22nd, 2012
5:07 pm
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Never seen fans more optimistic than this year.
We are 2 wins away from the national championship!!!!!!!!
2 more wins!!!!!
___________________
Two more wins gets us to 8 for the season, Fred. It’s gonna take a helluva lot more than 8 wins to claim a national championship.
M
October 22nd, 2012
5:09 pm
I say should be at least 60.
Sammy
October 22nd, 2012
5:10 pm
There are only 2 more real games left on the schedule.
Florida
Then Bama.
UGA will be favored in the rest.
Douglas
October 22nd, 2012
5:15 pm
I’m a UGA grad and the only way UGA was improving was when Richt was the OC. Our team is not improving and getting worse. The only way UGA beats UF is if UF doesn’t show up. This is going to be a blowout by UF.
Douglas
October 22nd, 2012
5:15 pm
I’m a UGA grad and the only way UGA was improving was when Richt was the OC. Our team is not improving and getting worse. The only way UGA beats UF is if UF doesn’t show up. This is going to be a blowout by UF.
Mexdawg
October 22nd, 2012
5:19 pm
Just BEAT the gators baby!I know this is gonna sound crazy but the DAWGS will win 35-17 and no I have not opened the Woodford Reserve yet.I’m saving that for THE COCKTAIL PARTY.LET THE BIG DAWG DRINK!
Alabama Dog
October 22nd, 2012
5:20 pm
While I’m not extermely optimistic about Georgia’s chances Saturday, mabe, just maybe, this is Murray’s siganture win, finally. We’ve waited long enough for it!
ZinoDawg
October 22nd, 2012
5:25 pm
Gators 48
Dawgs 7
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
5:28 pm
Most have UF winning 31, 28. Or 28-24.
Only way UF wins is if UGA turns the ball over a bunch like the SC game.
UF has been good at winning the TO battle, +1.6 per game, UGA is 0.0 per game.
That’s the only thing that worries me.
Can we protect the football?
It’s been the achilles hill at UGA in this series and game.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
5:32 pm
One thing we know, the gator offense will not drive the ball 80 yards 5 times for td’s.
they have to get turnovers, or they have no shot at staying in this game.
they also need a big punt or kick return.
The gators offense isn’t good enough to win this game, so the defense and special teams will have to get it done.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
5:33 pm
gators also need their QB to run for 100 yards. they can’t throw the ball, think gtech, and you’re right on.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 22nd, 2012
5:34 pm
FRED are you Banking a UGa win? Are you Betting the House on a UGa win?
Do you really think 35:55minute Murray will FINALLY win a game where he is the UnderdWag?
Spumoni
October 22nd, 2012
5:37 pm
Is Mark Richt singing Happy Birthday to #9?
Z Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
5:37 pm
1. Dawgs will have tough time running the on gators
2. Dawgs cannot afford to turn the ball and give a easy TD
3. OL has to play its best
4. If all above happnes, Dawgs have a chance to win
I was nice to see head chiken from Columbia and his cocktails got beat last weekend. Go Dawgs
Richt>muschamp
October 22nd, 2012
5:37 pm
Richt will school young muschamp like last year. fla’s offense can’t score enough to beat the Dogs. Ga wins by 13—bet the house! Ga v. Alabama for the SEC title!!!
Dawg Doo
October 22nd, 2012
5:45 pm
FL can throw the ball better than you think. They’re conservative with a young QB, but Driskel is completing 67% of his passes and has only thrown one INT. When UF had a tough time running the ball on the goal line against Carolina’s front, Driskel completed a few short passes for touchdowns. Flashy? No. But with their defense, he doesn’t need to be.
Any Given SATURDAY
October 22nd, 2012
5:47 pm
Shutup and play the game on the field. Not the blogs. If all of you were so freaking smart you’d be in vegas making millions. BUT YOU’RE NOT.
Dawgs will show up for lizards
October 22nd, 2012
5:50 pm
Guess they don’t have to play the game now that all the idiots have expressed their worthless opinions.
old dawg
October 22nd, 2012
5:53 pm
what happened last week has no bearing on the needed level of prep and focus for Florida
watch the line play and somebody will get their butt whipped that’s where this will be won or lost
Florida is kinda like Tech You need a clear cut hatred of them or it will be a long day and that starts with the COACHES and their Planning
Spumoni
October 22nd, 2012
5:53 pm
The Dawgs sandbagged it vs. Kentucky … i.e. pretty much a “open date” for UGA. Meanwhile, UF has been in 2 consecutive emotional & physical slugfests. Can the Gators hold-up for #3? If so, they will win by 17+ If not, UGA’s got plenty of talent to win, and win big too.
Betting lines can be way off many times. Take this past Saturday for example. Here are just a few of Vegas’ “misses” :
UNC -10.5 vs Duke …. Duke won outright, 33-30.
Miss St only -18 vs. Midd Tenn St? …. Miss State, 45-3
Arizona -7.5 vs. Washington … Arizon won by 35
West “F’n” Virginia -3 vs. K-State … Moutaineers LOST by 41
Southern Miss (0-6) coming into Sat vs. 1-4 Marshall was -4 …. Marshall won by 35
UF -3.5 vs South Cackalack …. Gators win by 33
See what can happen Dawg fans? UGA could pull a K-State or Marshall or….UF could pull another South Carolina on the Dawgs …. you just never know.
gators got the clap
October 22nd, 2012
5:55 pm
a win by one point counts the same as a 30 point win…..and a 30 point loss counts the same as a one point loss. Screw the idiots that want to see a beauty contest for the polls and just win the game ugly if you have too.
gator tastes like chicken.
October 22nd, 2012
6:00 pm
Florida will never overtake overall record in series. NEVER
Dawg Pile
October 22nd, 2012
6:03 pm
Unless UGA starts winning more than a game or two a decade against the reptiles, we won’t hold the series lead much longer.
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
6:05 pm
Fred…..
Your posts reveal your total lack of understanding of Florida’s offense this year. No, it is not Oregon’s offense. No, it is not Georgia’s offense. But Florida’s offense controls the ball, the line of scrimmage, wears down the other team for 2 quarters…..and then comes out of the lilly pads after halftime and snaps your rear end in half. Has in every game this year. Georgia has to come in and control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball….and not have any turnovers…..to beat Florida. I think they can do one of the two above….maybe. No chance of winning the lines of scrimmage in this game. Georgia will simply have to make big plays, get Florida to turn over the ball (something they have not done all year), and not turn the ball over themselves….and they can win. It will be a close game only because of how conservative Muschamp is on offense…….but I think Florida will wear Georgia’s lines of scrimmage down with constant rotations on the defensive line and pounding on the defensive line and running them all over the place. South Carolina’s defense was very good in the first half vs. Florida…..but they wore down as the game went on. And South Carolina has a much better defense that Georgia. But Georgia has a better offense than SC. That will make the game close……and it will come down to the better team in the 4th quarter…..and both have been good in that quarter this year. But Georgia has not played lines of scrimmage on both sides of the ball like the ones Florida has…..combined with the overall speed Florida has all over the place…on D. It will be a challenge for Richt’s Dawgs….but they have enough talent to win the game. So does Florida. It is going to be a good one…..and might be won or lost on the last play of the game…..and I think Florida has a better kicker than Georgia…..and much better special teams. We will see. Gonna be a lot of fun in JAX on Saturday. Yeah boy……….Go Gators.
Somebody wins
October 22nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Georgia will win OR Florida will win.
Harry
October 22nd, 2012
6:13 pm
It’s gettig normal to see the dawgs lose big to the good teams and be close to the scrub teams. Maybe other teams care more. I can remember all those Saturdays walking out of the Gator Bowl singing “It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog.”
Has anyone noticed the fire coming from Sabin, Muschamp and the BallCoach. Don’t see any from the Red and Black? Sorry but it’s time to change.This might be really bad Saturday.