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
Hate Lizards (gators)
October 22nd, 2012
7:31 am
Donald Duck -
Take your Oregon crap A$$ teams and go home to your west coast blog.
No body cares about your teams on a Georgia blog.
I only hope your team gets to play Alabama in the Championship game.
Roasted DUCK FOE EVRYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
7:34 am
“I think both SC and FL are GREAT on their home fields, but very suspect on the road….as is UGa.”
Mark Richt is suspect on the road ?
He lost to South Carolina last year in front of me. You wouldn’t know that since you don’t go to the games.
He lost to Florida 2010 when he was HOME.
He lost to Florida 2008 when he was HOME.
He lost to Florida 2006 when he was HOME.
He lost to Florida 2002 when he was HOME.
He lost to LSU at the Georgia Dome to end last season.
He lost to LSU 2009 when he was HOME.
He lost to LSU 2003 at the Georgia Dome.
He lost to Auburn 2005 when he was HOME.
He lost to Auburn 2001 when he was HOME.
He lost to the vols 2006 when he was HOME.
He lost to the vols 2004 when he was HOME.
He lost to Kentucky 2009 when he was HOME.
He lost to Vandie 2006 when he was HOME.
He lost to Georgie tek 2008 when he was HOME.
He lost to Boise State at the Georgia Dome last year.
He lost to West Virginia at the Georgia Dome 2005.
He lost to Alabama 2008 at HOME.
He lost to Arkansas the year before last at HOME.
“I think both SC and FL are GREAT on their home fields, but very suspect on the road….as is UGa.”
Where we are SUSPECT is at HOME, Neutral, liar. But, you wouldn’t know this, since you don’t sit there and live through this crudola at home with Mark Richt.
Hate Lizards (gators) and Bees (GT)
October 22nd, 2012
7:36 am
Stinger2 -
Go home to your LAB and blow yourself up!
NOBODY! cares what a GT fan thinks!
You need to worry about your own team!
Which is horrible!
Cannot wait to beat your A$$ this year between the hedges
Return to Glory
October 22nd, 2012
7:39 am
Hoping for a win but the bottom line is we have been crushed in every big game since 2008, we have a weak offensive line and a soft under coached defense so on paper we don’t have a shot but maybe we will get lucky.
SEC FOOTBALL
October 22nd, 2012
7:41 am
I THINK ALL THE DOG FANS WILL BE PULLING FOR A WIN. IT IS HARD TO GET REAL EXCITED WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING LIKE THIS. THE DEFENSE LOOKS SLOW COMPARED TO WHAT YOU SEE AT FLORIDA, ALABAMA ETC. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE DEFENSE BEING OUR WEAK SPOT THIS TIME OF YEAR. ARM TACKLING, SOFT DB’S AND NO PASSION ON DEFENSE. I HOPE THEY MAKE ME EAT MY WORDS THIS WEEK!!! IF WE SCORE 40 WE HAVE A CHANCE.
Ray
October 22nd, 2012
7:41 am
I love you Dogg fans. You guys are so negative it is no wonder your team cannot get up for the Gators year in and year out. Once again, the Gators will dominate with our no name offense and slimy defense. Go Gators!!!!!!!
legionaire
October 22nd, 2012
7:46 am
Anything can happen with UGA-UF. UGA’s D has been underperfoming big time but maybe Grantham can “clean up” the cheap long TDs that they have been giving up. The O is looking good and I feel the freshmen RBs are up for a big game. Special Teams are a Richt mystery that he refuses to address and it can and will bite him in the butt. I believe in miracles Dawgs win.
Jimmy Crack
October 22nd, 2012
7:47 am
Dawgs 34, JeanShorts 28.
Tech trolls, you should be worrying more about whether your team will even win another game this season, including that Duke game.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
7:48 am
19 of Mark Richt’s 38 losses have been when he was the home team. Since he has a poor bowl record too, the majority of his losses are in front of me. When you couple that with him losing 16 of his last 18 games against teams who made the top 25 and him losing 14 of his last 17 games against teams who made the top 10, along with all his SUSPENSIONS, arrests, players kicked-off the team, players flunked-out and other bad press such as this article right here by Jeff Schultz, just what in the name of Heaven are we supposed to be SO POSITIVE ABOUT Neutral ?
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
7:50 am
Maybe when you post some positive statement about UGA, I will.
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
7:50 am
yea the Offense looks really good against Buffalo 3 win Tenn; 1 win KY, 2 win Vandy and Florida Atlantic
How was the offense against a decent defense like SC???????????
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
7:54 am
I believe in miracles Dawgs win
LOL
So UGA football has resorted to miracles instead of going down to JAX and showing the Gaterds that UGA has come to play
And we wonder why UGA football has become the VT in all the Sports analyists eyes
Dogbone
October 22nd, 2012
7:54 am
I get so sick of these fair weather UGA fans. Sell your UGA hats, shirts, flags, Golf head covers and become a gator fans. You’re a disgrace to the legacy of UGA. You should be ashamed of turning on a team that hasn’t even played the game yet. Ridiculous. Yeah, I’m sure I’ll hear the whining about how UGA hasn’t beaten a ranked team..blah blah blah….What happens if the win???? Oh I know what you’ll do….You’ll be one of the first ones commenting about how you knew the “Dawgs” had it in them….You make me sick!!!!
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
7:55 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in JAX,
You are so right young man. We have the Official NCAA Strength of Schedule for all our games 2012 of # 108 at 25-40.
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2012/Internet/toughest%20schedule/tough.html
Rodster
October 22nd, 2012
7:55 am
Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Seems like two teams this season going opposite directions, but hope I am wrong about the Dawgs. If you have asked me after Florida played Kentucky, I would have been pretty confident for UGA, but like I said the trend does not seem to be in our favor.
ReALLY?
October 22nd, 2012
7:56 am
Georgia’s recent record against top-tier opponents — 1-9 since the start of the 2008 season against teams ranked in the nation’s top 10 at the time of the game;
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
7:59 am
That 1 win was against Georgie tek in 2009, and they actually are the # 13 team for 2009 and would have had to VACATE the win had they beat us anyway.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:03 am
Jimmy Crack March 6th, 2012 7:19 am
“Thomas Brown, why don’t you sell your season tickets? If the pressure of being a fan is too much for your sore little heart, perhaps you should change teams and go with a program that has perennial winners with little competition, like maybe Ohio State.”
___________________________________________
Then, you run in here today and guarantee a 6-point win over the team you were rooting for just yesterday. Are you saying 34-28 UGA by 6 because we’ll miss the extra point, again ?
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:06 am
Jimmy Crack,
What does your statement mean about rooting for a team with little competition ?
We have the # 108 Official NCAA Strength of Schedule all 2012 season, at 25-40.
How much more little competition can you possibly have Jimmy Crack ?
And, with our 16 losses last 18 games vs top 25 and our 14 losses last 17 games vs top 10, you pick us by 6, bragging about our competition. Yeah, we play competition, and lose every time.
Joe
October 22nd, 2012
8:08 am
Let’s see…..UGA playing a top 10 team, UGA playing UF in Jacksonville, UGA having to beat someone themselves to get somewhere instead of depending on someone else…….under Richt??? LMAO….UF 45 UGA 20………maybe just maybe, THIS will finally force some change in Athens.
Gator Mike
October 22nd, 2012
8:12 am
This is FL-GA and anything can happen. It will be a close game because UGA will show up. The incentive UF has is to make up for their poor erformance in last year’s game. Unless UF cranks up the offense a tad, we are in trouble.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:14 am
legionaire October 22nd, 2012 7:46 am
“Anything can happen with UGA-UF. Special Teams are a Richt mystery that he refuses to address and it can and will bite him in the butt.”
_____________________________________
I love all these posters who say anything can happen like Albert Einstein an idiot, and then in the same post state that Mark Richt’s special teams have been atrocious and he fails to address them at all whatsoever other than to tell us after every poor game they have that his Special Teams are getting an undeserved bad rap.
Let me ask you this. If anything can happen, why can’t the special teams win the game for us ? Oh, I see. Anything can happen pre-game, then post-game, it was an area that apparently, anything cannot happen.
Why not put up your prediction leginaire ? By the way, you spelled your name incorrectly.
Dawg Tired
October 22nd, 2012
8:15 am
I’ll take Florida minus 13.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:15 am
Brainiac Richt Fan for Life,
Where are you ?
cmac
October 22nd, 2012
8:18 am
ugaly will be lucky to lose by only 21. Poor players coached by poor coaches = bad results!
Dawg Tired
October 22nd, 2012
8:19 am
Joe – You certainly are an optimist if you think anyone in Athens will even consider firing CMR. While I hope you are right, all the evidence is to the contrary. The powers that be seem to perfectly happy with mediocrity. CH\heck out baseball’s, women’s basketball’s, and football’s recent performances.
Escaped from Email Purgatgory
October 22nd, 2012
8:21 am
It would be bucking a five-year trend if the Dawgs won on Saturday. You have to go back to 2007. That’s the last time UGA beat a big team in a big game.
The UGA brain trust will do what they do after the 2012 season ends. If there’s a silver lining anywhere to be found in this era of underachievement, they’ll continue find it. Coach Richt will get one more chance to right his ship.
But speaking as a life-long Dawgs fan – and member in good standing of WalMart Dawg Nation, I’ve seen enough of CMR. The program he’s put on the field 2008 – 2012 is the best he can do. If it’s good enough for Dawg Nation, then that’s just the way it is.
My heart is with the Dawgs on Saturday. My head knows better.
Tampa Gator is king! All hail Tampa Gator!
Dawg Turd
October 22nd, 2012
8:25 am
GATORS 28 UGA 7
Bouré St. Clair
October 22nd, 2012
8:28 am
Florida 63, Georgia 10
The silly dream ends in Jacksonville as usual.
Dawg Turd
October 22nd, 2012
8:28 am
UGA needs to wake up and realize their not as good as they think their are!!!!! Need a offensive coordinator.
Dawg Turd
October 22nd, 2012
8:29 am
GO GO GO Gators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kingdaddy
October 22nd, 2012
8:31 am
Flats
The fact that Thomas Brown agrees with you should make you really happy …
globeflyer
October 22nd, 2012
8:31 am
For my friends who a UGA fans, I’m just hoping they don’t get embarrassed. The likelihood is great, but you never know when it comes to college teams. I think there is only one or two teams (right now) that can beat FL.
GT
October 22nd, 2012
8:31 am
Coaching is the meat and potatoes of college football. When you see a guy like Gary Patterson go to a place like TCU and put together a program he has out of two star at most players or Tuberville being release from Auburn and winning at Texas Tech, while Auburn has historic recruiting years and are a flop of all flops, the subject of talent is mute. You cannot mail in a performance, in this day of parity. Every snap means something.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:33 am
Neutral October 22nd, 2012 7:16 am
“UGA89 = Thomas Brown. And both need their morning meds!!!
You have got to be kidding me about thinking it was OK to “egg” Murray’s house!!!
Please tell me you are kidding! No true Dawg fan would condone that type of behavior under any circumstance. It tells me a lot about your “value system”……which sucks!”
__________________________________________________
Excuse me, you little liar. I told UGA89 that it was unacceptable and you know it. You sit there and read my reply and say this ? You’re an idiot at best.
“but the egging, rolling. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. ” I replied directly to UGA89. UGA89 posted at 8:03 am and I replied at 8:05 am directly to him. There is no post in-between his statement on egging and rolling and me telling him that he is wrong.
Then, there is you.
LIAR.
I did NOT say that egging and rolling Aaron Murray’s home is OK. LIAR LIAR as usual with you.
“but the egging, rolling. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. “
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
8:35 am
PMS MURRAY for the Heisman.
Pad My Stats(against crappy teams) Murray will be Great against the Gators! Said No One.
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
8:36 am
Vegas will have to move the line to 6.5 at least to get money on the dWags side.
Rick in Macon
October 22nd, 2012
8:37 am
UGA won’t even be in the game. UF beats them by 20+ points.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:37 am
kingdaddy,
Is that you ?
____________________________________
kingdaddy October 6th, 2012 11:08 pm
“Fix it now McGarity…”
____________________________________
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
8:38 am
Oh, I forget kingdaddy, only you can say that – no one else.
Predictor
October 22nd, 2012
8:38 am
Gators 31 – Dawgs 17
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
8:39 am
Gators need to do what Kentucky did and stop the run. It is easier to let PMS Murray try to beat you throwing the ball. He is usually good for an INT or Fumble when he has to be the leader in a big game.
TJ
October 22nd, 2012
8:41 am
Anybody surprised by the “pessimism” only needs to go back and look at our season thus far and look at HOW we’ve played, not the W-L record. Another ranked team, another embarassment for UGA.
TossSweep
October 22nd, 2012
8:41 am
UGA needs to put this in their locker room. It seems they’re oblivious to fan perception of the team and their perception of themselves. Starts from coaching…or lack thereof.
TossSweep
October 22nd, 2012
8:45 am
Todd Grantham is ready to go back to the NFL as a high paid DB coach.
kingdaddy
October 22nd, 2012
8:46 am
Love my Dawgs. Hate the ugly wins but at 6-1, we just keep winning. No we aren’t Alabama or LSU and UF looks like the better team, but our boys are not going to back down in Jville. They have heart and that is more than I can say about some of our fans…
JTown
October 22nd, 2012
8:49 am
Florida’s offense is terrible—they only had 183 yards against sc. That will not get it done against the Dogs—Grantham’s D will shut them down again and the Dogs will get the win!! Dogs 27 Fla 13!!! Dogs win the east!!!
Dawgjeffy01
October 22nd, 2012
8:50 am
we get killed. We will be out coached before kickoff.
SC Def held FL to under 200 yards…and they still killed the Cocks. No way we know how to scrap and manufacture points like that. We ahve the talent…..we dont have the coaching.
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
8:50 am
I can see the dWags winning.
It will show that the SEC teams have been overrated all season.
USC & UGa top 6 teams? Who is kidding who with that.
Miss St? You mean like Duke?
Where is that top 10 Arkansas?
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
8:53 am
KingDaddy…….How was your weekend? Hang at Tybee for the festival? How i Mustang Sally?
I guess you will party on the islands with all the UGa fans this Thur & Fri.